HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-24; City Council; ; Accept the staff report on the City of Carlsbad Homeless Response Plan and comment as appropriate, and approve a Resolution authorizing staff to prepare a Request for ProCA Review lJ!tJ(
� CITY COU:NCIL
� StaffReport
Meeting Date: To:
From: Staff Contact:
Subject:
October 24, 2017
Mayor and City Council
Kevin Crawford, City Manager
Debbie Fountain, Housing & Neighborhood Services Director
De bbie.fountain@carlsbadca.gov or 760-434-2935
Accept the staff report on the City of Carlsbad Homeless Response Plan
and comment as appropriate, and approve a Resolution authorizing staff
to prepare a Request for Proposals and solicit responses for resources
and/or services to implement the Plan.
Recommended Action
Accept the staff report on the City of Carlsbad Homeless Response Plan and comment as
appropriate, and approve a Resolution authorizing staff to prepare a Request for Proposals and
solicit responses for resources and/or services to implement the Plan.
Executive Summary
The City of Carlsbad has experienced an increase in issues caused by homelessness including
increased calls for emergency and police services and citizen complaints. Residents and other
community members, including business owners, are requesting a response from the city to
address the increasing impacts associated with this challenging issue, both to the homeless
individuals themselves and to the surrounding community.
The reasons for homelessness are many and varied in their degrees. It is very unlikely that there
will be a single reason that a resident becomes and/or remains homeless. Each homeless
resident will have a unique story. Because of this fact, the city response to addressing the needs
of the homeless is challenging and must be multifaceted and layered in its approach if it is to be
successful. Staff has prepared the attached Homeless Response Plan to address the impacts of
homelessness and is requesting that the Council share comments with staff on the Plan. In
addition, staff is requesting that the Council approve a Resolution authorizing staff to prepare a
Request for Proposals and solicit responses for resources and/or services to implement the
Plan.
Discussion
The attached Homeless Response Plan (Exhibit 2) establishes key principles and system
responses that the city will employ to address the community impacts of homelessness. The
plan identifies the role of the City of Carlsbad in addressing homelessness and defines its
function as distinct·from dther tiers of government and community partnerships. The plan
provides strategies to:
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 1 of 20
L, Prevent, reduce and manage homelessness in Carlsbad; 2.r Support and build capacity within the city and community to address homelessness;3.Encourage collaboration within the city, community partnerships and residents; and4.Retain, protect and increase the supply of housing.Housing and Neighborhood Services will take the lead in implementing the Homeless Response
Plan in coordination with a multi-city department, multi-agency and service organization effort. At the risk of oversimplifying the proposed city response, it is best described as an individualized case management system in which the homeless will be evaluated where they are physically located within the community. They will not be referred to a location outside the city for evaluation and case management assistance; this step will occur within city facilities. The city's approach will seek to understand the obstacles to self-sufficiency for each homeless individual and, with the assistance of many, develop a plan to move the resident towards selfsufficiency and rehousing opportunities.
Homeless Outreach Team and other efforts
It is important to note that the Police Department recently kicked off their efforts to address the impacts of homelessness on the community by forming and deploying their Homeless Outreach Team with two dedicated fulltime police officers. The goals of this team is to make consistent and frequent contact with the homeless and seek opportunities to connect the homeless residents with appropriate resources and services. The team will also focus on the clean-up of homeless encampments and take other actions to address community concerns as related to the homeless residents, including any related criminal activity. Some of the examples of the police department's work effort to date includes:
•Working with the City Attorney's Office on possible amendments to the city's municipalcode to help with enforcement. •Coordinating with other departments for resource referrals, and other municipalitiesand the county to provide resources, as available, and make enforcements efforts moreeffective. •Community outreach and education to social service agencies, churches, and others.•Homeless encampment clean-ups/removal, resource referral for homeless.•Direct contact with about 30 transients to date; issued some citations.•Coordinating with Parks on facility impacts and brainstorming solutions.•Responding to citizen requests for addressing impacts of homeless and homelessness.
The police department will continue to have a significant role in the implementation efforts associated with the Homeless Response Plan, and continue to operate the Homeless Outreach Team that was funded in the 2017-18 city budget through work with regional law enforcement partners.
It should also be noted that the Fire Department will have a role in addressing health issues and remer-gency services related to the homeless, which inch;1des arresponse of prevention and ;education actions related to the Hepatitis A virus that has been initiated over the past few
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 2 of 20
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weeks. Planning meetings will be held weekly by a city team to monitor and appropriately respond to any health issues impacting at ;risk populations, including the city's homeless residents.
Finally, the city's action are intended to move homeless residents toward self-sufficiency and rehousing. It is not the city's intent to simply relocate the problem to another city. Coordination with the other cities that are part of the Innovate 78 Collaborative may assist the city in its efforts to ensure that there are similar efforts being implemented within each of the 5 partner cities in a manner that benefits each of the communities and homeless residents.
