HomeMy WebLinkAbout; ; Quarterly Report - Reducing Homelessness - January 1 -March 31, 2022;QUARTERLY REPORT
Reducing Homelessness
{city of
Carlsbad
JAN. 1 -MARCH 31, 2022
During the third quarter of FY 2021-22, the City of
Carlsbad achieved several important milestones
towards its goal of reducing homelessness, which are
detailed in this report.
SUMMARY
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Transitioned to permanent housing
City Council Goal
Reduce the homeless unsheltered population,
among those who want help, by 50% within five
years. Provide quarterly reports for five years or
until this goal is met, whichever comes first.
39
Shelter placements
309 lru
Unduplicated contacts
~ 41 Police calls for service
Hotel voucher
1GHTS 2,585 Encampment
CLEM JPS
Data by Quarter
The table below shows how data compares between each quarter, along with year-to-date data. Staff
adjusted some of the Ql and Q2 data to reflect additional information received since presenting the reports.
The same individual may have received more than one service and are reflected under each service category
that applies to them (for example, the same individual may have received both a hotel voucher and later
placed into permanent housing).
b Transitioned to permanent housing
[fil] Unduplicated contacts*
Ql Q2 Q3
23 15 12
Q4 YTD
so
~ I , il Police calls for service**
J=• Shelter placements
llllllllllll'c. Encampment cleanups ........ t People provided hotel vouchers
t! Hotel voucher nights
!!(" Shopping carts collected
253 269 309
1,542 2,169 2,585
28 29 39
10 7 16
N/A 5 17
N/A 8 41
N/A 37 48
*153 new individuals were contacted during Q3 that were not during Ql or Q2. The year-to-date total
removes duplicate contacts.
586
6,296
96
33
22
49
85
**Carlsbad Police went into the field for 2,585 calls for service in Q3, of which 929 calls were in response to a
specific request or complaint and 1,656 were proactive department-initiated calls for service to help carry
out city goals and enforce city codes.
Reducing Homelessness 2
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 _________________________ _
FY 2021/23 Work Plan Progress
Work plan tasks were identified to be accomplished over various stages during the fiscal year. All work plan
tasks that were identified to be complete for Ql, Q2 and Q3 have been completed within the identified
timeline and budget with the exception of the last four objectives listed under the enhancement of clinical
services at La Posada Emergency Shelter.* Those are on track for completion in Q4.
Employment and benefits specialist Progress on track
Work Plan Timeline
Ql Q2 Q3 Q4
Develop scope of work and budget for consultant services for a two-year contract
Issue RFP for contract services
Design program and informational materials
Additional homeless outreach officers and social workers Progress on track Ql Q2 Q3 Q4
Promote an additional sergeant to the Homeless Outreach Team 0
Recruit for two new Homeless Outreach Team officers 0
Create roles/responsibility and deployment model for enhanced Homeless Outreach Team 0
Develop and provide necessary training for new Homeless Outreach Team members 0
Identify metrics for data collection 0
Partner with social workers from the County of San Diego's contracts with the North 0 County Homeless Pilot Program and PATH
Enhancing clinical services at La Posada Emergency Shelter Progress on track Ql Q2 Q3 Q4
Develop scope of work for expanded consultant services to include two licensed clinicians 0 and additional training for staff
Research and analyze best practice emergency shelter programs (0
Design new program rules, expectations and outcomes (0
Develop a training schedule, courses, programs, and completion timeline (0
Re-evaluate the program practices, as necessary (0
Limited-term Stay Emergency Hotel Voucher Pilot Program Progress an track Ql Q2 Q3 Q4
Identify and partner with hotel/motel vendors 0
Develop pilot program rules, policies, and expectations 0
Train Homeless Outreach Team Officers and social workers 0
Prepare public informational materials 0
Develop and implement a tracking system to assess program efficacy 0
Provide a report to the City Council (after first six months and following the 12-month 0 program) to determine if the program should be continued and/or modified
Develop and implement a contract with the Humane Society 0
Reducing Homelessness 3
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 ____________________________ _
Work plan progress continued
Community Resource Center services Progress on trock Ql Q2 Q3 Q4
Contract with the Community Resource Center 0
Develop scope of work for services 0
Two-year contract with three, one-year extensions 0
Revise policies and procedures based on lessons learned from year one 0
Create a new Housing & Homeless Services Department Progress on track Ql Q2 Q3 Q4
Create new positions (director, housing services manager and management analyst) 0
Develop budget and purchase resources 0
Advertise, recruit, hire the new positions 0
La Posada de Guadalupe Facility Expansion Ql Q2 Q3 Q4
Work with Catholic Charities to pursue opportunities to expand the number of shelter beds 0 within the existing facility
Work with Catholic Charities to pursue opportunities to expand the existing facility to 0 accommodate women and families
Project Homekey funds Progress on track Ql Q2 Q3 Q4
Develop a list of potential projects that are eligible for Project Homekey funding and 0 develop a specific proposal for the City Council's consideration and direction.
