REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 20, 2019
FROM: CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS
(Councilmembers Luis Chavez, Miguel Arias and Garry Bredefeld)
LEE BRAND, Mayor
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
BY: H. SPEES, Director, Strategic Initiatives
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Adopting a Resolution to Establish Priorities in Addressing Homelessness (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution establishing priorities in addressing homelessness (see Attachment A) which will serve as the basis for council action and future multi-sector collaboration in the greater Fresno community.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City-through the Mayor and the Council Subcommittee on Homelessness-and the County of Fresno-through the County Administrative Officer and Nathan Magsig, Chair of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors and Supervisor Buddy Mendes-agreed to jointly recommend to their respective governing bodies a set of 14 priorities for homeless services included in the attached resolution. The County passed its resolution on June 4, 2019.
Adopting this resolution provides the foundation for the City and County to jointly establish a collective impact structure that will link and align public and private leaders, organizations and resources committed to addressing homelessness.
BACKGROUND
In November 2017, the Mayor requested that the Fresno-Madera Continuum of Care, the Fresno Housing Authority, the County of Fresno and the City of Fresno join together to develop strategies to reduce homelessness. Periodic updates have been made to your Council as a community-wide process has resulted in a comprehensive framework to homelessness. That framework recommended a more thorough collaboration between the City and County of Fresno and all other stakeholders.
On December 6, 2018, the Council adopted a resolution declaring a shelter crisis in the City of Fresno and further resolved to apply for $3,105,519 in State HEAP Funding for Homeless Services as required by the California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council for the Homeless Emergency Aid Program grant funding. The acceptance and use of these funds also requires the coordination of efforts between the City, County and other local stakeholders.
On May 15, 2019, your Council Subcommittee on Homelessness and the Mayor met with members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors and the County Administrative Officer to establish a set of priorities that, jointly adopted, form the basis for a community-wide collaborative spearheaded by both the City and County to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to address homelessness.
The City and County’s Homelessness Priorities address jurisdictional boundaries, transportation, outreach, housing, data, direct services, and the preservation of public health and public safety. The recommended priorities, as outlined below, are intended to be a comprehensive list (based on research across Fresno City and County and the additional 14 incorporated cities), and is to be considered a living document, updated as necessary based on data-driven outcomes or at least once a calendar year.
1. Address jurisdictional overlaps (local, State, Federal, and private) collaboratively.
2. Increase transportation to outpatient programs and regular prenatal/medical care for pregnant and parenting women and children who are homeless.
3. Roving formalized coordinated community outreach and in conjunction with law enforcement, through Fresno Madera Continuum of Care or otherwise, to ensure that efforts are aligned and data is tracked.
4. Assistance to build housing stock, increasing safe overnight housing (24-48 hours), and a centralized approach to single room occupancy units.
5. Priority access to emergency housing for pregnant and parenting women and their children also families with children with significant medical issues as it is difficult to manage the continuum of care when the family is homeless.
6. Real time accurate number of shelter beds available and increase the number of non-faith based shelters.
7. Additional “wet” shelters that do not require the person to participate in a program, person can be high or drunk to use the facility and not be turned away.
8. Education regarding available services and shareable system to track linkages
9. Improved data on the homeless such as length of homelessness (acute vs chronic), cause of the homelessness, is it a family, individual, minor without family support.
10. A formalized assessment of housing and shelter needs in rural communities.
11. Strong centralized structure for homeless funding and service decisions and expanded distribution of funding opportunities.
12. Comprehensive case management for homeless clients and improved access to primary healthcare and medication for chronic diseases; perhaps partnering with Federally Qualified Health Clinic or UC San Francisco.
13. Increased substance use disorder services and mental health services throughout county.
14. Enforce ordinances that address hazardous or unsanitary conditions, which constitute fire, health, and/or safety risks.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Any CEQA findings or other regulatory requirements will be included with specific project agreements brought to your Council.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no increase in Net City Cost associated with the recommended action. There is no matching contribution requirement for these funds.
Attachment:
Attachment A - Resolution to Adopt Priorities Addressing Homelessness