Homeless Demographics The Regional Task Force on the Homeless released the 2017 WeA//Count/Point-in-Time Count in late April, 2017. The total homeless count for Carlsbad is 160; 59 sheltered and 101 unsheltered. This year the city coordinated the effort and helped to ensure a better count of the homeless because staff and local volunteers went into areas not usually accessed by others who are not familiar with the city geography or have limited knowledge of the locations of the Carlsbad homeless populations. The city completed the counts and interviews of a sampling of homeless residents, resulting in a total count and a map of encampments and other locations where the homeless residents most often frequent for shelter. This information has been very valuable in developing a response to the specific situation of homelessness in Carlsbad.
Based on staff research, the reasons for homelessness in Carlsbad and other cities throughout the nation are many, and often different for each individual. Some of the causes of homelessness include, but are not limited to:
•Poverty •Physical and/or sexual abuse•Unemployment •Victims of financial or identify theft•Lack of affordable housing •Escalating health care costs•Poor physical or mental health •Aging out of foster care system with•Drug and Alcohol Abuse no support•Gambling •Human trafficking•Family and relationship breakdown •Lack of transportation or access to•Domestic violence services for various reasons
A homeless person could be homeless for one, several or all of the above reasons. These factors not only cause a person to become homeless, but can be the reasons a person remains homeless. The solutions are not easy, and often require a multi-pronged and individualized response.
Summary
Implementation of this Plan will represent a new line of business for the City of Carlsbad and sets forth its leadership role in coordinating a response for its homeless residents and addressing the community impacts.qthoqielessness. To respond successfully to the challenge . ,1.of homelessness in Carlsbad; the as�.is,tanc.e of c.ornrriunity members, service organizations, ;; 1 . ·.�· : i"!
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 3 of 20
churches, caring residents, businesses, state and federal agencies and others will be needed to
work in coordination with city staff teams to implement the strategies set forth within the Plan.
This is not a challenge that the city will be able to address alone. Without the assistance of
many others with expertise in a variety of areas of service to the homeless, the strategies and
tasks set forth within the Plan can't be completed in a way that will allow for a successful
response from the city. Many of the activities will also need additional legal review.
The Homeless Response Plan will be revised based on Council comments and begin
implementation with solicitation of staffing resources and/or services through a Request for
Proposal process.
Fiscal Analysis
The city's Homeless Response Plan includes strategies and objectives to addressing the various
factors associated with homelessness. While it is anticipated that funding beyond existing
budget will be required to fully implement the Plan, no additional funding is being requested at
this time. A request for proposals (RFP) will be prepared and distributed for responses. Staff will
return to City Council with a budget request following review of the responses to the RFP and
partnership/collaboration discussions with other organizations, agencies, churches and similar
partners.
The Police Department will continue to use their existing budget to continue operations of the
Homeless Outreach Team. Following additional fiscal analysis and further City Council direction,
staff will return with a budget for further consideration and action as appropriate.
Next Steps
Following review and comments by the City Council on the Homeless Response Plan, staff will
proceed with efforts to prepare and distribute an RFP for resources and/or services to assist
with implementation of the Plan if authorized. Staff will return to City Council with a budget
request following review of the responses to the RFP and partnership/collaboration discussions
with other organizations, agencies, churches and similar partners.
Environmental Evaluation (CEQA)
Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21065, this action does not constitute a "project"
within the meaning of CEQA in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change
in the environment, or a reasonably forseeable indirect physical change in the environment,
and therefore does not require environmental review.
Exhibits
1. Resolution approving the City of Carlsbad's Homeless Response Plan and staff efforts to
implement it.
2.City of Carlsbad's Homeless Response Plan
3.Regional Task Force on the Homeless Point in Time County for the City of Carlsbad, and
other cities within San Diego County.
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 4 of 20
RESOLUTION NO. 2017-207
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING STAFF TO PREPARE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
AND SOLICIT RESPONSES FOR RESOURCES AND/OR SERVICES TO
IMPLEMENT THE HOMELESS RESPONSE PLAN.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California has determined that there is a
need to respond to the increasing impacts associated with the challenging issue of homelessness on
the individuals themselves and to the surrounding community; and
WHEREAS, because the reasons for homelessness are many and varied in their degrees, the
city's response to addressing the needs of the homeless must be a multifaceted and layered in its
approach if it is to be successful; and
WHEREAS, the city's Homeless Response Plan establishes key principles and system responses
that the city will employ to address the community impacts of homelessness; and
WHEREAS, the Housing and Neighborhood Services will take the lead in implementing the city's
Homeless Response Plan in coordination with a multi-city department, multi-agency and service
organization effort.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
Ill/
/Ill
/Ill
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That the City Council hereby authorizes the Housing & Neighborhood Services Director
to proceed with efforts to prepare a Request for Proposal and solicit responses for
resources and/or services to implement the Homeless Response Plan for the City of
Carlsbad.