Pursue a Homekey funding application, if directed by the City Council 0
*Some tasks have changed or been eliminated based on City Council direction.
Reducing Homelessness 4
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 ____________________________ _
Expenditures
The City Council approved $6.8 million in general funds and one-time reserve funds to support the homeless
goal during fiscal year 2021-22. A significant portion of the budget, $3.2 million, was initially allocated for an
emergency shelter hotel voucher pilot program. Based on initial research and feedback, the City Council
decided to pursue a different model, which is expected to require fewer resources.
TOTAL BUDGET EXPENDITURES TO DATE
$1,985,315
Spent to date
SPENDING BY CATEGORY
$6,854,310
Total budget
$4,868,995
Remaining
Portable toilets
$18,006.67
Hotel vouchers
Police salaries -
$1 ,317,423.47
Reducing Homelessness
$5,675 ~ I
~'
Urban Corps
(Encampment and trash cleanup)
$65,460 Interfaith Community
/ Services
(Social workers)
$185,360.24
Community Resource Center
(Rapid rehousing, other housing assistance)
$140,206
Housing & Homeless
Services salaries
$253,184
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 _________________________ _
5
Carlsbad's Homeless Population
6 ~v~d~San Diego
County prior to
becoming homeless
~-'~so/ ,... 4" /0
f I Veterans
72% Male
(f)
o I . .
Female
'
• e 100% Adult
,55%44+
Point in Time Unsheltered data
160
140
Carlsbad began to manage
120
100
80 78
60
40
21 20
19 21
0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
e e 87% White
'' 13%Black
(2y 38% Disability
152
75
2018 2019 2020 2022
*The Point in Time Count did not take place in 2021 due to COV/0-19 precautions. The City of Carlsbad took
over the Point in Time Count from an outside organization starting in 2017.
Reducing Homelessness
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 ________________________ _
6
Public Safety
Homeless-related calls for service
Carlsbad Police went into the field for 2,585 calls for service, which made up 10% of all activity between Jan.
1 to Mar. 31, 2022. Of those, 929 calls were in response to a specific request or complaint and 1,656 were
proactive department-initiated calls for service to help carry out city goals and enforce city codes. Changes to
the city's municipal code went into effect during November, therefore officers have been more proactive to
educate and enforce restrictions such as camping in public, trespassing, and drinking in public parks.
PERCENTAGE OF CALLS FOR HOMELESS-RELATED SERVICES
10%
Related to
homelessness
HOMELESS-RELATED STATISTICS BY CATEGORY
Citations Arrests Mental health holds
*These are the statistics related to the homeless population compared to the general population in Carlsbad.
Mental health holds refer to when a homeless individual experiencing a mental health crisis is hospitalized for
72-hour psychiatric care when they are evaluated to be a danger to themselves or others.
Reducing Homelessness 7
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 ________________________ _
Percentage of all calls for services Ql Q2 Q3 Q4
~ Homeless-related calls for services 9% 13% 10%
e Homeless-related arrests 17% 18% 16% .a
n ~~~ Homeless-related citations 4% 16% 18%
Cf) Homeless-related mental health holds 20% 3% 9%
SERVICES
This quarter 80% of people accepted some form of clinical intervention. This includes case management,
assessment, care coordination, crisis intervention, program information, diversion and treatment planning.
