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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-27; Community-Police Engagement Commission; 02; Homelessness Action Plan Presentation Meeting Date: Jan. 27, 2025 To: Community-Police Engagement Commission From: Faviola Medina, City Clerk Services Director Staff Contact: Chris Shilling, Homeless Services Manager chris.shilling@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2284 Subject: Homelessness Action Plan Presentation District: All Recommended Action Receive a presentation regarding the City’s Homelessness Action Plan. Executive Summary Staff will provide presentation regarding the Homelessness Action Plan. Fiscal Analysis This action has no fiscal impact. Environmental Evaluation This action does not require environmental review because it does not constitute a project within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act under California Public Resources Code Section 21065 in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Exhibits 1. February 2023 Homelessness Action Plan 2. FY 2023-24 Annual Homelessness Action Plan Progress Report Community-Police Engagement Commission Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 1 of 82 Staff Report HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN FEBRUARY 2023 Exhibit 1 Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 2 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................. 4 PLAN PURPOSE & STRUCTURE ................................... 7 BACKGROUND ....................................................... 9 SCOPE OF THE LOCAL ISSUE .................................... 11 REGIONAL RESPONSE PLANS .................................... 13 COMMUNITY INPUT ............................................... 20 KEY AREAS OF FOCUS ............................................ 31 KEY STRATEGIES & INTIATIV ES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 DATA/TRACKING PROGRESS .................................... 49 APPENDICES ........................................................ 51 POINT IN TIME COUNT DATA COORDINATION WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS BENCHMARK EXPLANATIONS AND DEFINI TIONS Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 3 of 82 DRAFT HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 3 Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 4 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 4 Executive summary Homelessness is an issue affecting nearly every community throughout the United States. The Carlsbad City Council has identified addressing homelessness as a top priority. As a result, the City of Carlsbad has dedicated the resources to be a regional leader in planning, coordinating and implementing strategies to address homelessness. While coordinating and leading homelessness efforts within Carlsbad, the city also recognizes that efforts to end homelessness require the collaboration of solution-focused partners including the local Continuum of Care, County of San Diego, other North County cities, local nonprofits and faith-based organizations. The city leverages these partnerships and seeks to strategically deploy resources to address any gaps within the existing homeless service system. Geographically Carlsbad is in the North County Region of San Diego County. North County represents the largest sub-region in San Diego with a diverse geography. Carlsbad is located directly along the coastline, making it part of the North Coastal area. The North Coastal area contains some of the most expensive housing in the county located within the cities of Carlsbad, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Encinitas and Oceanside. Additionally, the 2022 annual Point in Time Count identified that about 16%, or at least 1,442 people, of the San Diego region’s homeless population on any given night is in North County. The City of Carlsbad originally developed a Homeless Response Plan in 2017. This plan was designed to “serve as a foundation to develop a more comprehensive, longer term strategic plan to continue to shape the city's efforts to address the impacts of homelessness on the residents, the larger community and the city itself.” In carrying out the original plan, the city made significant progress on the originally outlined objectives and expanded the plan to include a City Council adopted goal and a work plan in 2021. The city has since established and staffed a Homeless & Housing Services Department and has made consistent progress in implementing programs and projects aimed at addressing and reducing homelessness. The city is no longer just responding to the prevalence of homelessness, it is taking proactive action to reduce the impacts of homelessness on the community. As a result, the title of the plan has been changed from the Homeless Response Plan to the Homelessness Action Plan. This title better reflects the city’s efforts in taking direct action to address the issue of homelessness. The City of Carlsbad has a number of policies and plans already in place that touch issues related to homelessness (like the Housing Element of the General Plan and a Consolidated Plan that establishes priorities for federal funding). Each plan establishes priorities and programs toward its specific objectives. The updated Homelessness Action Plan is intended to consolidate the city’s policy statements regarding homelessness. The Homelessness Action Plan does not replace those policy documents but synthesizes them into one cohesive guiding plan. The Homelessness Action Plan will be the city’s foundational document of homelessness strategies and actions. All future plans or policy documents with homelessness components will strategically align with this plan. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 5 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 5 Homelessness is a complex issue that requires the resources, expertise and cooperation of many different entities. The city’s efforts will be concentrated within three key areas it can influence. These areas comprise “what” the city will focus on. KEY AREAS OF FOCUS Shelter and housing Outreach and access to services Public safety The plan also identifies key strategies which are “how” the city will make impacts within the main areas of focus. The four strategies are: Strategy #1 Develop and maintain the city’s capacity to prevent and reduce homelessness and its impacts on the community. Strategy #2 Coordinate, collaborate and support local efforts and organizations working to address homelessness in Carlsbad. Strategy #3 Retain, protect and increase the supply of housing and other affordable living options in Carlsbad. Strategy #4 Be active in external policy issues to influence strategies and impacts to the city and region. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 6 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 6 This Homelessness Action Plan has been developed to update the homelessness goal (approved by the City Council on Oct. 11, 2022), areas of focus, strategies and measurable objectives/benchmarks related to homelessness. It is intended to provide consistent focus on key strategies and initiatives to build the momentum needed to achieve results. However, the city operates in a dynamic environment and must consider unanticipated needs, changing community priorities and emergencies, all of which could require a different direction or allocation of resources. As such, the city will update its plan periodically, to respond to changing conditions. City staff anticipate this plan incorporates needs and actions for approximately five years. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 7 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 7 Plan purpose The Homelessness Action Plan establishes and consolidates key strategies and initiatives in response to the city’s goal related to homelessness. The City of Carlsbad has a number of policies and plans already in place that touch issues related to homelessness. Each plan establishes priorities and programs toward their specific objectives. This Homelessness Action Plan is intended to consolidate the city’s policy statements regarding homelessness. The Homelessness Action Plan does not replace those policy documents but attempts to synthesize them into one cohesive guiding plan. The Homelessness Action Plan will be the city’s foundational document of homelessness strategies and actions. All future plans or policy documents with homelessness components will strategically align with this plan. The plan identifies the city’s role in coordinating the homelessness efforts for the city as well as the measurements the city will use to track progress towards reaching the City Council’s homelessness goal. Like the city’s Strategic Plan, the Homelessness Action Plan is intended to: Focus Narrow the strategies for resources to be focused, increasing results. Momentum Provide clear and consistent policy direction to city staff, enabling the momentum needed to achieve major goals important to Carlsbad Alignment Create better alignment between City Council policy direction and the operational realities of day-to-day city operations. Connection Connect city efforts to the fulfillment of the City Council’s goal. Accountability Identify key indicators of success. City Council homelessness goal Enhance the quality of life for everyone in Carlsbad by adopting and implementing an updated Homeless Response Plan that addresses the complex needs of individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness in a compassionate and effective manner and reduces the impacts of homelessness on the community. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 8 of 82 -rh • • • * HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 8 Plan structure The long-term plan includes high-level policy direction and strategies. Existing services that assist with achieving the overall goal are identified, if necessary, toward continued service commitment. Specific resource needs will be presented each year and included in the city’s annual budget. Identifying all services in one consolidated funding plan allows city staff to more easily identify gaps, duplication or alternate funding resources. Staff will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of future service needs as part of an annual report to the City Council. Key strategies for how the city will make impacts within the main areas of focus. Initiatives that support each strategy. Strategies Initiatives Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 9 of 82 Homelessness Action Plan Stra,tegies .,_ .,_ .,_ .,_ lniitiatives HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 9 Background In 2017 the City of Carlsbad created its first Homeless Response Plan to address the growing prevalence of individuals experiencing homelessness. Residents and other community members, including business owners, asked the city to address this challenging issue and associated impacts. Based on input from a working group consisting of staff from Police, Fire, Library, Parks & Recreation, Public Works and the City Attorney’s Office, the City of Carlsbad created its first plan. Since then, the city has taken a number of proactive steps in addressing homelessness and its impact on the community. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 10 of 82 2017 Homeless Response Plan adopted. Homeless Outreach Team created within Police Department. 2018 City contracts w ith Interfaith Community Services to provide licensed clinicians to conduct street-based homeless outreach and case management. 2019 City hires first Homeless Program Manager. 2020 MAY City contracts with Community Resource Center to provide case management and housing stability resources for individuals experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. SEPTEMBER North County Homeless Working Group is founded by Carlsbad's Homeless Program Manager. The group includes representation from all eight North County cities, the Reg ional Task Force on Homelessness and the County of San Diego. HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 10 Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 11 of 82 2021 MARC H City Council establishes Fiscal Year 2021-22 goal to "Reduce the homeless unsheltered population, among those who want help, by 50% w"thin five years, with quarterly reports until we decrease the unsheltered population or five years . ." Directs staff to develop a work plan. MAY City Council adopts t he final work plan and work plan objective costs. Part of the work plan establishes the city's Housing & Homeless Services Department to oversee implementation of the Homeless Response Plan. JUlY City hires first Director of Housing & Homelless Services. SEPTEMBER City Council adopt s a quality of liife ordinance package and approves an updat ed work p lan, which includes a short-terrn motel voucher program. DECEMBER Housing & Homeless Services Department presents fi rst quarterly report to the Oty Council. 2022 MARC H City Council directs staff to update the city homelessness goal and the Homeless Response Plan. JUlY City contracts with Community Resource Center to provide an Employment & Benefits Specialist, witlh Cath olic Charities to provide d inician serv·ces at the La Posada de Guadalupe shelter,. and with OrgCode Consulting to proviide t raining and technical assistance to Catholi c Charit ies for their work at the La Posada de Guadallupe shelter. OCTOBER City Council approves the updated city homelessness goal as part of the Fve-Year Strategic Plan. HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 11 Scope of the local issue The San Diego region has consistently ranked among the top regions in the nation with the highest numbers of people experiencing homelessness. According to the 2022 Point in Time Count there were a minimum of 8,427 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in February 2022, with almost half living unsheltered. The region did not conduct an unsheltered Point in Time Count in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The count has found that about 16% (or at least 1,442 people) of the San Diego region’s homeless population on any given night is in North County with cities such as Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, Vista, Encinitas and unincorporated areas such as Fallbrook experiencing large populations of unsheltered homelessness. The 2022 Point in Time Count identified 43 sheltered and 75 unsheltered for a total of 118 individuals experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad. This represents a 20% decrease from the 2020 count. The North Coastal area had a total of 745 individuals experiencing homelessness, which represented a 20% increase. Additional demographic data from the Point in Time Count is included in Appendix A. While the Point in Time Count represents a one-night snapshot, the Carlsbad homeless quarterly report data has identified that, over a 12-month period, 749 unduplicated individuals experiencing homelessness were encountered by homeless services programs funded by the city. The 2022 Housing Inventory Count shows limited shelter and housing options within North County to meet the needs of the North County homeless population. There are only 167 shelter beds in North County. Of these, 26 beds are only available in the winter through a church shelter network. This leaves only 141 year-round beds for 1,442 people experiencing homelessness in North County, with 50 of these beds restricted to single males. Point in Time Count data 2020 2022 Change Carlsbad sheltered 54 43 -20% Carlsbad unsheltered 94 75 -20% Carlsbad total 148 118 -20% North County Coastal total 621 745 +20% Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 12 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 12 Since 2015 there has not been a significant increase in the number of permanent homeless dedicated interventions in North County. The total number of emergency shelter beds (except for a spike from 2021-2022 due to temporary COVID-19-related motel vouchers) rapid re- housing and permanent supportive housing has remained relatively flat, while the North County has seen a significant decline in transitional housing beds. While the transitional housing resources have decreased throughout the region in recent years, the North County region has not seen any significant increase in other resources (such as emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing), likely contributing to the increase in visible street homelessness throughout the region. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 13 of 82 1000 800 600 400 200 0 -2015 North County Homeless Housing Inventory Count I 1.11. I bll 1.1 I.I .II 2016 2'017 2019 2020 2021 2022 ■ Emer gency Sile er ■ Rapid Re-1-fo sing ■ Transitional Hlousing ■ Permanent .Sl.lpportive Hol.lsin.g 13 Part of a shared framework Addressing the homelessness issue requires regional cooperation and contributions from a variety of stakeholders, including homeless services providers, faith-based organizations, law enforcement, healthcare partners, the education sector, philanthropy, business partners, cities and the County of San Diego. Many cities and stakeholders across the region have been working to develop solutions to the growing number of people experiencing homelessness in our communities. As a result, different entities throughout the county have developed homelessness plans, policies and standards in recent years. The City of Carlsbad has taken these documents and the shared framework of addressing homelessness into consideration in the development of this Homelessness Action Plan. Regional response plans The Regional Task Force on Homelessness is a countywide regional body designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to be the San Diego Continuum of Care. The Continuum of Care is tasked with bringing together stakeholders with a common goal to end homelessness and develop and implement strategies and funding plans to achieve this goal. The regional plans identify core principles that guide actions and decision making in the region. While not a direct requirement for the City of Carlsbad to mirror the Continuum of Care, these principles and policies impact homelessness collaboration, partnerships and funding allocations throughout the region. City staff contribute regularly in regional conversations to represent local needs and collaborate for greater impact. Regional Community Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in San Diego The Regional Task Force on Homelessness has developed a Regional Community Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in San Diego that is intended to align stakeholders around a shared vision, common principles, clear goals and priorities and core strategies that will move the region forward. This regional plan informs and guides regional policy, funding and action, identifies shared measures to evaluate performance and identifies where additional infrastructure is needed to implement plan goals. The plan was released in October 2022. HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 14 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 14 Coordinated Community Plan to End Youth Homelessness In 2018, the San Diego Continuum of Care was awarded the largest HUD Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program grant in the country. This two-year funding spurred the creation of the region’s Coordinated Community Plan to End Youth Homelessness which identified the goal of ending youth homelessness by 2024. San Diego Continuum of Care Board Action Plan: Addressing Homelessness Among Black San Diegans The Action Plan: Addressing Homelessness Among Black San Diegans, released in September 2022, was developed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Addressing Homelessness Among Black San Diegans. It provides detailed recommendations to reduce and eliminate disparities in the homeless services system. Continuum of Care policy guidelines on unsheltered homelessness In January 2020 the San Diego Continuum of Care Advisory Board adopted a set of Policy Guidelines for Regional Response for Addressing Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Throughout San Diego County that outline policy expectations to meet the needs of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness based on national best practices. The policy includes ending activities that criminalize homelessness, promoting the use of non-law enforcement personnel to engage people on the street and taking a clearance with support framework for encampments that requires coordination across all partners for successful resolution. The Regional Task Force on Homelessness developed the policy in consultation with community partners and HUD technical assistance staff. Building on the unsheltered policy, the Regional Task Force on Homelessness identified best- practices for the provision of street outreach services. In the Fall of 2020, the Continuum of Care Advisory Board adopted an enhanced set of Street Outreach Standards that outline service expectations for street outreach workers across the region. The standards focus on ensuring a housing focused, trauma-informed and relationship-based engagement. Many public funders, including the City of Carlsbad and the County of San Diego, include the standards in their contract requirements for providing street outreach services. Standards, learning collaborative and training The San Diego Continuum of Care sets standards for the provision of homeless services. The Community Standards outline minimum expectations for providing quality housing and services and are based on proven best practices. The Continuum of Care also supports the system with adhering to and practicing the standards. Additionally, in the last few years, the Regional Task Force on Homelessness has taken a lead role with creating focused learning collaboratives and contracting with national experts to provide training in diversion, street outreach and rapid re- housing. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 15 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 15 North County Homeless Action Plan In 2020 a group of North County mayors* and other key stakeholders adopted a North County Homeless Action Plan that identified the following goals: 1.Reduce unsheltered street homelessness 50% by January 2022 2.Increase short-term housing options needed for people experiencing homelessness today 3.Increase long-term housing options to end homelessness for people experiencing homelessness or who are in shelter today *Includes the cities of: Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, Solana Beach and Vista Local response plans Within the county, a number of cities have developed action plans to identify local efforts to address homelessness. Other local cities including Encinitas, Escondido, Vista, Oceanside, La Mesa and San Diego have also developed community action plans in the last four years. The common themes for municipal responses address increasing temporary and permanent housing, reducing impacts on the community, collaborating with community providers to coordinate services and leveraging resources. Plan Year Goals City of Encinitas Homeless Action Plan 2021 • Increase the capacity of the city and the community to end homelessness in Encinitas through the development of a collaborative community driven approach. • Decrease the number of individuals experiencing homelessness through demand-driven, person-based homeless response and supportive housing services system. • Increase the availability of temporary and permanent housing. City of Escondido Strategy for Addressing Homelessness and Transiency 2021 • To eliminate the negative impact of homelessness and transiency on our community. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 16 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 16 Plan Year Goals City of La Mesa Homeless Action Plan 2021 • Enhance the city’s public communication and coordination related to the homeless. • Improve the city’s ability to prevent homelessness, provide direct outreach to the homeless population, address public safety, and respond to nonemergency calls for service. • Expand the city’s ability to connect homeless residents to transitional and permanent housing opportunities •Identify viable one-time and ongoing grant funding opportunities. City of Vista Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness 2020 • Prevent homelessness • Improve quality of life • Reduce homelessness City of San Diego Community Action Plan on Homelessness 2019 • Decrease unsheltered homelessness by 50%. • Finish the job of ending veteran homelessness. • Prevent and end youth homelessness as outlined in the San Diego County Coordinated Community Plan to End Youth Homelessness. City of Oceanside Comprehensive Homeless Strategy 2019 • Oceanside’s Comprehensive Homeless Strategy serves as a report on the current status of homelessness in the city, its impact on efforts underway, and provides a framework for integrated and coordinated approaches to help the homeless situation. The city cannot respond to this county and statewide crisis on its own. Many homeless individuals suffer from substance abuse and/or mental health issues which far exceed a city’s ability to respond. Clearly, the County of San Diego which is tasked with “community health” responsibilities, needs to take on an even greater role in Oceanside and North County to make meaningful progress. The state, county, city and the nonprofit community need to work in concert to make meaningful progress. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 17 of 82 DRAFT HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 17 Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 18 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 18 City of Carlsbad policies and plans In addition to the regional framework of addressing homelessness, there are a number of city policies and plans already in place which identify actions or resources impacting homelessness. These policies and plans are threaded into this Homelessness Action Plan. The strategies in this plan are intended to include and complement existing plans. Instead of repeating policy statements or actions from each of these plans, city staff will implement companion policies and programs identified in the plans included below: COMPANION PLANS City of Carlsbad Strategic Plan Age Friendly Carlsbad 5-Year Plan Carlsbad Housing Agency Annual Plan Water Quality Improvement Plan Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan Housing Element of the General Plan Jurisdictional Runoff Management Plan Sustainable Materials Management Plan Permanent Local Housing Allocation Plan Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 19 of 82 DRAFT HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 19 Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 20 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 20 Community input In the development of this Homelessness Action Plan city staff have made significant efforts to receive feedback from many sources. This feedback was used to identify shared themes which helped shape the direction of strategies, initiatives and actions. Feedback from residents The City of Carlsbad Communication & Engagement Department worked with Dialogue Partners, a firm specializing in public participation and community engagement, to design and implement a public involvement strategy to engage City of Carlsbad community members and gather their input. Feedback opportunities included four virtual community meetings (one for each council district) and an online engagement survey which was open from May 27 to June 13, 2021. A total of 218 people participated in the virtual meetings and 427 people completed the online engagement survey. What we heard There was consensus that homelessness had increased over the last five years. People were concerned about the impacts to the community such as encampments, abandoned trash, people outwardly disturbing the peace of the public and individuals sleeping in public spaces such as parks during hours when children are trying to use the park. There was a concern about criminal activity and general perception of safety. There seemed to be a common theme that homelessness is a complex issue, and that Carlsbad was not responsible nor in a position to reduce homelessness on its own. There also seemed to be consensus that the city should take a stance and act now to do what it can to reduce homelessness and the impacts to the community. There was a wide array of opinions, however, about how to approach reducing homelessness. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 21 of 82 a HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 21 Feedback from people with lived experience The City of Carlsbad Housing & Homeless Services and Communication & Engagement departments held two focus groups to solicit input from people with lived experience. In order to develop a plan that responds to identified needs, it is important to acknowledge that people closest to the problem are often closest to the solution. What we heard The feedback groups shed light on many aspects of the homeless response with key takeaways around programs that are missing and populations that aren’t being adequately served. There were many gaps highlighted around people with disabilities not being able to access needed services. Accommodations are not always accessible, sought or upheld for the unhoused population. In addition, there are barriers and inequitable access for people exiting the prison system, women and for people of color. A number of new programs were proposed including a storage locker system for people’s possessions so they can go to work or access services and have a safe place to store personal items, a day labor clean-up program that is connected to a motel voucher, increased options for permanent housing like shared housing and roommate matching or storage sheds to live in temporarily. Feedback from service providers The City of Carlsbad Housing & Homeless Services staff held a focus group with local service providers to solicit their input on strengths, weaknesses and gaps related to homeless services within the city. What we heard There are many unavailable and underfunded resources that are necessary for people trying to exit homelessness. The service providers identified these items as immediate needs: Motel vouchers, bus passes, gas cards, money for car repairs, adequate access to showers and laundry, storage and mail service. The shelter needs articulated included: Safe parking where cars can be left through the day and oversized vehicles are permitted, shelter for women and families and non-congregate shelter. The additional barriers to accessing housing identified were: Affordable rental rooms or units, lack of credit or rental history, lack of income to afford rent, units not allowing pets and lack of assets or proof of ability to pay rent. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 22 of 82 a a HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 22 Systemwide the service providers identified these as the top concerns: Lack of continuity of care through the system of providers, lack of mental health support to stabilize in housing and lack of detox, rehab and crisis stabilization beds. The service providers identified these as their priorities for reducing homelessness: Development of single room occupancy units, incentives for landlords willing to rent to people experiencing homelessness, long term support for those entering housing, long term assisted living options for vulnerable and extremely low-income seniors, affordable long term RV parking and available affordable housing options. Feedback from city staff The City of Carlsbad Housing & Homeless Services staff held a series of three meetings with internal departments including the City Attorney’s Office, Communication & Engagement, Community Development, Fire, Housing & Homeless Services, Legislative Affairs, Library & Cultural Arts, Parks & Recreation, Police and Public Works. What we heard There was consensus that homelessness is a complex issue and concern over how much impact a city can have. There seemed to be concern about how to help individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues, as most city employees are not trained on how to work with that population. Staff encouraged more training on homelessness topics, resources awareness and how to interact with people experiencing homelessness. The Library and Fire departments identified specific initiatives to better serve individuals experiencing homelessness. The internal city staff team helped identify their department’s role for clearer delineation and understanding. These roles are included in Appendix B and will deliver a more coordinated approach across city departments. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 23 of 82 a DRAFT HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 23 Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 24 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 24 Previous City Council guidance Since the original Homeless Response Plan was created in 2017, the City Council has provided input on priorities for responding to the growing issue of homelessness. As a result, the following priorities have been incorporated into the plan: Fully fund staff and implement the city’s homelessness plan Create specific and measurable targets and timelines for reducing homelessness Prevent and end homelessness among youth and veterans Increase social services/social workers through partnership with the County of San Diego Work with entities within our city (and region) to increase transitions to permanent supportive housing Advocate for legislative changes needed to effectively address homelessness Prevent homelessness by supporting those at risk of becoming homeless/losing their housing Work through a regional group to develop a regional action plan that includes integrated services within/among cities Develop an encampment cleanup policy to minimize visible encampments Focus on trauma informed care Focus on aggressive individuals to address their needs (substance abuse, mental health, other) Explore expansion of the La Posada de Guadalupe Shelter Complete financial analysis to identify opportunities for quickest results Identify city and regional goals Emphasize affordable housing Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 25 of 82 DRAFT HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 25 Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 26 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 26 Current inventory of resources in Carlsbad Homelessness impacts all aspects of a community, so it truly takes a collaborative effort to solve it. SUPPORTING CITY DEPARTMENTS •City Attorney’s Office •City Manager’s Office •Communication & Engagement •Community Development •Fire •Library & Cultural Arts •Parks & Recreation •Police •Public Works LEVERAGED OR LOCAL RESOURCES •City General Fund •Community Development Block Grant •Housing Choice Voucher •Housing Trust Fund •Permanent Local Housing Allocation Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 27 of 82 DRAFT HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 27 Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 28 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 28 Regional collaboration The city maintains formal partnerships with many organizations as well as coordinates and collaborates with many regional stakeholders in the community to reduce homelessness. This is not an exhaustive list, as there are many volunteers, groups and organizations supporting efforts to reduce homelessness. Generally, the City of Carlsbad does not directly provide social services. There are social services that benefit the city which the City of Carlsbad contributes funding to support or contracts with non-profit organizations to provide. There are also services provided within the city by social service agencies, nonprofit organizations and religious organizations which are not funded by the city. It is important that the city understands what resources are available to better identify duplication or gaps in services. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 29 of 82 CAL•VET )'"san Diego A. Hum~n~,,~ ~ M!RACOSTA CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT Of VETERANS AFFAIRS ~COLLEGE 1 J:, I Alliance for IANDIEG-Ocoum ..,-!t:-Reg ional Solutions Connecting North County •~ CARLSBAD '\..:: u d oO, ct -..::~ ~ Catholic Charities DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO tl Tri-City Medical Center ~CRC Carhbad Villafe Auociation~ eiperiemelhev,11,gc COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER Jw· the J SAN DIEGO Regional Task Force on Homelessness -.,,o1-6 ,1.011,.,, "r,t<. llnter®1N ) community services " NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT • lb/trans· HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 29 The following resources are not funded by the city but are important parts of the service continuum for people experiencing homelessness. These resources are extremely limited and not sufficient to meet the community need. As a result, the city will advocate for their expansion throughout the region as appropriate. Health services Basic needs support (food, hygiene, clothing) Substance abuse treatment Benefits Mental health services The chart below identifies services financially supported by the City of Carlsbad. Consolidating these services in the work program allows city staff to more easily identify gaps, duplication or alternate funding resources. The annual work plan will continue to identify existing services to best determine the most appropriate funding source. Program Organization City resources (most recent Fiscal Year 2021-22) Source of city resources Outreach Homeless outreach & case management Interfaith Community Services $315,000 General Fund Shelter La Posada de Guadalupe Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego $194,000* Community Development Block Grant, General Fund Bridge to housing shelter network Alliance for Regional Solutions $25,000 Housing Trust Fund Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 30 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 30 Program Organization City resources (most recent Fiscal Year 2021-22) Source of city resources Shelter Women’s Resource Center Domestic Violence Shelter WRC (formerly Women’s Resource Center) $10,000 CDBG Limited-term motel voucher program City of Carlsbad $100,000* General Fund Access & employment Employment & Benefits Specialist Community Resource Center $140,000* General Fund Carlsbad Hiring Center Interfaith Community Services $204,217 General Fund Pet shelter Pet shelter program San Diego Humane Society $29,825* General Fund Housing assistance Housing navigation City of Carlsbad $72,000 Housing Trust Fund, General Fund Emergency rental & utility assistance Interfaith Community Services $25,000 CDBG Emergency rental & utility assistance Community Resource Center $20,000 CDBG Rapid rehousing Community Resource Center $350,000* General Fund Rental assistance Brother Benno’s $10,073 CDBG City service infrastructure Homeless Outreach Team City of Carlsbad Police Department $1,929,790 General Fund Homeless services City of Carlsbad Housing & Homeless Services $714,317 General Fund Encampment and abandoned trash clean up Urban Corps $100,000 General Fund Portable restrooms Rocket Johns $25,000 General Fund TOTAL CITY RESOURCES $4,264,222 *Items funded in previous years, but not on an ongoing basis. The City Council would need to approve funding during the fiscal year 2023-24 budget and subsequent years for these activities to continue. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 31 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 31 How the City of Carlsbad can help (Key areas of focus) The causes of individual homelessness are complex. While not a new problem, recent conditions have increased the homelessness crisis. The high costs of housing and inflation, compared to a lack of increases in wages and public assistance may contribute to more people with vulnerabilities and barriers falling into homelessness. Based on feedback gathered from the multiple stakeholder groups, data evaluation, review of best practices and lessons learned from the existing work plan implementation, city staff have identified key areas of impact the city can focus on to achieve the City Council’s goal over the next 5 years. The City of Carlsbad is limited in many responses to root causes of homelessness. While the city does not have the role of assisting with many issues such as education, healthcare or income assistance, the following are areas of impact where the City of Carlsbad can contribute. These are also the focus of the strategies and initiatives identified in this plan. Shelter and housing High home prices, high rental costs and low vacancy rates have fueled a local housing crisis. San Diego currently ranks as the 5th most expensive rental market in the country. Additionally, research shows that communities where people spend more than 32% of their income on rent can expect a more rapid increase in homelessness. In Carlsbad, 48% of households spend more than 30% of their income on rent with 24% spending more than 50% of their income on rent. Due to the realities of housing affordability and unsheltered homelessness in the region, there is overwhelming consensus that more shelter and housing options are needed in North County. CITY OPTIONS Increase and diversify immediate shelter/ housing availability There are not enough options for women or families with children and individuals with significant mental health or substance abuse issues. There is a limited supply of permanent supportive housing and affordable housing in the region given the need. Many properties have long waiting lists. Even affordable rents at the low- income level are over $1,400 per month for a 1-bedroom unit. Expanding housing types and programs can be used as tools to increase access to housing. Increase housing focused low-barrier shelter There is not enough year-round shelter to meet the need of the unsheltered population. Shelter can play an important role in the process of moving people experiencing homelessness off the streets and into housing. The city is working with Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego to potentially expand the La Posada de Guadalupe shelter to serve more people, including women and families. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 32 of 82 rr rr rr ~- HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 32 Implement zoning and land use programs identified in the Housing Element To meet the housing demand for the region, the State requires regions to plan for new housing units, known as the Regional Housing Needs Assessment. The most recent Regional Housing Needs Assessment prepared by the San Diego Association of Governments identifies 171,658 new housing units are needed over the next 9 years (2021-2029) to meet the need. For the City of Carlsbad this is a total of 3,873 units, with 784 being low- income, and 1,311 being very low-income units. There are several zoning and land use programs in the Housing Element that can expand shelter and housing availability for people in need. F Reduce barriers to shelter and housing For people trying to secure housing there are many barriers based on income, identification, security deposits, criminal history and limited recent rental history. Landlord engagement strategies can be used to access the existing housing stock more effectively for people exiting homelessness. Shallow subsidies, landlord incentives, security deposit assistance and rent guarantees can be used as tools to increase access to housing. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 33 of 82 0 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 33 Outreach and access to services The City of Carlsbad does not directly provide social services as a core service. The city contracts for social workers to provide outreach and case management services to support people in moving out of homelessness. The city also contracts for rapid re-housing services, employment and benefit services and clinician services at the La Posada Shelter. Housing focused street outreach/case management Although the County of San Diego and the city have increased the number of non-law enforcement staff providing outreach and case management, there is still a need for more. This is critical to engaging the unsheltered population effectively and moving them into housing. In December 2021, the County of San Diego launched a North County Pilot Project to provide eight social workers throughout the region to conduct outreach and provide case management to people experiencing homelessness. Carlsbad has one full time social worker within the city as a result of this program. Employment and benefits services The city funds a contract for an Employment and Benefits Specialist to assist individuals experiencing homelessness with connecting to entitlement benefits and paid employment to increase their income. It can be challenging for people experiencing homelessness to gain paid employment, access Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance and/or access other benefits which they are entitled to receive. However, an increase in income can improve housing options and provide more pathways to exit homelessness. The Employment and Benefits Specialist is connected with employers and trained in the Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) model, which is a nationally recognized best practice to streamline access to benefits for people experiencing homelessness. Increase diversion services Diversion includes a service package where staff connect with a household early in their current homeless situation, engage in a strength-based conversation to understand their housing needs and identify potential housing options. Diversion differs from prevention in that diversion serves households already experiencing homelessness. Effective diversion services can help to reduce homelessness by diverting people away from the homeless service system. Equity and access Local feedback from people with lived experience of homelessness as well as regional data analysis by the San Diego Continuum of Care has identified potential equity issues in both rates of homelessness for minorities and the availability and quality of services. As a result, the City of Carlsbad will ensure it implements the Homelessness Action Plan through an equity lens and adjusts when needed to increase or improve equity and access. CITY OPTIONS Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 34 of 82 +Ht HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 34 Public safety The City of Carlsbad has a duty to protect the public safety of all residents, housed or unhoused. The city provides a balanced approach to addressing the complex needs of individuals experiencing homelessness in a compassionate and effective manner while addressing the impacts on the community of people living unsheltered. The 2017 Homeless Response Plan identified the need to look at existing ordinances that impact the community and the city’s response to homeless-related issues. In 2021, the City Council modified and added to the city’s existing quality of life ordinances to regulate conduct such as camping on public and private property, fires and cooking on public property, storage of personal property in public places, aggressive solicitation, trespassing, obstruction of property, disorderly conduct and possessing or consuming open containers of alcohol in public places. Law enforcement without criminalizing homelessness While being homeless itself is not a crime, people experiencing homelessness at times engage in unlawful behavior which requires the response of law enforcement. The Carlsbad Police Department staffs a Homeless Outreach Team that aims to balance the needs of everyone who resides in Carlsbad. This includes providing outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness that need housing, shelter, protection and service referrals. HOT provides compassionate enforcement to make sure that unlawful behavior is addressed. Most people experiencing homelessness have experienced some form of trauma in their lives. A history of trauma impacts a person’s behavior and response to services and supports. Trauma informed care is a critical component in compassionate enforcement. Access to basic health and safety needs Living unsheltered can contribute to poor health and premature death. Many people experiencing homelessness use the emergency room in the place of preventive or general medical care. The Carlsbad Fire Department is frequently called upon to provide immediate medical assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness or to transport for additional medical treatment. A street medicine component can reduce the burden on emergency services and improve the health of the unsheltered population, increasing long-term housing outcomes. Additionally, coordination with the hospital system can be increased to reduce exits from the hospital system to homelessness and connect people exiting hospitals to case management services. Encampment and abandoned litter clean up The City of Carlsbad does not allow overnight camping in public spaces when appropriate alternatives are available and follows regional standards for encampment engagement and clearing. The city contracts for routine and special cleanup efforts of abandoned litter to maintain a clean and safe city. These services will be continued and monitored to ensure ongoing effectiveness. CITY OPTIONS Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 35 of 82 DRAFT HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 35 Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 36 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 36 Key strategies and initiatives Over the next five years the City of Carlsbad will focus on the following key strategies toward reducing homelessness and its impacts on the community. Each strategy has initiatives and new or continuing actions that will be addressed through annual work plans. Strategy #1 Develop and maintain the city’s capacity to prevent and reduce homelessness and its impacts on the community. Strategy #2 Coordinate, collaborate and support local efforts and organizations working to address homelessness in Carlsbad. Strategy #3 Retain, protect and increase the supply of housing and other affordable living options in Carlsbad. Strategy #4 Be active in external policy issues to influence strategies and impacts to the city and region. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 37 of 82 DRAFT HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 37 Strategy #1 Develop and maintain the city’s capacity to prevent and reduce homelessness and its impacts on the community. Initiative 1.1 Develop and maintain internal homeless services infrastructure. Initiative 1.2 Develop and maintain programs to support people finding a home and prevent households from entering homelessness. Initiative 1.3 Coordinate homelessness response between city departments to maximize effectiveness and efficiency. Initiative 1.4 Transparently share data to improve decision-making and communication. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 38 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 38 Strategy #1* Develop and maintain the city’s capacity to prevent and reduce homelessness and its impacts on the community. *New initiatives are highlighted in green. Initiative 1.1 Develop and maintain internal homeless services infrastructure. a.Maintain staff dedicated to homeless services and homeless outreach. b.Maintain abandoned trash and encampment clean-up efforts, ensuring coordination and compliance with regional guidance. c.Identify one-time and ongoing funding sources. d.Continue to evaluate and monitor city services and programs to ensure we identify gaps and meet the needs of the community. Initiative 1.2 Develop and maintain programs to support people finding a home and prevent households from entering homelessness. a.Increase the available case management for people experiencing homelessness and streamline internal referrals to case management. b.Maintain rapid rehousing options to improve wait time to more permanent housing. c.Increase and support prevention and diversion efforts to decrease the inflow of people into homelessness. d. Develop and maintain robust and impactful outreach to persistently identify, engage and assess both the immediate needs and long-term housing needs of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness. e.Identify opportunities to add peer support components to programs and multi-disciplinary teams. f.Improve coordination and access to employment and benefits for people experiencing homelessness. g.Develop a plan to address the increasing number of people and families living in vehicles. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 39 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 39 h.Maintain a limited-stay motel voucher program as a resource to bridge housing. i.Design a Carlsbad City Library program to assist residents at the La Posada de Guadalupe homeless shelter with education and literacy opportunities. j.Investigate barriers to people accessing shelter or permanent housing and create programs as appropriate to alleviate found barriers. Initiative 1.3 Coordinate homelessness response between city departments to maximize effectiveness and efficiency. a.Streamline processes for city departments to coordinate homelessness response in a more effective manner. b.Develop and provide training on homelessness topics, resources and interactions for internal departments that are in contact with people experiencing homelessness. c.Develop a proactive HOT route and schedule to monitor sensitive public areas such as water inlets and ensure they are not being impacted by encampments. d.Update HIPAA documentation and procedures to allow emergency services to access more appropriate crisis response options. Initiative 1.4 Transparently share data to improve decision-making and communication. a.Survey residents, people experiencing homelessness and service providers to better understand and measure qualitative community experiences. b.Compile and publish key data that provides a comprehensive understanding of homelessness in Carlsbad. c.Provide updates to the community on progress within the Homeless Response Plan and City Council goal. d.Coordinate with the Regional Task Force on Homelessness to better inform planning efforts and maximize volunteer support for the annual Point in Time Count within Carlsbad. e.Remain in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Trust Network and utilize HMIS data to inform decisions. f.Continue to educate the community on the city’s efforts related to homelessness and streamline communication pathways for reporting concerns. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 40 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 40 Initiative 1.4 Transparently share data to improve decision-making and communication. g.Identify unified and consistent city messaging and responses regarding homelessness Initiative 1.5 Coordinate the city’s funding sources to ensure optimization and maximize effectiveness. a.Update CDBG policies and procedures to allow funding allocations in alignment with the Homelessness Action Plan. b.Develop a Permanent Local Housing Allocation funding strategy in alignment with the Homelessness Action Plan and eligible uses. c.Provide updates to the community on progress within the Homeless Response Plan and City Council goal. d.Coordinate with the Regional Task Force on Homelessness to better inform planning efforts and maximize volunteer support for the annual Point in Time Count within Carlsbad. e.Continue to educate the community on the city’s efforts related to homelessness and streamline communication pathways for reporting concerns. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 41 of 82 DRAFT HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 41 Strategy #2 Coordinate, collaborate, support and build capacity within local efforts and organizations working to address homelessness in Carlsbad. Initiative 2.1 Coordinate the efforts of the organizations working with people experiencing homelessness in the City of Carlsbad. Initiative 2.2 Develop partnerships within the city to support people at risk of and experiencing homelessness. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 42 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 42 Strategy #2* Coordinate, collaborate, support and build capacity within local efforts and organizations working to address homelessness in Carlsbad. *New initiatives are highlighted in green. Initiative 2.1 Coordinate the efforts of the organizations working with people experiencing homelessness in the City of Carlsbad. a.Conduct monthly case conferencing meetings that include prioritized case evaluation andtrainings on resources and best practices. b.Maintain a comprehensive privacy protected By Name List containing real-time data about all people experiencing homelessness in the City of Carlsbad. c.Develop a multi-disciplinary team model and process to coordinate the work and roles of different community organizations serving the same clients. d.Leverage existing city owned and community spaces to connect with and provide services to people experiencing homelessness. e.Evaluate the development of a regional street medicine program in the city or North Coastal area. Initiative 2.2 Develop partnerships within the city to support people at risk of and experiencing homelessness. a.Develop partnerships with faith-based and community groups to collaborate on homelessness efforts to reduce duplication and mitigate community impacts. b.Coordinate with community-based organizations to develop a fund that allows for community contributions towards homelessness services. c.Partner with outside agencies around victim advocacy to prevent and divert survivors of domestic violence from becoming homeless. d.Continue to enhance housing-focused services at La Posada through added staff capacity, technical assistance and training. e.Provide support to Catholic Charities with expansion efforts at La Posada. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 43 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 43 Initiative 2.2 Develop partnerships within the city to support people at risk of and experiencing homelessness. f.Support Catholic Charities to increase the CUP allowed bed count within the existing La Posada buildings. g. Develop a plan to coordinate with local hospitals, jails and other interim placements to connect individuals exiting without permanent housing to support and to prevent people from exiting to the streets whenever possible. h.Expand access to non-emergency healthcare through more accessible care, including at La Posada, and by creating more connections to referral pathways. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 44 of 82 DRAFT HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 44 Strategy #3 Retain, protect and increase the supply of housing and other affordable living options in Carlsbad. Initiative 3.1 Retain existing affordable housing units and increase the housing options available to people experiencing homelessness. Initiative 3.2 Identify and implement both short- and long- term innovative solutions. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 45 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 45 Strategy #3* Retain, protect and increase the supply of housing and other affordable living options in Carlsbad. *New initiatives are highlighted in green. Initiative 3.1 Retain existing affordable housing units and increase the housing options available to people experiencing homelessness. a.Explore options for homelessness preferences in future affordable housing developments. b. Evaluate alternate shelter and housing options to address high rent rates and limited housing inventory: Tiny homes, motel or apartment conversion, Single Room Occupancy units, shared housing and adding shelters for women and families. c.Secure supportive services for homeless dedicated Housing Choice Vouchers. d. Maintain and monitor a list of affordability restriction time periods for affordable housing within the city and take steps to extend affordability for any properties approaching the end of the restriction period. e.Explore how any city owned properties can be used for low income or supportive housing before they are designated for other uses as may be appropriate. f.Identify opportunities to prioritize beds in mental and behavioral health facilities as may be appropriate and necessary. Initiative 3.2 Identify and implement both short- and long-term innovative solutions. a.Develop, implement, and maintain a landlord engagement program and active partnership with local independent living facilities, sober living homes and other housing options. b.Identify innovative projects which are eligible to be funded through the Permanent Local Housing Allocation. c.Explore projects that would be eligible for available funding sources. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 46 of 82 DRAFT HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 46 Strategy #4 Be active in external policy issues to influence strategies and impacts to the city and region. Initiative 4.1 Maintain an active role in external activities to expand local and regional solutions to homelessness. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 47 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 47 Strategy #4 Be active in external policy issues to influence strategies and impacts to the city and region. Initiative 4.1 Maintain an active role in external activities to expand local and regional solutions to homelessness. a.Remain up to date on legislation affecting homelessness, housing laws, policies, strategies and/or funding. b.Identify opportunities to influence and support legislation that aligns with Carlsbad’s homelessness strategies, efforts and plans. c.Participate in regional efforts and initiatives regarding homelessness. d.Pursue collaborative approaches, when feasible, that contribute to capacity and/or resources in the region. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 48 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 48 Data/tracking progress As the Homelessness Action Plan is implemented the city will use multiple measurements to evaluate effectiveness, monitor progress and inform decision making. Homelessness is a fluid issue and requires a variety of data indicators to tell the story of homelessness in our community. As a result, the city will continue to report on a variety of data points to inform the City Council and the public about the progress the city is making toward its homelessness goal. City staff anticipates formally reporting out progress semi-annually. Data will be obtained from the following sources: Point in Time Count The annual Point in Time Count is one data source to gauge the year-over-year trends and approximate the number of people experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad. Each year, the count is conducted over a four-hour period in the early morning to collect data on homelessness in the region. While it does not give the complete picture on how many people experience homelessness in Carlsbad throughout the year, it does provide a snapshot of the minimum number of homeless persons there are in Carlsbad on a given night. It is one of the tools used nationally to assess progress each year toward the goal of reducing homelessness and is often used for funding decisions. Homeless Management Information System The Homeless Management Information System records client-level information on the characteristics and service needs of people experiencing homelessness. It allows for all service providers to share information and accurately track the total number of unduplicated clients who are being served in the City of Carlsbad. The system provides real-time data that show the inflow versus outflow of individuals experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad and can be used to track the outcomes of individuals in the homeless system of care. All city-funded homeless service providers are required to enter data into the Homeless Management Information System and provide the city with monthly data reports. Housing Inventory Count The Housing Inventory Count is an annual HUD required inventory of the beds, units and programs designated to serve people experiencing homelessness. The Housing Inventory Count tallies the number of beds and units available on the night designated for the count by program type, and include beds dedicated to serve persons who are homeless as well as persons in Permanent Supportive Housing. By-Name List A By-Name List is a comprehensive list of every person in a community experiencing homelessness, updated in real time. By maintaining a By-Name List, communities are able to track the ever-changing size and composition of their homeless population. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 49 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 49 Carlsbad Help App The Carlsbad Help App is an internally developed reporting tool which allows the city track interactions with people experiencing homelessness and send referrals between departments. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 50 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 50 Measurable objectives/benchmarks The following measurable objectives/benchmarks will be used to track program progress. A description of each measurement is included in Appendix C. Number of people experiencing homelessness •The inflow and outflow of people accessing homeless service programs •The number of unduplicated people experiencing homelessness encountered •The Point in Time Count numbers Assistance provided to people experiencing homelessness •The number of people experiencing homelessness that obtained housing •The number of placements in shelter or other temporary programs •Newly homeless/returns to homelessness Availability of affordable housing and shelter •Shelter capacity •New affordable units available for extremely low income •New supportive housing available for people with severe service needs Impacts of homelessness on the community •Calls for service •Abandoned trash and encampments •Community opinion survey of residents Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 51 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 51 APPENDICES A.POINT IN TIME COUNT DATA B.COORDINATION WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS C.BENCHMARK EXPLANATIONS AND DEFINITIONS Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 52 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 52 APPENDIX A POINT IN TIME COUNT DATA Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 53 of 82 53 *Data is from the 2022 Point in Time Count. Point in Time Count unsheltered data *The Point in Time Count did not take place in 2021 due to COVID-19 precautions. The City of Carlsbad took over the Point in Time Count from an outside organization starting in 2017. HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN Carlsbad’s Homeless Population* Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 54 of 82 6 ~v~d~San Diego County prior to becoming homeless ~~8% ,, Veterans 160 140 120 100 80 78 60 40 21 20 0 2011 2012 2013 19 72% Male (t) • I 0 I Female ' • e 100% Adult ,55%44+ Carlsbad began to manage 21 2014 2015 2016 2017 e e 87% White '' 13%Black ~ 38% Disability 152 75 2018 2019 2020 2022 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 54 APPENDIX B COORDINATION WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 55 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 55 The city’s Housing & Homeless Services Department will lead the implementation of the Homelessness Action Plan. Part of the success of this plan depends on all city departments understanding their roles in the strategic direction in support of the goal. The following table identifies additional city department roles related to homelessness in our community: Department Role All departments Communicate regularly with relevant departments to share information and collaborate on homelessness. Maintain alignment within the city on actions and messaging regarding homelessness. Library & Cultural Arts Provide community spaces for education, meetings, outreach and similar community involvement. Collect data and share information and insights about the homeless population using library services, such as counting attendance at programs specifically designed for the homeless population and tracking numbers of resources and referrals. Develop programming, share external opportunities and community partnerships that benefit individuals experiencing homelessness. Connect individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness with helpful resources. Parks & Recreation Provide community spaces for education, meetings, outreach and similar community involvement. Coordinate with city departments to leverage funding and programs for people experiencing homelessness. Identify strategies for operational areas being impacted by homelessness to better serve all patrons. Public Works Promote public safety and environmental sustainability by maintaining public spaces. Oversee coordination of abandoned trash cleanup and disposal of hazardous materials. Coordinate reporting of efforts to the San Diego Water Board through the Water Quality Improvement Plan Annual Reports. Fire Provide emergency medical services to homeless residents. Assist with connecting residents experiencing homelessness to local services and programs. Coordinate with the Police Department, local hospitals, non-profit services, MCRT and PERT clinicians to stay apprised of resources and provide comprehensive care. Police Provide a balance of compassionate outreach and enforcement through the Homeless Outreach Team. Provide resources to the homeless community seven days a week while also addressing the general community’s complaints and concerns related to quality of life issues and illegal conduct. City Attorney Provide legal guidance, advice and insight around homeless related issues. Conduct legal review of homeless related contracts, grants, plans and programs. Assist with drafting and reviewing new policies and ordinances to address and limit, where necessary, homeless impacts on the community. Advise the Homeless Outreach Team and prosecute criminal offenses or pursue other enforcement as appropriate. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 56 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 56 Housing & Homeless Services Develop planning documents and take lead on coordination of the Homelessness Action Plan. Provide administrative oversight, including contracting and compliance, of Housing & Homeless Services funded programs. Regularly coordinate with community service providers and local health and government agencies. Pursue funding opportunities, as appropriate, to support the city in addressing homelessness. Assist other departments with preparing, evaluating, implementing and reporting out on data, policies and programs related to homelessness, such as those in the Housing Element. Oversee and maintain programs which assist with addressing homelessness such as the Community Development Block Grant, Housing Choice Voucher and Affordable Resale programs. Intergovernmental Affairs Monitor legislation, recommend bill sponsorship opportunities and work with City Council Legislative Subcommittee for potential advocacy positions based on the city’s Legislative Platform. Monitor grant opportunities that can support and further the city’s Homelessness Action Plan. Communication & Engagement Facilitate two-way communication between the city and the community about city programs and services dedicated to reducing homelessness in Carlsbad. Support the Housing & Homeless Services Department in carrying out public involvement programs to gather community input when appropriate. Coordinate with department staff to develop timely, accurate and easy to understand information about the city’s homeless response efforts for distribution through the city’s communication channels to increase community awareness and government transparency. Community Development Coordinate on land use issues related to housing and homeless services identified in the Homelessness Action Plan and Housing Element. Work with related departments to implement and report out housing goals, programs, grants, data and accomplishments. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 57 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 57 APPENDIX C BENCHMARK EXPLANATIONS AND DEFINITIONS Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 58 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 58 City staff will track a number of data points to provide a comprehensive picture of the need, city efforts and impacts related to homelessness. The following is a description of each measurement. City staff will return to the City Council on a semi-annual basis to report on the below metrics. Number of people experiencing homelessness •The inflow and outflow of people accessing homeless service programs: Each month the city will use the Homeless Management Information System to determine the number of new people who have been added to the By-Name List by enrolling in a homeless service program (inflow) and the number of people who have exited the By-Name List by exiting a homeless service program (outflow) within the city. These numbers can demonstrate if homelessness is increasing or decreasing over time, monitor where people are coming from or leaving to, and can help to identify the rate of returns to homelessness. •The number of unduplicated people experiencing homelessness encountered: Every quarter the city will use Homeless Management Information System data to determine the number of unduplicated clients served by all city-funded homeless services programs. This demonstrates how many people homeless services programs engage with each quarter and over the course of a year. This is a cumulative data point and does not reflect how many people experiencing homelessness are in Carlsbad at one time. •The Point in Time Count Numbers: Each year the city will collaborate with the Regional Task Force on Homelessness to oversee the Point in Time Count within the city. The Point in Time Count number provides an idea of general trends year-over-year and provides an indication of the minimum number of people experiencing homelessness on a given night. Assistance provided to people experiencing homelessness •The number of people experiencing homelessness that obtained housing: Homeless Management Information System data will be used to track the number of people who exit homeless service programs to housing destinations. This metric will identify how many people are permanently exiting homelessness each month. •The number of placements in shelter or other temporary programs: Homeless Management Information System data will be used to track the number of people who enter shelter or other temporary programs. This metric will identify how many people are moving from being unsheltered to sheltered each month. •Newly homeless/Returns to homelessness: Homeless Management Information System data will be used to determine the number of people who are newly homeless or were previously homeless and exited to a permanent housing destination and have returned to homelessness and accessed homeless services. This metric may provide insight into how many people are homeless for the first time as well as the effectiveness of homeless service programs and how services may need to be strengthened or adjusted. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 59 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 59 Availability of affordable housing and shelter •Shelter capacity: The city will use the Housing Inventory Count and Homeless Management Information System data to track the shelter capacity available to people experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad. An increase in shelter capacity could indicate that more shelter beds have been developed or there has been a decreased need for shelter. Shelter capacity can be an important component to the homeless service system because it provides a stable sheltered place for people experiencing homelessness to stay and work with service providers to identify permanent housing. •New affordable units available for extremely low-income persons: The city will track the number of units available for extremely low-income persons. An increase in units for extremely low-income persons provides more opportunities for people living in poverty to maintain housing or exit homelessness. •New supportive housing available for people with severe service needs: The city will use the Housing Inventory Count and Homeless Management Information System data to track the number of supportive housing units available to people experiencing homelessness with severe service needs in Carlsbad. An increase in supportive housing capacity could indicate that more housing units have been developed or there has been a decreased need for supportive housing. Supportive housing is critical to ending homelessness for the people with the most severe service needs in the community. Impacts of homelessness on the community •Calls for service: Each quarter the city will use the city-designed Help App to determine the proactive and police dispatched called for service related to homelessness. Calls for service do not necessarily indicate need or progress. The Police Department tracks reactive calls based on complaints as well as proactive calls initiated by officers. A decrease in reactive calls could indicate there are fewer complaints being received. Proactive calls indicate the efforts to conduct outreach and enforcement. A fluctuation in proactive calls could mean there is a change in need or effort. For example, if there are fewer individuals experiencing homelessness there could be fewer proactive activities based on need, but it could also mean that there is less proactive activity based on resources. Calls for service will be tracked for informational purposes and city staff will provide a qualitative description along with likely reasons for the fluctuation in calls for service. •Abandoned trash and encampments: Each quarter the city will compile data received from the city contractor related to homelessness encampment and abandoned trash cleanups. The city contracts for consistent days of cleanup per month. If the number of days or encampments cleaned up decreases, it could mean that there is a decreased need. A decrease in this measurement would likely be positive. •Community survey of residents on the impacts: Each year the city will conduct a survey of residents which provides an opportunity for the community to provide feedback on their personal experience regarding the impacts of homelessness. This data helps the city to understand residents' perception, concerns and track progress with reducing community impact over time. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 60 of 82 - REDUCING HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Exhibit 2 In February 2023, the City Council approved an updated Homelessness Action Plan, which includes the programs and initiatives the city will carry out over the next five years and the measures that will be used to track progress. During FY 2023-24, the City of Carlsbad achieved several important milestones towards its goal of reducing homelessness and its impacts on the community, which are detailed in this report. City Council Goal Enhance the quality of life for everyone in Carlsbad by adopting and implementing an updated Homelessness Response Plan that addresses the complex needs of individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness in a compassionate and effective manner and reduces the impacts of homelessness on the community. SUMMARY OF CITY-FUNDED PROGRAMS Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 61 of 82 ++++ ++++ ++++ +++ People transitioned to permanent housing ~-65 Shelter placements 601 lm Unduplicated contacts Police calls for service Hotel voucher STAYS 6,974 Encampment CLEANUPS Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 2 The city uses a variety of data points to measure and track progress on efforts to reduce homelessness. The data captured below is a summary from the Homeless Management Information System of clients enrolled in services provided by city-funded contracts during the time period of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Carlsbad’s Homeless Population Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 62 of 82 ' • ,· 601 People served 20 Families 42 Children t t 38% Aged 55+ r ~4.7% )Q Veterans By-name list-FY 2023-24 fil] 193 672 • • ,, People enrolled in Carlsbad programs on June 30, 2024 133 Unduplicated individuals served a.!.1111!1 ~ ~ Individuals found permanent housing through programs in the city 27% Chronically* homeless *Reported a permanent disability and 1 year+ experiencing homelessness Totals 395 New enroll ments 140 New to San Diego County Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) 255 Previously enrolled in the HMIS system Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 3 POINT-IN-TIME COUNT UNSHELTERED DATA The Point-in-Time Count is an unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness across the United States, normally conducted during the last week in January. Since 2005, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has required all Continuums of Care who receive federal funding to provide a bi-annual count. The San Diego County Region typically exceeds this requirement by conducting a count every year. *The Point-in-Time Count did not take place in 2021 due to COVID-19 precautions. 2024 Point-in-Time Count Data 2022 2023 2024 Change from 2022 to 2023 Change from 2023 to 2024 Carlsbad sheltered 43 43 38 0% -11% Carlsbad unsheltered 75 60 112 -20% 87% Carlsbad total 118 103 150 -13% 47% North County Coastal sheltered 276 360 230 30% -36% North County Coastal unsheltered 469 423 596 -10% 41% North County coastal total 745 783 826 5% 5% San Diego County Region sheltered 4321 5093 4495 18% -12% San Diego County Region unsheltered 4106 5171 6110 26% 18% San Diego County Region total 8427 10264 10605 22% 3% Point-in-Time Count* Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 63 of 82 160 152 140 120 112 100 80 60 40 21 20 19 21 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 2023 2024 Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 4 The table below shows how data compare between each quarter, along with cumulative data since July 2022. The same individual may have received more than one service and is reflected under each service category that applies to them (for example, the same individual may have received both a motel voucher and later placed into permanent housing). Fiscal Year Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 YTD Households transitioned to permanent housing 2022-23 35 31 19 20 105 2023-24 14 23 22 30 89 Total persons receiving services1 2022-23 247 184 236 183 565 2023-24 266 234 317 352 601 Police calls for service2 2022-23 2,548 1,857 1,953 1,964 8,322 2023-24 1,928 1,857 1,787 1,402 6,974 New shelter placements 2022-23 21 17 21 7 66 2023-24 10 11 15 29 65 Shopping carts collected 2022-23 31 13 3 35 82 2023-24 73 53 64 71 261 Hotel voucher stays3 2022-23 10 13 10 15 48 2023-24 9 5 17 24 51 1Total persons receiving services include the total number of people enrolled in a city-funded program during the time period of this report. Annual and YTD numbers are deduplicated for individuals served over multiple quarters. 2Carlsbad Police officers went into the field for 6,974 homeless-related calls for service during the fiscal year, of which 2,920 calls were in response to a specific request or complaint and 4,054 were proactive department-initiated calls for service to help carry out city homelessness goals and enforce applicable laws. 3This number indicates unduplicated households served, as some stays overlapped fiscal quarters. City Programs Data by Quarter Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 64 of 82 ' I , :Dt ~- ~ ~ Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 5 The total expenditures for fiscal year 2023-24 to support the homelessness goal were $4,590,442. TOTAL BUDGET EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY FY 2023-24 $933,474 $338,808 $319,995 $279,018 $2,127,813 $482,775 $108,558 Housing assistance Shelter Benefits and employmentOutreach and case managementPolice Homeless Outreach TeamHomeless services City services infrastructure Expenditures Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 65 of 82 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 6 Homelessness is a complex issue that requires the resources, expertise and cooperation of many different entities. The city’s efforts are concentrated within three key areas it can influence and programs that will make the biggest impact for Carlsbad. These areas comprise “what” the city is focusing on. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 66 of 82 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN Areas of Focus She lter and housi ng Outreach and access to services Pu b lic safety Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 7 Shelter and Housing PERMANENT HOUSING City-funded programs transitioned 89 people into permanent housing. Many of these placements were assisted by multiple programs both city and non-city funded. In addition to city-funded programs, non-city funded programs housed an additional 44 individuals for a total of 133 people moving from homelessness in Carlsbad to permanent housing during fiscal year 2023-24. PREVENTION Limited funds are available from Community Development Block Grant and the General Fund to assist households at risk of entering homelessness. During fiscal year 2023-24, Interfaith Community Services, Community Resource Center, and Brother Benno’s assisted 69 households, preventing them from entering homelessness. LIMITED TERM HOTEL VOUCHER PROGRAM From July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, 51 households, including 71 people, utilized the homeless services and police department hotel voucher program. The homeless services motel voucher program served 38 people throughout the year bridging 30 of them to temporary or permanent placements following their stay. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 67 of 82 tt89 People transitioned to permanent housing 51 ~ Hotel voucher STAYS Households provided with prevention services 65 New shelter placements Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 8 Community Resource Center The city partners with the Community Resource Center for a number of services. Under Shelter and Housing, the city contracts for rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention services. These contracts provide case management, emergency rental assistance, security deposit support, ongoing rental assistance, landlord advocacy, financial education, stabilization support, and referrals to higher levels of care. Contract: Rapid re-housing Annual budget: $794,839 People served: 87 Funding sources: GF, PLHA, HUD People housed: 50 Housing retention at 12 months 92% The rapid re-housing contract served 87 people during FY 2023-24 with 50 securing housing during the fiscal year and many still enrolled and continuing to search for housing. Of the individuals exited to housing 92% were stably housed one year post program. Contract: ERF rapid re-housing Annual budget: $134,977.50 People served: 19 Funding sources: State ERF The Encampment Resolution Funding provides rapid re-housing assistance for those living in the encampment area to support them in obtaining and stabilizing in permanent housing. Contract: Emergency Rental Assistance Budget: $23,000 People served: 8 Funding sources: CDBG The emergency rental assistance program through Community Resource Center supported 8 people with rent and utilities payments to prevent them from entering homelessness. Catholic Charities The Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego operates the La Posada de Guadalupe men’s shelter in Carlsbad. The shelter has the capacity to serve 50 single men experiencing homelessness. Contract: Clinicians City Funding: $200,000 People served: 92 Funding sources: PLHA Permanent Housing Exits: 37 Total Bed Nights: 16,274 The city provides funding for staff, operations, training and technical assistance. It is a priority of the city to help Catholic Charities expand the shelter to include space for single women and families. Catholic Charities provided shelter to 92 individuals during FY 2023-24 and exited 37 to permanent housing placements. Contract: Homeless Shelter Services Budget: $174,020 Grant Term: 3 years Funding sources: ERF Catholic Charities provides shelter for men leaving the encampment resolution area in Carlsbad Village. This contract provides infrastructure support, meals and supplies for La Posada along with Housing Navigation services. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 68 of 82 I I Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 9 Interfaith Community Services The city partners with Interfaith Community Services for a number of services. Under Shelter and Housing, the city contracts for homelessness prevention services within the city. Contract: Emergency Rental Assistance Budget: $58,823 People served: 23 Funding sources: CDBG CDBG funds for emergency rental assistance provided 23 individuals with rental assistance to prevent them from entering homelessness in Carlsbad. Women’s Resource Center The city partners with Women’s Resource Center to provide domestic violence services for Carlsbad residents. The organization assists with shelter, hygiene kits, bus passes, food, clothing, counseling and wrap-around services. Women’s Resource Center supported 96 clients from Carlsbad during FY 2023-24. Brother Benno Foundation The city partners with the Brother Benno Foundation to provide emergency rental assistance, utility assistance, motel vouchers and recovery services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the City of Carlsbad. During FY 2023-24 the organization supported 28 people in 11 households with utility or rental assistance to prevent them falling into homelessness. Alliance for Regional Solutions The city contributes $40,000 annually from the Housing Trust Fund to the Alliance for Regional Solutions Bridge to Housing Network. The Alliance distributes funding to North County homeless shelters including Haven House, Operation Hope, La Posada de Guadalupe, Interfaith Family Shelter and the Interfaith Shelter Network. The city’s contribution helps the shelters support operations and serve Carlsbad residents. The city continues to rely on the shelter network to provide space for single women and families. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 69 of 82 Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 10 Interfaith Community Services – Outreach Contracts The city partners with Interfaith Community Services for a number of services. Under Outreach and Access to Services, the city contracts with Interfaith Community Services to provide outreach and case management. Contract: Outreach and case management Budget: $315,000 People served: 228 Funding sources: GF Services provided: 3,788 Housing placements: 14 The outreach and case management contract provides two licensed or master’s level clinicians and one part-time licensed program manager. They provide coverage throughout the week offering outreach and case management in the field to individuals experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad. The clinicians engage, assess, plan and refer individuals to resources like shelter, housing, medical care, public benefits, mental health assistance, substance use treatment and basic needs supports. This is often the beginning phase of a person’s exit from homelessness. From here there are often referrals to other service providers who join the support team to help the person secure housing, increase income, access substance use, mental health or medical treatment or provide other needed supports. Securing housing is often a long, complex process that is impacted by many factors which is why housing placements from the outreach point appear low. During FY 2023-24, Interfaith Community Services through the outreach and case management program engaged with 228 unduplicated clients experiencing homelessness. Contract: ERF outreach and peer support Annual budget: $249,445 People served: 83 Funding sources: State ERF Services provided: 415 Housing placements: 1 The outreach and peer support contract funds one clinician and one peer support specialist to provide outreach and case management in the encampment resolution area. Being a new grant, this contract was partially staffed in Q3 of FY 2023-24 and fully staffed in Q4. During fiscal year 2023-24,over two thousand case management sessions were provided by the outreach social workers. The social workers provide a variety of clinical intervention, including assessment, care coordination, crisis intervention, shelter referral, diversion and treatment planning. Outreach and Access to Services Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 70 of 82 ' 1 ' Partners with :£::il: PDHOT 2,713 Outreach touch points ~ 4. 0 FTE Outreach & El) peer support staff 311 Total people served Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 11 INTERFAITH OUTREACH SERVICES PROVIDED Services accepted Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 YTD Case management sessions 742 519 539 392 2192 Emergency shelter referral 33 18 38 65 154 Mail delivery 7 2 1 3 13 Transportation to services 1 0 0 52 53 Police transportation 11 1 5 9 26 Substance abuse treatment 11 7 10 12 40 Document assistance (ID, birth certificates, etc.) 40 15 18 29 102 Permanent or bridge housing referral 105 53 69 30 257 Employment & benefits access (medical insurance, CalFresh, employment, VA benefits, etc.) 49 25 41 29 144 Information only 82 19 53 404 558 Food assistance 18 3 13 31 65 Hospital transport 1 0 1 0 2 Referrals to mental & physical health care 31 17 32 16 96 Personal needs assistance (clothing, phone, prescriptions, etc.) 20 10 7 68 105 Reunification travel assistance 32 26 26 13 97 Other (appointment coordination, blankets, etc.) 91 44 35 67 135 TOTAL 1,274 752 888 1220 4,1411 1all numbers indicate services provided, not individuals served, individuals may receive multiple services within each category Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 71 of 82 ' I , il Cf) m 6 ~ • • r,11 y ft • Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 12 Interfaith Community Services The city partners with Interfaith Community Services to operate the hiring/service center. Contract: Hiring Center/Service Center Annual budget: $205,000 People served: 659 Funding sources: GF, HTF Day Labor Placements: 78 Permanent job placements: 8 Interfaith Community Services operates the Carlsbad Service Center which provides temporary job placement through the hiring center, housing case management and homelessness prevention services. Community Resource Center The city partners with the Community Resource Center to operate employment and benefits specialist services. This contract supports households with benefits enrollment, job readiness support, resume building and employment connections. Contract: Employment & Benefits Annual budget: $140,000 People served: 73 Funding sources: GF Employment Placements: 21 Benefits awarded: $20,358 The employment & benefits program supports households in accessing benefits and obtaining employment. Seventy-three (73) households received services during FY 2023-24 with fifty (50) enrolled in employment-focused services. Thirty-one (31) households worked with employment and benefits specialist services to obtain the following benefits: CalFresh, General Relief, Medi-Cal, SSI and SSDI. Whole Person Care Clinic The city partners with Whole Person Care Clinic to provide medical services within the encampment resolution area. Contract: Street Medicine Budget: $56,033 Outreach days: 21 Funding sources: ERF Whole Person Care Clinic provides medical services in the encampment area one day per week. This contract began providing services in January 2024 through the encampment resolution funding. Medical providers are able to provide wound care, disease diagnosis, prescription assistance, blood pressure monitoring and other medical services in the field. They are also able to refer for follow up testing and care. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 72 of 82 I I Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 13 Public Safety HOMELESS-RELATED CALLS FOR SERVICE During fiscal year 2023-24, Carlsbad Police went into the field for 6,974 homeless-related calls for service, which made up 7% of all calls for service. Of those, 2,920 calls were in response to a specific request or complaint and 4,054 were proactive department-initiated calls for service to help carry out city homelessness goals and enforce applicable law. PERCENTAGE OF CALLS FOR HOMELESS-RELATED SERVICES HOMELESS-RELATED STATISTICS BY CATEGORY *These are the statistics related to the homeless population compared to the general population in Carlsbad. Mental health holds refer to incidents when an individual experiencing a mental health crisis is hospitalized for 72-hour psychiatric care after they are determined by the police to be a danger to themselves or others. Percentage of all calls for services Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Homeless-related calls for services 7% 7% 7% 5% Homeless-related arrests 14.5% 13.6% 17% 21% Homeless-related citations 3% 8% 6% 1% Homeless-related mental health holds 4% 2% 4% 10% Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 73 of 82 7% Related to homelessness Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 14 CITY SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE – ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP & RESTROOMS 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 the city’s Public Works Department and the Homeless Outreach Team. They are responsible for responding to and triaging any incoming cleanup requests based on health and safety. This contract provides cleanup services 3 days per week, 52 weeks a year, often including encampment cleanups. During 2023-24, Urban Corps completed 40 encampment cleanups. When encampment cleanups are not needed, the team provides regular cleaning services to areas commonly known to have abandoned trash and a high prevalence of homelessness related debris. Rocket John Portable Restrooms and Handwashing Stations The Rocket John contract provides three portable restrooms and handwashing stations and routine cleaning and maintenance in Carlsbad. Two are located in Carlsbad Village and one is at the Cole library. CARLSBAD CONNECTS REPORTS* Abandoned Trash 7 Abandoned Property 5 Abandoned Shopping Cart 3 People Living in Vehicle 11 People Living Unsheltered 10 Total 36 *4/29/2024 - 6/30/2024 Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 74 of 82 151.5 Cubic yards of trash removed iii 135 40 .ij. tt Cleanup DAYS Encampment CLEANUPS Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 15 ERF – 2-R - CARLSBAD VILLAGE The City of Carlsbad applied for and received $2,358,408.94 from the State of California to focus outreach and housing services on the Carlsbad Village area from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026. Between July 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023, contracts were executed with Interfaith Community Services, Community Resource Center, Whole Person Care Clinic and Catholic Charities (for La Posada). All contracts were fully staffed and operational sometime between Jan. and May 2024. This grant provides additional outreach services, rapid re-housing, street-based medical services and additional services at the La Posada de Guadalupe Men’s shelter. *this data is also included in overall city-wide data ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION FUNDING Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 75 of 82 ERF SUMMARY tttt ttttt ttttt~ ,,,, u Transitioned to permanent housing 6 La Posada STAYS 142 fil1 Total people served Enrol led with outreach 8 (t) Hotel voucher STAYS 89 Received MEDICAL CARE Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 16 $235,200 $220,000 $10,000 $108,000 $25,000 $225,379 $97,500 Non-personnel budget for 1 full grant year Rapid re-housing Shelter meals & operationsReunification assistance Flexible needs Item storage Operations & admin Motel vouchers ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION FUNDING Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 76 of 82 ~ Community Resource Center • housing case management • rental assistance l.i:\ Whole Person \:!:/ Care Clinic • medical care & treatment • prescription assistance La Posada Shelter • housing navigation • meals & infrastructure support ~ Interfaith Community Ell Services • case management & peer support • basic needs assistance • • • • • • • Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 17 OUTREACH ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION SERVICES Q3 Q4 YTD Case management sessions 17 204 221 Emergency shelter referral 0 10 10 Reunification travel assistance 2 4 6 Transportation to services 0 21 21 Police transportation 0 1 1 Substance abuse treatment 0 1 1 Document assistance (ID, birth certificates, etc.) 1 6 7 Permanent or bridge housing referral 5 10 15 Employment & benefits access (medical insurance, CalFresh, employment, VA benefits, etc.) 3 16 19 Information only 1 76 77 Food assistance 0 3 3 Personal needs assistance (clothing, phone, prescriptions, etc.) 0 6 6 Referrals to mental & physical health care 1 6 7 Other (appointment coordination, blankets, etc.) 2 19 21 TOTAL 32 383 4151 1all numbers indicate services provided, not individuals served, individuals may receive multiple services within each category ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION FUNDING Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 77 of 82 ' I , il Ct) m 6 ~ • • y r,11 • Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 18 ERF – CARLSBAD/OCEANSIDE 78 CORRIDOR The City of Carlsbad in partnership with the City of Oceanside applied for and received $11,398,466.52 from the State of California to focus outreach, medical, substance use, mental health and housing services in the 78 corridor through June 30, 2027. The entire grant amount will be spent in the grant area, with approximately $5.3m contracted by the City of Carlsbad. ERF – CARLSBAD VILLAGE - VEHICLE HOMELESS OUTREACH (VHOP) The City of Carlsbad applied for and received $2,994,442.71 from the State of California to focus outreach and housing services for people living in vehicles in the Carlsbad Village area through June 30, 2027. This grant will be brought to City Council for approval in the beginning of 2025. ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION FUNDING Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 78 of 82 Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 19 Case Collaboration/Care Conferencing City staff work closely with staff from city-funded programs and other partners working in homeless services. Staff facilitate a monthly Carlsbad collaboration meeting and a monthly case conferencing meeting to ensure all outreach efforts are effectively administered and coordinated, so that the most complex cases are prioritized and served. The Carlsbad collaboration meeting provides training and resource coordination. Trainings and coordination have included: affordable housing training, shared housing, mental health resources, senior housing resources, homelessness specific housing resources, and the San Diego Humane Society programs. The case conferencing meeting is attended by direct service providers within Carlsbad that are a part of the Homeless Management Information System so that coordination of the most acute cases can be supported effectively by all participating providers. Community partners report appreciation for the level of cohesion and collaboration that exists within the agencies working on homelessness issues in Carlsbad. By-Name List To better understand homelessness in Carlsbad and coordinate efforts, the city maintains a comprehensive list of all individuals enrolled in homeless services programs within the city. The list is generated directly from the Homeless Management Information System and is used by the city to coordinate the work of all partners providing homeless services in Carlsbad. The list had 672 unique individuals enrolled in services during fiscal year 2023-24. This number includes enrollments in all city-funded or administered programs and non-city funded programs (County of San Diego, People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) and the YMCA Transitional Age Youth program). During the year, one hundred and forty (140) individuals entered the list for the first time who had not previously been enrolled in any homeless services program within the San Diego County Homeless Management Information System. City Programs and Partnerships Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 79 of 82 Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 20 Additional Collaboration 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. Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 80 of 82 MIRA OS y coLLEGE Alliance for . SAIIDIEGOCOONTY Regional Solutions Connecting North County •~ CARLSBAD ~ JS< o t ~pa cr Catholic Charities OIOCE fF SAN 01 GO (~ Tri-City Medical Center .tChowers W~~~fil~~J.QQS ~CRC COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER .. ~1.c✓ Villa\fe Auoc~at1on Carhbad nprrirncr 1hr YJllaGr the'T . !. SAN DIEGO Regional Task Force on Homelessness c;f'l!.01"4-'1 J'~ ~ ~,. ~ llntertMb ~ community scrvlcc1 I: ,., tbltranF G Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 21 The following success story is a real person experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad and connected to community services and housing as a result of the city’s homelessness efforts. This is their story, which they have given the city permission to share. Their name has been changed to protect their confidentiality. Meet Frank Male: 62 Permanently housed: May 2024 One of our most impactful stories this year is about Frank, a 62-year-old man who has been experiencing homelessness since February 2017. Since then, Frank has stayed at different shelters and has interacted with various support services, including the Carlsbad Police Department Homeless Outreach Team, the Brother Benno Foundation, PATH, Interfaith Community Service’s homeless outreach team, City of Carlsbad staff, and Community Resource Center staff. Frank faced significant challenges due to a physical disability, chronic health conditions, and alcohol use. Since at least 2021, Frank has been navigating his Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim and would express interest in recovery programs only to find out there were no immediate openings. Frank was also often difficult to locate. However, the implementation of a coordinated approach through the monthly meetings of the Carlsbad Collaborative made ongoing engagement easier this past year. With the dedicated support of his case manager and care team, Frank successfully obtained senior housing in Carlsbad. He continues to work with his case manager to stabilize his living situation. What worked • The Police Department Homeless Outreach Team continually engaged Frank and continued to refer him to the city’s programs. They supported him in the motel voucher program and with assisting him in getting his ID from the DMV. • Community Resource Center, Interfaith Community Services and the City of Carlsbad Housing Navigator worked closely together to support Frank in obtaining his documentation, completing his SSI claim that provided him with permanent income, supporting him in accessing senior housing and providing him with stabilization support in his new home. • Case Conferencing between the organizations allowed greater collaboration to support Frank in continual progress towards eventually gaining housing. Success Stories Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 81 of 82 Reducing Homelessness Annual Progress Report: July 2023 – June 2024_______________________________________________________ 22 Staff have experienced some challenges around the implementation of the City Council’s goal to reduce homelessness and its impacts on the community. Some of these include: Staffing The city’s homeless services team experienced staffing shortages due to medical leave and vacant positions. City contracts have also had varying challenges in maintaining social service staff members and hiring new staff members. Limited shelter and housing resources There is limited emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, available affordable housing and general housing options in North County and San Diego. Limited options for women and seniors Outreach workers, police homeless outreach officers and city staff have experienced an influx in single females over the age of 60 experiencing homelessness for the first time. Staff are collaborating to identify accessible shelter and housing options for this population. General communal shelters are not always an option due to extremely limited availability, health risks and mobility needs. The Haven House shelter in Escondido has merged with Interfaith Community Services’ recuperative care program, reducing shelter beds in the region by 49, including the majority of the available beds for single women. Staff across multiple agencies report difficulty securing shelter options for seniors and single women. City staff have several projects on the horizon: • The Department of Housing & Homeless Services is continuing to provide support and monitor the progress on the La Posada de Guadalupe shelter expansion. • Staff launched a contract on July 1, 2024 with Interfaith Community Services utilizing the National Opioid Settlements funding per the recommendation of City Council through a Substance Abuse Outreach and Education program. • Staff began utilizing new Resolution Strategies funding from the Regional Task Force on Homelessness which is a flexible funding source to hep divert people away from homelessness. • Staff will continue to coordinate community efforts to better implement shared housing strategies for people experiencing homelessness. • Staff are launching the new permanent housing program with Community Resource Center to pair housing with supportive services utilizing Housing Choice Vouchers. • Staff have submitted an application for the expansion of the rapid re-housing program that is expected to be funded in the upcoming fiscal year. This will allow for additional households to access case management and rental assistance to secure permanent housing. Overcoming Challenges Upcoming Work Jan. 27, 2025 Item #2 Page 82 of 82 Jan. 27, 2025 Chris Shilling, Homeless Services Manager Housing & Homeless Services Jessica Klein, Senior Program Manager Housing & Homeless Services TODAY’S TOPICS Presentation Overview of city’s approach Annual data report 3 BACKGROUND •Homelessness is a growing problem nationwide, in our region and in Carlsbad •Carlsbad began to supplement county, non-profit efforts •2016: Police Homeless Outreach Team •2017: Homeless Response Plan •2021: Housing & Homeless Services Department •2023: Updated Homelessness Action Plan •Focus on lasting solutions and community impacts HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN ( City of Carlsbad 4 CURRENT PRIORITY “Enhance the quality of life for everyone in Carlsbad by adopting and implementing an updated Homeless Response Plan that addresses the complex needs of individuals experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness in a compassionate and effective manner and reduces the impacts of homelessness on the community.” City Council 5-Year Strategic Plan HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 0 Quality of Life & Safety Prioritize the safety and well-being of the community In 5 years .. The aty of carlsbad remains one of tile safl!St cities In the region due to nf'w Investments In fire and emf'rg medical servlcM and a -ll~qulp~d and hllJhly tralrwd Police Department that l!fljoys ex~llent relatio th<" community. Critical infrastructure lltt roads and pl~s a,e well-rNlntaiMd, while parks, communl libraries and other facilltlt-s reflect the community's hlflh 1Undard1. ► Residentresponsestos.urveyquesllonsrelatedtoufety,qualityoflife,cityse,vl ► Cirlsbadcrimestatlstlcs ► Emeri1encyresponsetlmes ► Condillonofcityusetslikeroads,parksandbuildlngs lndluton to bf' l~ntlf~d In an updated Homeless Response Plan that Vlow homf'lessrwu, such M: o Numffl of ~"""s placed In temporary or ?ff!na""nl housl111 o NumDff of ~nons who re~ived ~ices Enhanuthequalityoflifeforew,ryonelncarlsbadt,yadoptlngandlm entinganupdated HomelessResponsePlanthataddressesthecomplexneedsoflndivlduafsexperlenclng.orllt risk of U!)Hiencln, homeles,;ness In a com,iassionate and effective manner and reduces tl'te lm,iacts of homeless.ness on tl'te community. Foster stron1 relatlonshll)S between community members 11nd members of the Police Department, lncludinlil the formation of a community-police en,agement commission Brln1flreDepllrtmentuptoStllndarohofCovertoensuretl'tecitylsprep.,r<"dtomeetthe community's changing fire and emergency medical needs 4 Manqe, milnti,ln ind enh11nce the city's roadway to prO\llde a safe, efficient and cost-effective multi-mod11I tr;insporutlon system. 12 2023 -2027 {city of Carlsbad ( City of Carlsbad 5 HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN Approved in 2023 •9 initiatives and 56 actions •Shelter and housing •Outreach and access to services •Public safety •Progress reports every 6 months HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN SEMIANNUAL REPORT Reducing Homelessness JULY 1 -DEC. 31,2022 During the first half of FY 2022·23, the City of Crty Council Goal CCityor Carlsbad Carlsbad 11chi~d s~ral important milestones Enhoncetl>equolityof~fefr,rr,o,1)'0"" in c,,,/JJx,d b)' ( City of Carlsbad HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN AREAS OF FOCUS Shelter and housing Outreach and access to services Public safety {city of Carlsbad HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN STRATEGIES 1.Develop and maintain the city’s capacity to prevent and reduce homelessness and its impacts on the community. 2. Coordinate, collaborate and support local efforts and organizations working to address homelessness in Carlsbad. 3. Be active in external policy issues to influence strategies and impacts to the city and region. 4. Retain, protect and increase the supply of housing and other affordable living options in Carlsbad. ANNUAL FUNDING PLAN Homelessness Action Plan Strategies Initiatives STREAMLINED PROCESS HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN AT A G L A N C E HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL REPORT 9 tttt tttt tttt ttt People transitioned to permanent housing 65 Shelter placements Unduplicated contacts ~ 51 Police ca Ills for service Hotel voucher ~-rArS 6,974 Encampment CLEA1 l.JPS AT A G L A N C E HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL REPORT 10 Unduplicated individuals served 193 People enrolled in Carlsbad programs on June 30, 2024 By-name list – FY 2023-24 672 133 Individuals secured permanent housing 140 Individuals experiencing homelessness for first time -. ,, SHELTER AND HOUSING •La Posada de Guadalupe Shelter •Motel vouchers •Alliance for Regional Solutions •Rapid re-housing •Carlsbad housing navigator •Homelessness prevention HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL REPORT 11 {city of Carlsbad SHELTER AND HOUSING HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL REPORT 12 People transitioned to permanent housing Hotel voucher STAYS Households provided with prevention services New shelter placements BRIDGE MOTEL VOUCHERS HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL REPORT 13 Transitioned to permanent housing, shelter, treatment or long-term care 38 Households Served 30-. ' OUTREACH & ACCESS TO SERVICES •Outreach social workers •Peer support •Employment & Benefits Specialist •Carlsbad Service Center •Street medicine •Substance use disorder outreach HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL REPORT 14 {city of Carlsbad OUTREACH & ACCESS TO SERVICES HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL REPORT 15 Total people served 2,713 Outreach touchpoints 311• ' •Balanced approach with enforcement and social services •Joint outreach with social workers and separate time for case management •Proactive calls for service to educate and enforce restrictions such as aggressive panhandling, trespassing and drinking in public •Build rapport with those experiencing homelessness while holding them accountable and addressing criminal behavior HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN PUBLIC SAFETY PUBLIC SAFETY •Carlsbad Police Homeless Outreach Team •Abandoned trash clean up •Portable restrooms HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL REPORT 17 {city of Carlsbad POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE 6,974 calls 4,054 officer initiated 2,920 dispatched 6.5%Related to homelessness HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL REPORT 18 {city of Carlsbad POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL REPORT 19 Percentage of all calls for services Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Homeless-related calls for services 7% 7% 7% 5% Homeless-related arrests 14.5% 13.6% 17% 21% Homeless-related citations 3% 8% 6% 1% Homeless-related mental health holds 4% 2% 4% 10% {city of Carlsbad 22% decrease in dispatched calls for service from community members HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE DECREASED 16% decline in dispatched calls for service ! ! HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL REPORT 21 CARLSBAD CONNECTS APP REPORTS* • 6Jt Abandoned Trash 7 •i-1 Abandoned Property 5 !!"" Abandoned Shopping Cart 3 "'•' People Living in Vehicle 11 • • ft People Living Unsheltered 10 Total *4/29/2024 -6/30/2024 36 22 GRANT FUNDED OUTREACH DOWNTOWN VILLAGE AREAS tttt ttttt ttttt tttt Transitioned to permanent housing 6 La Posada STAYS 142 Total people served Enrolled with outreach Hotel voucher STAYS 89 Received MEDICAL CARE END OF YEAR STATUS UPDATE HOMELESSNESS ANNUAL REPORT 23 Status update-End of FY 2023-24 179 People enrolled 1.7% Veterans 7 Families 14 Children average monthly income: $1,856.86 ,. ., ~ ~ 40% Aged 55+ average monthly income: $1036.80 28% Chronically* homeless average monthly income: $693.77 *Reported a permanent disability and 7 year+ experiencing homelessness •Homelessness is a regional, state and national issue •Carlsbad has been proactive in addressing homelessness and its impacts •The city has achieved quantitative and qualitative results •The city’s action plan continues what’s working and continues to make steady progress toward council goal HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN SUMMARY Questions HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN {city of Carlsbad