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 5 of 20
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad on the 24th day of October, 2017, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: K. Blackburn, M. Schumacher, C. Schumacher, M. Packard.
NOES:
ABSENT:
None.
M. Hall.
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor Pro Tern
r I
ii, 12 ¼. I I ,
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1LU}J::')G' A.c~ ,~ 272· 7/2 tnv,__, I )"27"'(___
BARBARA ENGLESON, City Clerk L/
(SEAL)
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 6 of 20
City of Carlsbad
Homeless Response Plan
Ccityof Carlsbad
Exhibit 2
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October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 7 of 20
City of Carlsbad Homeless Response Plan 1 2
Contents Mission Statement .......................................................................................................................... 3
Purpose ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Impact Statement ........................................................................................................................... 3
Background ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Neighboring Cities Response ............................................................ : ............................................. 6
Community Partnerships ................................................................................................................ 7
Strategic Plan Development ........................................................................................................... 8
Measuring Success .......................................................................................................................... 8
City Departments Coordinated Work ............................................................................................. 9
Strategies ...................................................................................................................................... 10
Action Items & Status ................................................................................................................... 12
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 8 of 20
City of Carlsbad Homeless Response Plan 1 3
Mission Statement Enhance the quality of life for all who live in Carlsbad by actively leveraging and deploying cityresources in a compassionate and effective manner, and by facilitating access to resourcesprovided by others.
Purpose The Homeless Response Plan establishes key principles and system responses that the city willemploy to address the community impacts of homelessness. The plan identifies the role of theCity of Carlsbad in addressing homelessness and defines its function as distinct from other tiersof government and community partnerships.
The plan provides strategies aimed at: 1.Preventing, reducing and managing homelessness in Carlsbad;2.Supporting and building capacity within the city and community to addresshomelessness; 3.Encouraging collaboration within the city, community partnerships and residents.4.Retaining, protecting and increasing the supply of housing.
Impact Statement The Homeless Response Plan commits to reduce the impact of homelessness on city resourcesand the Carlsbad community while working to meet the complex needs of the homeless.
Background In the past couple of years, the City of Carlsbad has experienced an increase in issues caused byhomelessness, including increased calls for emergency and police services and citizen complaints.Residents and other community members, including business owners, are requesting a responsefrom the city to address the increasing impacts associated with this challenging issue, both to thehomeless individuals themselves and to the surrounding community.
The reasons for homelessness are many and often complicated and time consuming to resolve.To better understand the specific needs and the impacts of the homeless on the Carlsbadcommunity, Housing & Neighborhood Services convened a working group of staff from several· city departments, including Police, Fire, Library, Parks & Recreation, Public Works, and the CityAttorney's Office to share experiences and collaborate on potential strategies. This informalworking group, known internally as the Homeless Response Team (HRT), met several times with the goal of developing a proactive, solution-oriented program to address the challenge. While we will coordinate with other cities and other regional service organizations to meet the needsof the homeless, the Carlsbad HRT intends to start with a full assessment of our challenge inCarlsbad and stay focused on addressing the needs of our homeless residents as a first priority.
We intend to work more closely with other cities to expand the model out to help other cities through an ongoing collaborative approach. There is potential negative impact to surroundingcities when one city begins putting pressure on their homeless residents to make changes. We
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 9 of 20
City of Carlsbad Homeless Response Plan 14
hope to resolve the crisis to the greatest degree possible for Carlsbad, and not just relocate it to another city.
As part of this working group effort, a decision was made to participate actively in the annual Regional Task Force on the Homeless Point-In-Time Count which occurred on January 27, 2017. City staff and volunteers that know the city well went into the field and took the counts, and subsequently conducted interviews of a sample of the homeless as prescribed by the Task Force. It was very important to get a more accurate count of the homeless to allow staff to better understand the homeless population in Carlsbad specifically. With a more accurate count, it is anticipated that the City will have much better access to state and federal funding to help us to address the needs of the homeless in our community.
The Regional Task Force on the Homeless released the 2017 WeA//Count/Point-in-Time Count results in late April, 2017. The total homeless count for Carlsbad is 160; 59 sheltered and 101 unsheltered. In addition to receiving the final counts from the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, the following tasks have also been completed since January, 2017:
• Survey of local service, community and faith-based organizations to identify the resources and services currently being provided to Carlsbad homeless residents, and beginning to identify the gaps. • Developed a resource guide for city departments to help provide referrals and information to the homeless community. • Began effort to identify local social service agencies, churches, service groups, businesses and residents serving the homeless population and what each can do to help. • Ongoing research for alternative affordable housing and homeless shelter opportunities. • Learning from the City of Oceanside Homeless Outreach Team on its model for how to assess the homeless population and identify how to assist them from a range of solutions, and from the City of San Diego, through its City Attorney's Office.
