Title
Transit Homeless Outreach Team (Ordinance S-44114)
Description
Request an ordinance authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into an amendment to Contract 145545 with Community Bridges, Inc., to fund a professional homeless outreach team focused on light rail and station areas. Further requesting the City Controller to disburse an amount not to exceed $125,000 for purposes of this action.
Summary
The number and urgency of requests from residents, business owners and neighborhood groups related to homelessness has dramatically increased over the last two years. The Maricopa Regional Point-in-Time Count confirms the number of individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness increased by over 27 percent between January 2015 and January 2016; and an additional increase of over 25 percent between 2016 and 2017. With public concerns continuing to escalate, the demand for services has stressed the capacity and flexibility of existing City resources and staffing structures.
The City of Phoenix invests significant resources towards services and solutions to end homelessness. Over $4 million is allocated annually for outreach and engagement, emergency shelter, move-in deposits, housing stabilization and support services for individuals, families, unaccompanied youth and Veterans experiencing homelessness.
The goal of PHX C.A.R.E.S., a City-backed program, is to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with appropriate services and reduce the impact of unsheltered homelessness on Phoenix neighborhoods and public spaces. Since mid-March 2017, City departments have been working together to develop a coordinated service model and seamless customer interface. As the name of the program suggests, the PHX C.A.R.E.S. model is consumer centric in that it "leads with services." Persons experiencing homelessness have complex needs best addressed by certified outreach professionals with access to transportation, medical, behavioral health and recovery services. To meet this need, the Human Services Department conducted a competitive procurement process resulting in a contract with Community Bridges, Inc. The service includes transportation and access to the behavioral health network.
The procurement and subsequent contract for professional outreach and engagement services was designed to expand as needed to address increased volume and/or specific concerns related to unsheltered homelessness. As a result of significantly increased citizen requests to address the impact of unsheltered homelessness to the public transit system, transit requests to expand the contract to add a transit specific outreach team. This would be done in partnership with Phoenix Police, Valley Metro, the Public Transit Department and citizen calls.
In partnership with Valley Metro, the Police Department’s Transit Enforcement Unit (TEU) is currently managing an extra duty program that provides approximately eight extra duty police officers focused on light rail in Phoenix, with an emphasis on providing a high visibility deterrent along the 19th Avenue Corridor. This includes the additional four extra duty police officers recommended by the Citizens Transportation Commission and approved by the City Council on June 28, 2017. In addition to TEU staff, private security services are used for transit centers, park-and-rides and augmenting Municipal Security Guards at the three bus facilities.
Valley Metro is implementing a code of conduct called Respect the Ride. The code of conduct designates that Valley Metro is a destination-based service. All riders must exit the train and clear the platform area at their destination or the end-of-line station. Phoenix Police and the PHX C.A.R.E.S. team will work closely with Valley Metro to ensure light rail passengers who have been required to leave the light rail vehicle and platform do not have a negative impact on neighborhoods.
Financial Impact
The cost of two full-time contracted outreach staff (one team) is approximately $125,000 per year. Funds are available in the Public Transit Department operating budget in the T2050 fund.
Funding for this program is available through the reduction of private security guards at park-and-rides during non-peak daytime hours. Park-and-rides are primarily used by commuters. Security guards will be stationed at the park-and-rides when passengers arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon. During non-peak service hours, roving security guards will patrol the park-and-rides. In previous years, this security model was successfully used at park-and-rides and is augmented by camera systems installed at each facility.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Citizens Transportation Commission recommended Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee and City Council approval on Oct. 26, 2017.
The Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee recommended City Council approval on Nov. 14, 2017 to fund the professional homeless outreach team as a one-year pilot program. Program data will be collected and reported to determine program success and assist in determining appropriate service levels.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.