80%
Accepted services
Reducing Homelessness
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 _________________________ _
8
The Homeless Outreach Team officers and contract social workers provide a lot of other services in addition
to clinical services.
Services accepted Q2 Q3 • Information only 328 394
J::• Emergency shelter referral 53 63
~ Mail delivery 32 15 ~-· Transportation to services 31 17
' I , :Dt Police transportation 24 58
(t) Substance abuse treatment 17 21
m ID assistance 15 18
6 Permanent or bridge housing referral 13 21
~ Benefits access (medical insurance, 12 18 CalFresh program, VA benefits, etc.) • Other (appointment coordination, 12 96 blankets, etc.) • Food assistance 11 6
14 Hospital transport 9 12
" Referrals to mental & physical health 8 17 care
y Personal needs assistance (clothing, 5 25 phone, prescriptions, etc.)
•• fl' Reunification travel assistance 5 15
TOTAL 575 796
Reducing Homelessness 9
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 _________________________ _
Quality of life
In late September the City Council approved amendments to the city's municipal code to address public
safety and quality-of-life concerns related to homelessness and public spaces. These new laws became
effective Nov. 11, 2021. Changes addressed camping on public, private and open space property; obstruction
of property, trespassing and disorderly conduct; and expanded the areas where open containers of alcohol
are prohibited.
As a part of establishing the amendments to the municipal code, the City Council approved a one-night Hotel
Voucher Pilot Program to be able to enforce the no camping laws. Those who do participate will be
connected to services the following morning through the Homeless Outreach Team. For those who do not
want to participate in the emergency Hotel Voucher Pilot Program, the city will be able to enforce the no
camping laws. The program was up and running in early November. From then through March 2022
households were issued for a total of 49 nights in a hotel and a total expenditure of $5,675. Of the 22
households assisted, 17 were able to move on to other shelter or housing. The city will utilize the new Hotel
Voucher Pilot Program over the next 12 months and report progress through quarterly updates to the City
Council so adjustments can be made as needed.
The City Council amendments provide police officers with adequate enforcement tools to ensure public
safety and a decent quality of life for all people in Carlsbad. Police officers will continue to use their discretion
to issue warnings, citations and misdemeanor arrests. City staff will track data to gauge how the team
balances the need to build rapport with the homeless community while holding them accountable and
enforcing city laws.
Reducing Homelessness 10
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 ___________________________ _
Public Outreach
The city recognizes homelessness is a top concern of the community and understands the importance of
outreach and engagement. Below is an overview of some of the outreach efforts implemented from Jan. 1 to
March 31, 2022, to help keep the community informed and engaged about the city's efforts to reduce
homelessness.
3 community group presentations 3 community newsletter updates
Members of the Homeless Outreach Team and Housing & Homeless Services Department jointly provided
informational presentations to residents of Grand Madison condominiums, Faith Community Church and a
group of community members.
Staff also responded to hundreds of phone calls and emails from individuals experiencing homelessness,
business owners, social service providers and members of the public.
Reducing Homelessness
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 ___________________________ _
11
Regional Partnerships
The City of Carlsbad believes in addressing homelessness with compassion and fairness. Here is a current list
of services created to help those experiencing homelessness as well as improve the quality of life of the
community collectively.
Services to help individuals experiencing homelessness:
San Diego Humane Society
The purpose of the San Diego Humane Society Contract is to provide individuals experiencing homelessness
with a safe place to temporarily board their animal when they are not able to bring them to treatment
facilities or services. Staff have found this has been a primary barrier preventing people from accessing
services. The contract will provide short-term emergency boarding and emergency medical care for
approximately 25 animals of persons experiencing homelessness -free of charge -so the individual could
access care and resources.
Rocket John portable restrooms and handwashing stations
The Rocket John contract provided four portable restrooms and handwashing stations and routine cleaning
and maintenance in the downtown Village. The city first added these public bathrooms back in 2017 to
combat the Hepatitis A Crisis in the homeless community. With COVID-19, the city has added more restrooms
and handwashing stations to promote health, sanitation and 24/7 access to clean water to individuals living
unsheltered. One has been removed based on community concern, so three portable restrooms are currently
being provided.