Overview The reasons for homelessness in Carlsbad and other cities throughout the nation are many, and often different for each individual. Some of the causes of homelessness are:
• Poverty • Physical and/or sexual abuse • Unemployment • Victims of financial or identify theft • Lack of affordable housing • Escalating health care costs • Poor physical or mental health • Aging out of foster care system with no • Drug and Alcohol Abuse support • Gambling • Human trafficking • Family and relationship breakdown • Lack of transportation or access to • Domestic violence services for various reasons
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 10 of 20
City of Carlsbad Homeless Response Plan 15
A homeless person could be homeless for one, several or all of the above reasons. These factorsnot only cause a person to become homeless, but can be the reasons a person remains homeless.The solutions are not easy, and often require a multi-pronged and individualized response.
Regional efforts have been made to present a unified response to homelessness in San DiegoCounty specifically, and considerable funding has been made available to address the needs.Unfortunately, these efforts have had limited success to date and the homeless populations inSan Diego County are continuing to grow. Because the reasons are many, the solutions whichwould allow a homeless person to be housed and remain successfully housed are difficult andcomplex to resolve; the solutions require a more comprehensive understanding of the individualneeds and take considerable time to case manage each person.
It is staff's opinion that the current service environment to address the needs of the homelesshas not been more successful because 1) services have not been well-coordinated and there islimited collaboration among service agencies; 2) there is duplication of effort in many services due to overlapping organizational missions; 3) there is competition for available funding tosustain individual organizations rather than to expand services through partnerships; and 4)homeless have difficulty accessing the services for a variety of reasons, including lack oftransportation to the service locations.
The 2016 Point-in-Time Count by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless indicated thatCarlsbad had 67 homeless in emergency shelters, 16 unsheltered homeless individuals, and 26homeless living in their vehicles (RV, car, truck, etc.). The 2017 Point-in-Time Count indicates thatCarlsbad has homeless in emergency shelters, homeless living in their vehicles or self-madestructures, and unsheltered homeless residents. The count indicates that there has been anincrease in homeless residents in Carlsbad. Based on Police records, there have been 769 callsfor service related to homeless individuals since August of 2016. The Police are averaging 240calls per month, 10 calls per day. These statistics indicate that the population could be larger inCarlsbad than reported by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless. However, the official countdoes indicate an increase, even with all of the efforts to date to house the homeless throughoutSan Diego County.
Based on data from emergency responders and medical service providers throughout the SanDiego region, it is estimated that it costs $45,000 to $50,000 per year to provide assistance to one homeless resident from a medical emergency response and care standpoint. Typically, the Fire Department responds to health crisis calls for the homeless. When you consider responsecosts for the Fire Department, transport to the hospital, and related hospital costs for individuals with no insurance, the cost per person adds up fairly fast. If we use the count of 100 unsheltered homeless residents in Carlsbad, this has a related medical response and service cost of$4,500,000 to $5,000,000 on an annual basis, which is significant.
The Police Department estimates that it utilizes about 3600 police officer hours per year torespond to calls related to ·homeless individuals; these calls for service range from suspicious
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City of Carlsbad Homeless Response Plan 16
individual, to disruptive behavior to criminal or threatening activity. When we consider the fully burdened hourly cost of a police officer at $99..79, the annual cost for police service calls is estimated to be about $360,000 per year.
The homeless do use free public services and facilities, such as the library, senior center and city parks. Various service groups provide food to the homeless at city parks. There have, however, been some complaints about the behavior and/or "look" of the homeless residents frequenting these public facilities. Unfortunately, over the past few years, the city has also seen an increase in criminal activity associated with some of the homeless residents; this activity is generally drug or alcohol related and/or petty theft or other nuisance crimes (such as smoking in the parks, overnight parking/camping on the public streets).
The city has experienced problems with homeless encampments in open space and habitat preserve areas, as well as in public facilities such as landscape medians or other areas, large storm water pipes or other utility pipes that are pending completion of construction projects, and storm drains and drainage channels. Homeless residents have been responsible for some damage to city properties and have illegally used electric to power RVs and other equipment. The clean-up of trash and debris, fecal matter, and other pollutants by Public Works staff and/or contractors has increased over time. This all has a cost to the city.
