Title
Strategies to Address Homelessness Plan Update
Description
This report provides an update to the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee on the progress made toward accomplishing the recommendations made to the City Manager from the Strategies to Address Homelessness Plan Task Force.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
Background
In June 2020, City staff presented a Strategies to Address Homelessness Plan (Plan) to the Mayor and City Council. In October 2020, after public review and input, the City Council adopted the Plan along with several recommendations gathered during the public meetings. Among them was the creation of a City Manager’s appointed Task Force to prioritize and provide ongoing feedback on the City’s efforts to deploy the Plan. In late 2020, with recommendations from the Mayor and City Council, staff invited 19 community members to join the Task Force. The Task Force was represented by neighborhood leaders, service providers and homeless advocates. It engaged in evaluation, prioritization and in adding items to the strategies in the Plan. In January 2022, the Task Force met and unanimously supported the recommendations made to the City Manager. Since then, City departments have continuously worked to achieve goals established for each strategy.
Status Update
Since the implementation of the Strategies to Address Homelessness Plan and the completion of the Task Force recommendations, the City has made significant strides in its efforts to find innovative solutions to address homelessness. An updated status report (Attachment A) details the significant progress the City has made towards accomplishing the key goals set forth by the Mayor, City Council and the Task Force in the Plan.
The categories of strategies include:
- Outreach and Resources
- Shelter
- Affordable Housing
- Permanent Supportive Housing
- Eviction Prevention
- Neighborhoods
- Encampments
To accomplish the goals established within each strategy, City departments have undertaken significant coordination, typically with one department taking the lead on a particular strategy. The lead and supporting departments are outlined in the report and include the Office of Homeless Solutions, and the Neighborhood Services, Human Services, Housing, and Planning and Development departments.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes, the Office of Homeless Solutions, Housing and Neighborhood Services departments.