Community Resource Center
The city has completed the Homelessness Prevention and Intervention contract with Community Resource
Center that was funded for one term by the state. This contract provided rapid rehousing dollars to reduce
homelessness by providing security deposit support, rental assistance, landlord advocacy, case management
and financial literacy. In Q3, Community Resource Center screened and enrolled 12 new clients into their
rapid rehousing program and continued providing services for an additional 27 clients who were already
enrolled.
Interfaith Community Services
Interfaith Community Services is the current outreach and case management contractor for the City of
Carlsbad's Homeless Outreach Team. ICS provides two licensed or master's level clinicians and one part-time
licensed program manager. They provide seven-day coverage offering outreach and case management in the
field to individuals experiencing homelessness in the City of Carlsbad. The clinicians engage, assess, plan and
refer individuals to resources like housing, medical care, public benefits, mental health, substance use
treatment and basic needs. During Q3, Interfaith Community Services and the Homeless Outreach Team
engaged with 261 unduplicated clients experiencing homelessness.
Reducing Homelessness 12
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 ___________________________ _
North County Social Worker
Both the County of San Diego's North County Social Worker Pilot Program and the new County Behavioral
Health contract are now operating their programs in the City of Carlsbad, with two individuals providing
outreach in the community. Both outreach programs have been working closely with the city's HOT, Housing
Navigator, and outside contractors to ensure outreach efforts are being effectively administered and
coordinated to ensure the most vulnerable individuals are being prioritized and served.
Urban Corps
The City contracts with Urban Corps of San Diego for trash abatement, litter and encampment cleanup
related to persons experiencing homelessness. Urban Corps works very closely with Public Works and the
Homeless Outreach Team and they are responsible for responding and triaging any incoming cleanup
requests based on health and safety for homelessness on city property. The contractor has the capacity to
request additional staff for large encampment cleanups or major city events.
Additional collaborations
The city collaborates with many stakeholders in the community to reduce homelessness. Homelessness
impacts all aspects of a community, so it truly takes a village to solve it .
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Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 ___________________________ _
13
Success stories
Each quarter, staff will include one or more success stories of real people who were connected to community
services as a result of the city's homeless response efforts. These are their stories, which they have given the
city permission to share. Their names have been changed to protect their confidentiality.
Meet Joseph
Male, age: 60
Years homeless: 3
Permanently housed: February 2022
Joseph had a life-changing medical incident that left him unable to walk and without most of the
mobility in his legs and arms. His career was in construction, and he found himself no longer able to
work in his field. He was fortunate to receive an Emergency Housing Voucher from a neighboring
housing authority but continued to face barriers in locating an apartment. He was staying in Carlsbad at
the time and got connected with the HOT social workers and the Housing Navigator. Together with the
help of Community Resource Center, they transferred his voucher to Carlsbad and helped him locate a
unit in town. He is now safely home and has in-home care to assist with his daily needs. He is doing
physical therapy and hopes to one day regain the ability to walk.
What worked
• Homeless Outreach Team worked with Joseph, helped provide hygiene items and collaborated with
the Housing Navigator to problem solve helping him locate housing.
• The Housing Navigator helped him move his Emergency Housing Voucher to the Carlsbad Housing
Authority from a neighboring jurisdiction. She helped Joseph reduce barriers to being accepted at an
apartment and found him apartments to apply for.
• Through the city's Rapid Re-housing contract with the Community Resource Center, Joseph got help
with his security deposit and case management to move inside and stabilize.
• Joseph is now housed and is adjusting to his new life.
Reducing Homelessness 14
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 __________________________ _
The Smith Family
Extended Family of 7 with children ages 4-12
Years homeless: 1
Placed in shelter: March 2022
The Smith family which consists of grandmother, mother and father, four children ages 12, 8, 8 and 4
and six dogs were living in their minivan in San Diego for approximately one year. They were traveling
north to Temecula where they were hoping to find a more affordable cost of living when their minivan
became inoperable in Carlsbad. They found themselves living in the minivan at a local park as they had
no other available resources or housing options.
Our officers first met the family in early March during routine patrols at the park. They learned the 12-
year-old was autistic and the father was a military veteran. The father was working in San Diego and the
mother was working in Vista. They relied on public transportation and friends for rides to and from
work. The grandmother watched the children while the parents worked. Child Protective Services were
involved, but there was no actionable offense. Based on the living circumstances, the Homeless
Outreach Team, along with clinicians from Interfaith, were introduced to the family to see if they could
further assist with more comprehensive resources.