Neighboring Cities Response Many of the neighboring cities in northern San Diego County are experiencing similar increases in their homeless populations, and are working to develop solutions that will be effective for their particular cities. For example, Oceanside is working their Homeless Outreach Team (HOT} primarily from the Police Department. Carlsbad police officers attended a training from the Oceanside HOT to learn more about what is working within their community to address the needs of the homeless, and is continuing to learn from other cities with emerging homeless response teams. As another example, Encinitas hired a Homeless Services Coordinator to work on their challenges associated with the homeless, and many other cities are developing city-specific programs as well. Because of the uniqueness of the needs of each homeless resident and the varying degrees of abilities to access services in each city, it appears that a community focused effort may be more successful than the regional approach at this time. These locally focused efforts may then be able to expand to regional solutions as each of the cities develop a better understanding of the specific needs of their homeless populations and respond accordingly to connect with resources and other longer term solutions to address those needs.
It is also important to note that Vista, Oceanside, Escondido and the City of San Diego have had some success prosecuting illegal encampments -on both public and private property -as a misdemeanor. They have found that an infraction level offense has no impact on the homeless population while a misdemeanor level offense provides a "carrot stick" for individuals to accept resources and services as part of a plea agreement. The City of San Diego also has a very effective program that targets chronic offenders, a large subset of its homeless population.
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 12 of 20
City of Carlsbad Homeless Response Plan 1 7
Community Partnerships To res pond successfu lly to the cha llenge of homelessness in Ca rlsbad, the assista nce of co mmunity members, service organizatio ns, churches, caring re sidents, businesses, state and fe deral agencies and others wi ll be needed to work in coordination to implement the strategies set forth below. This is not a cha llenge that the city wi ll be able to implement alone. Without the assista nce of many others with expertise in a va riety of areas of service to the homeless, the strategies and tasks set forth below ca n't be completed in a way that wi ll allow fo r a successfu l response from the city.
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 13 of 20
City of Carlsbad Hom eless Response Plan 1 8
Strategic Plan Devel opment
This home less re sponse plan wi ll se rve as a fo undation to develop a more com prehensive, lo nger term strategic plan which will continue to shape the city's efforts to address the impacts of homelessness on the re side nts, the large r co mmunity and the city itself.
The strategic plan wi ll include an analys is of 1) this initia l homeless re spo nse action plan as well as identify gaps and opportunities with in existing homeless progra ms and services provi ded by the city, fa ith-based and co mmunity orga nizations; 2) benchmarks to track progra m progress; 3) timeline fo r project action items; and 4) reso u rce and fu nding re quirements to support the strategic plan fo r the longer term.
Measuring Success A critica l element of any plan involves monitoring progress and measuring success against esta blished objectives. Using indicators to help ga uge the impact of acti ons wi ll also be important, helping the city and co mmunity to better understa nd where success is em erging or where efforts need to be re-eva luated .
While the key measures noted below re quire more deta il and clarification as we ll as consensus among policy makers as to "how to defi ne success" they outl ine the expectati ons of this Homeless Response Plan if implemented in fu ll. It is antici pated that these key indicators wi ll be added to or cha nged ove r time based on review of the Homeless Response Plan and development of the longer term strategic homeless plan. The measures wo uld include, but are not limited to:
•Number of homeless re sidents assessed and action plans developed for each person and/orfamily.•Full im plementation of a case ma nagement system, put into place to effectively co llaboratewith city departme nts, service providers and co mmunity orga n izations to address theunique needs of home less resi dents .•Increase in number of co mmunity and service partnerships to serve homeless resi dents.•Protocol developed and put in place and employees trained on how to im pact cha nge inbehavior and circu msta nces of homeless re sidents.•Increased housing opportu nities for short and long-term housing for homeless re sidents.
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 14 of 20
City of Carlsbad Homeless Response Plan 1 9
City Departments Coordinated Work HNS will take the lead in implementing the Homeless Respo nse Plan in coordi nation with the city's Homeless Response Tea m. This multi-department effort to address the needs of the homeless will be more efficie nt and effective beca use it builds on the stre ngths and current work effort of the Hom eless Response Tea m members. In additio n to exec uting the developed protocol for addressing the needs of the homeless at city facilities and within the com munity, fol lowing are the current and anticipated roles for the Homeless Respo nse Team members:
Department Role on te am Develop and maintain a com munity reso urce database for all to use in addre ssing the needs of the hom eless; continue to provide insight to challenges and opport unities in meeting the needs of homeless library Library & Cultural Arts patro ns to the homeless respo nse coordi nator. Evaluate facility and service off erings that can be incorporated into the ongoing plan to meet the needs of the homeless; continue to provide insight to challenges and opport unities in meeting the needs of homeless residents at the senior center, Pine Park and other city Parks & Recreation recrea tion facilities and parks. Contin ue to coordi nate with the police department's Crime Suppression and Homeless Outreach Tea m on homeless encampment clean-up proj ects and other relate service needs; contin ue to provide insight to challe nges and opport unities for addressing the impacts of homeless Public Works residents and their actions on public facilities. Provide life emergency services to homeless reside nts; acts as subj ect matter expert for emergency services best practices for homeless reside nts; continue to assist with interviewing homeless reside nts and helping the move forward to obtain assista nce through the city's case Fire management progra m. Lead the Crime Suppression and Homeless Outreac h Team {HOT}; Two dedicated officers will make con siste nt and frequent contact with the homeless and seek oppo rtu nities to move homeless reside nts towards the city's case management progra m in coordi nation with HNS and other Homeless Respo nse Tea m members. The Crime Suppression and HOT will take the lead on addressing impacts of homeless encampments and working with the general public and regio nal part ners on addressing Police their concerns and complaints re garding the homeless. Provides legal guidance, advice and insight around homeless related issues; assists with new policies and ordi nances to address and lim it, where necessary, homeless impacts on the com munity; prosecute City Attor ney criminal offen ses as appropriate . Develop pl anning doc uments and take lead on coordi nation of homeless HNS respo nse proj ect.
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 15 of 20
City of Carlsbad Homeless Response Plan 1 10
Strategies
Strategy #1: Prevent, reduce and manage homelessness in Carlsbad
a.Continue to evaluate existing city services and programs that serve homeless residents.
b.---Develop a plan for city departments to coordinate cross-functional homeless responsibilities in a more efficient manner.Compile homeless and/or transient related data from departments (transient camps cleaned up, number of homeless-related emergency
C. calls) to set a benchmark to track success of plan efforts. Develop homeless encampment enforcement cleanup plan in coordination with the city's crime suppression and homeless outreachd.teams, other city departments and select service providers.
Strategy #2: Support and build capacity within the city and community to address _homelessness a.Hire a Homeless Response coordinator to help support the development and implementation of the city's homeless strategy.Contract with one or more local service provider(s) for a homeless case manager (s) to work with homeless residents and city staff to b. develop individualized action plans for homeless residents. Develop a plan for a mobile office to be used in coordination with the Homeless Outreach Team to provide case management and other
C. support services directly to the homeless within Carlsbad at their locations. Conduct a community analysis of existing homeless programs and services provided by the city, faith-based and communityd. organizations, and service providers to identify gaps and .opportunities. Implement efforts to address gaps in services.
Implement the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) ServicePoint to collect information about homeless residentse. enabling the city to work collaboratively with service providers and other regional agencies. Develop a homeless strategic plan to define how the city and Carlsbad community will meet the needs of homeless residents and f. respond to the impact of homelessness on city resources in future years.
g. Develop a city protocol to assist staff to serve homeless residents at city facilities or in the community. Evaluate existing city ordinances : Noise, property maintenance, open container, camping, parking, land use/zoning (e.g. church-es -souph. kitchens) that impact the .community and city response to homeless-related issues Engage the Housing Commission to serve as an advisory group for homeless services, programs and/or issues; sounding
i. board/information gathering/information sharing for community.
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 16 of 20
City of Carlsbad Hom eless Response Plan 1 11
Strategy #3: Encourage collaboration with in the city, com munity partnerships and residentsCoordinate with local services prov iders, (e.g. mental healt h, recovery, and housing) to support rapid re h ousing and successful a. connection to needed services. -: Develop partn erships with service providers, fa it h-based and co mmunity organizations, residents and businesses to collaborate on b. homeless related issues and needs, extend the partn ers hips to the 5 cities wh ich are part of the Innovate 78 Collaborative. Develop educational materials for residents and businesses on how to address or report homeless related concerns (e.g. hom eless
C. resident going through trash in a dum pster on private property-whose responsibility?) Develop working relationship with local DMV and Social Security Administrative offices to eli minate a barrier to housings or connection d. to support services, includ ing jobs. Host a one-day resource fa ir that provides access to local services and progra ms, while allowing for a coordinated effort to have e. attendees assessed by a local service prov ider or case management tea m.
Work with fa ith-based organi zations to coord inate com munity outreach and service plan to reduce duplication of efforts and crime f. related issues (e.g. providing meals, cloth es, bus pass es)
g ; -Work with service groups and fait h-based organizations to provide home items for newly housed homeless.
Develop a plan with Tri-City Medical Center to address the cycling of Carlsbad homeless in and out of the center, wh ich has a negative h.-_irn pact on hom eless residents care and a drain on city emergency resources.
leverage existing Memorandu ms of Understand ing (MOUs) or com munity partnerships to connect hom eless residents to appropr iate i.'co mmunity services or progra ms
Strategy #4: Retain, protect and increase the supply of housing in Carlsbad
Work with existing housing developments to consider voluntarily set-aside units for the hom eless. Possibly prov ide incentive to pay a. person's rent for a period ohi me or pay th e deposit.
b. lnclusi onary housing policy: 10% set-aside units to serve the homeless residents and/or extrem ely low income for new developm ents. Evaluate alternate housing options to address high rent rates and li mited housing inventory: Tiny homes, motel or apart ment
C. conversion, shared housing and shelters for wo men and fa mili es.
Request authorizatio nfrom City Council to pursue the purchase of existing housing units to re house homeless fa milies, veterans and/or d. seniors as a priority, or to purchase beds in sober living fa cilities as may be appropriate and necessary.