The family was offered access to a family shelter but declined as they did not want to have to part with
their dogs. They were also reluctant to accept services due to past resources that had been ineffective.
HOT utilized the emergency voucher program and placed the family in a hotel for six days while
Interfaith clinicians continued to explore alternate housing options.
Interfaith clinicians were able to help the family obtain documents needed for section 8 housing for
veterans. The family willingly parted ways with several of their animals, retaining one, which was a
service dog for the son with autism. They entered into a short-term family shelter in Escondido where
they will be housed until June. In early May, the family was assigned a case manager and are looking to
move into permanent affordable housing.
What worked
• The Limited Stay Motel Voucher Pilot Program provided immediate shelter to a family of seven.
• Our Homeless Outreach Team and the Interfaith Clinicians remained committed to the family
and leveraged resources dedicated to veterans.
• Persistent service offering resulted in a solution that fit the needs of the entire family.
Reducing Homelessness 15
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 __________________________ _
Overcoming challenges
Staff have experienced some challenges around the implementation of the City Council's goal to reduce the
homeless unsheltered population, among those who want help, by 50% within five years. Some of these
include:
Multiple service providers
It continues to be a challenge to coordinate resources when multiple services providers, organizations and
programs are involved. As the city and county continue to add more programs, it will be critical for all
agencies to continue to meet regularly to ensure outreach efforts are being effectively administered and
coordinated to ensure the most vulnerable individuals are being prioritized and served. During Q3, city staff
facilitated case conferencing with the service providers in the City of Carlsbad who are working with those
experiencing homelessness. This is a recurring monthly meeting that includes training, case conferencing and
resource coordination.
Data collection
Staff will continue to look at better ways to refine the city's data collection to allow for more real-time
information. City staff is working to develop better metrics to measure progress towards the City Council's
goal.
There are challenges identifying and measuring service-resistant clients. Different outreach programs have
different philosophies. It may be hard to track who is working with whom and how many times they have
been engaged over a six-month period unless all of the providers are sharing and inputting data in the
Homeless Management Information System.
Limited housing resources
There is a limited number of emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing resources in North
County and San Diego. Shelters in North County including La Posada continued to have impacts limiting
intake due to COVID outbreaks and limited staffing due to exposure.
Staff vacancies
There has been transitions and position vacancies on the Housing & Homeless Services Department,
Homeless Outreach Team and social worker team. These vacancies have caused an increase in workload on
the team. New programs have been slower to implement due to these limitations.
Reducing Homelessness
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 ___________________________ _
16
Upcoming work
City staff have several new programs on the horizon:
• The city has enrolled as a "participating agency" in the Homeless Management Information System which
allows staff to see real-time, unduplicated data of individuals experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad.
This system helps staff bridge households experiencing homelessness to regional housing projects and
monitor the data of the city-funded contractors.
• The Housing & Homeless Services Department is in the process of recruiting for a new Housing Navigator.
• The Housing & Homeless Services Department will be implementing a grant agreement with Catholic
Charities Diocese of San Diego, to help La Posada de Guadalupe better serve shelter clients with
additional clinical staff.
• The Housing & Homeless Services Department will be finalizing a professional services agreement with a
third-party consultant to provide training and technical assistance to Catholic Charities, to assist them
with operating La Posada de Guadalupe as a housing-focused shelter.
• The Housing & Homeless Services Department will work with the District Attorney's Office and the
County of San Diego's Office of Homeless Solutions to host a mobile Homeless Court and Resource Fair.
• Housing & Homeless Services Department staff will participate in the new Public Regional Outcomes
Standards Board of the San Diego Taxpayers Educational Foundation's Micro and Macro Homelessness
Measurements Standards Working Groups.
• The Housing & Homeless Services Department will request city council approval to contract for an
Employment & Benefits Specialist position. This position will help connect people to employment
opportunities and eligible benefits.
Reducing Homelessness
Q3 Report: Jan. -March 2022 ___________________________ _
17