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 17 of 20
City of Carlsbad Homeless Response Plan 1 12
Action Items & Status
Strategy #1: Prevent, re duce and ma nage homelessness in Ca rlsbad " ·-Action Status Conti nue to eva luate existing city services and progra ms that serve homeless residents. Active Develop a plan for city departments to coord inate cross-functi onal homeless responsibilities in a more effi cient manner. Active Co mpile homeless and/or transient re lated data fro m departments (t ransient camps cleaned up, number of homeless-related emergency calls) to set a benchmark to track success of plan effo rts. Active Deve lop homeless encampment enfo rcement plan in coord ination with the city's crime suppression and homeless outreach teams, oth er city departments and select service provi ders. Active
Strategy #2: Support and build ca pacity withi n the city and co mmunity to address homelessnessAction. Status Hire a Homeless Response coordinator to help support the development and implementation of the city's homeless strategy Pending Contract with one or more local service provider(s) fo r a homeless case manager(s) to work with homeless residents and city staff to develop indivi dualized action plans for homeless re sid ents. Pending Deve lop a plan fo r a mobile offi ce to be used in coordination with the Homeless Outreach Te am to provide case management and other support services directly to the homeless within Carlsbad. Pending Co nduct a co mmunity analysis of existing homeless progra ms and services provided by the city, fa ith -based and com munity organizati ons, and service provi ders to identify gaps and opport u nities. Implement effo rts to add ress gaps. Active Implement the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) ServicePoint to collect info rmation about homeless re sidents enabling the city to work co llaboratively with service providers and ot her regional agencies. Pending Develop a homeless strategic plan to define how the city and Carlsbad community will meet the needs of homeless resi dents and respond to the impact of homelessness on city resources in future years. Active Develop a city proto col to assist staff to serve homeless re sidents at city fa cilities or in the community. Active Engage the Housing Commission to serve as an advisory group for homeless servi ces, progra ms and/o r issues. Pending Eva luate existing city ordinances: Noise, property maintenance, open co nta iner, camping, parki ng, land use/zoning (e.g. churches -sou p kitchens) that impact the co mmunity and city response to homeless-related issues Pending
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 18 of 20
City of Carlsbad Ho meless Response Plan 113
Strategy #3: Encourage co llaboration within the city, com munity partnerships and res idents Action Status Coordinate with services providers, (e.g. mental health, recovery, and housing} to support rapid rehousing and successful connection to needed services. Active Develop -p"artnerships with service providers, faith-based and community organizations, residents and businesses to collaborate on ho meless related issues and needs. ActiveDeveldp-�ducational materials for residents and businesses on how to address or report ho meless related con cerns (e.g. ho meless resident going through trash in a du mpster on private property-whose responsibility?} Pending Develop working relationship with local DMV and So cial Security Administrative offices to eli minate a barrier to housings or connection to support services. Pending Host a one-day resource fair that provides access to local services and programs, while allowing for a coordinated effort to have attendees assessed by a local service provider or case management team. Pending Work with faith-based organizations to coordinate com munity outreach and service plan to reduce duplication of efforts and crime related issues (e.g. providing meals, clothes, bus passes} ActiveWork with service groups and faith-based organizations to provide home items for newly housed homeless. Pending Develop a plan with Tri-City Medical Cen ter to address the cycling of Carlsbad ho meless in and out of the center, which has a negative impact on ho meless residents' care and a drain on city emergency resources. PendingLeverage existing Memorandu ms of Understanding {MOUs} or com munity partnerships to connect homeless residents to appropriate com munity services or programs Pending
Strategy #4: Retain, protect and inc rease the supp ly of housing in Carlsbad Action Status Wo(k_Wjtn existing housing developments to consider voluntarily set-aside units for the homeless. Possibly provideincentive to pay person's rent for a period of time or pay the deposit. Pendinglnclusionary housing policy: 10% set-aside units to serve the ho meless residents for new developments Pending Evaluate alternate housing options to address high rent rates and limited housing inventory: Tiny homes, motel orapartment conversion, shared housing and shelters for women and fa milies PendingRe�:it,Je?t_ authorization fro m City Council to pursue the pur chase of existing housing units to rehouse ho meless fa milies, veterans and/or seniors as a priority. Pending
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 19 of 20
2017 WeALLCount: City Totals
. ···--
Sheltered Unsheltered
-
City -..
San Diego City
Carlsbad .. --·
Chula Vista
Coronado ..
Del Mar
El Cajon
Encinitas
Escondicfo ..
Imperial Beach ·
La Mesa
Lemon Grove
National City
Oceanside
Poway
San Marcos
Santee
Solana BeaGh
Vista
TOTAL
ES
1,240
59
43
0
0
19
11
82
0
0
0
0
60
0
0
0
0
45
1,559
Updated on 4/18/2017
SH TH
30 1,118
0 0
0 62
0 0
0 0
0 46
0 22
12 175
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 18
0 110
0 0
0 59
0 0
0 0
0 278
42 1,888
Total In div V*
2}88 1,234 817
59 37 48
105 58 174
0 2 3
0 1 2
65 221 60
33 27 53
269 120 76
0 12 10
0 13 12
0 13 23
18 94 70
170 105 156
0 3 5
59 24 25
0 15 10
0 3 0
323 40 124
3,489
3,495
*F or the 'Total' columns, vehicles and RBS/ tents were multip lied qy an occupanry fa dor between
1.66 and 1:75: ...:
I
H*
1180
16
30
0
0
42
4
58
0
0
0
112
100
0
3
24
0
42
Sheltered
%of Total Total Total Unincorporated Ind iv
3231 5,619 61.6% Alpine 10
101 160 1.8% Bonita 6 0
262 367 4.0% Bonsall 2
5 5 0.1% Casa de Oro 15
3 3 0.0% Cres t-Dehesa 0
323 388 4.3% Fall brook 15
84 117 1.3% Hidden Meadows 0
254 523 5.7% amul /Dulzura 0
22 22 0.2% Lake side 34
25 25 0.3% NC Metro 2
36 36 0.4% Otay 0
276 294 3.2% Ramona 0
361 531 5.8% San Dieguito 0
8 8 0.1% Spring Valley 31
52 111 1.2% Sweetwater 4
49 49 0.5% TOTAL 6
3 3 0.0%
206 529 5.8% ES -E1l'lergmry Shelter
5,301 8,790 96.4% SH -Safe Haven
5,621 9,116 TH -Transitional Ho11si11g
Indiv -Indiuid11a/
V -Cars/Tr ncks/RV/Va11s
H -Ha11d-B11ilt Stmct11res / Tents
Unsheltered
V* H*
0 9
0 0
15 0
13 2
0 0
2 0
0 0
0 0
38 5
10 2
0 0
61 4
3 0
26 4
8 5
Total %
19 0.2%
0 0.1%
17 0.2%
30 0.3%
0 0.0%
17 0.2%
0 0.0%
0 0.0%
77 0.8%
14 0.2%
0 0.0%
65 0.7%
3 0.0%
61 0.7%
17 0.2%
320 3.6%
326
1 -9 )16 Total I
Exhibit 3
October 24, 2017 Item #7 Page 20 of 20
Morgen Fry
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Morgen,
Council Internet Email
Monday, October 23, 2017 2:33 PM
Morgen Fry
Debbie Fountain; City Clerk
FW: Homeless Resolution
l-\li Receive -Agenda Item # -=i_
For the Information of the:
CITY COUNCIL
ACM~CA_Lcc_L
Date~ City Manager __iJ_
Please distribute this email to Council regarding the Homeless Response Plan on the agenda tomorrow.
Thanks,
Andi
From: simon angel [mai1to
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2017 12:38 PM
To: Council Internet Email <CityCouncil@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Homeless Resolution
Tomorrow night at 6p.m. the city council will consider a resolution regarding the homeless issue among other
matters. It is time for the city to address a matter that has existed for years. The current policy has been to
ignore this matter and leave it to someone else. If the city council fails to adopt this resolution it is just
continuing the policy of ignoring a problem rather than addressing it head on and developing a pro-active
approach to a complicated and broad problem. Whether it is because to do anything positive would encourage
more homeless to come to Carlsbad or because the expense is uncalled for, there are always reasons to do
nothing. I choose to view this matter as one of who We are as a community, what We stand for and how We
respond to issues that face us. We can do this! I hope the city council will include, as part of the resolution,
provisions for public restrooms in the Village area and hand sanitation stations, not only for homeless use but
also for visitors to the Village, both residents and tourists. To this end I am asking all of you to contact the city
council and support the adoption of the resolution on the Homeless Issue by contacting the city council at
council@carlsbadca.gov. Thank you.
Simon Angel
1
Tammy McMinn
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Council Internet Email
Monday, October 23, 2017 8:04 AM
City Clerk
FW: Homeless Response Plan -Matt Hall.org
FYI -The Homeless Response Plan was on the agenda for the Oct. 17 council meeting, so just in case, I am forwarding it
to you also. I have also sent to Celia and the City Council.
From: Patricia Amador [mailto:
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2017 2:04 PM
To: Attorney <attorney@CarlsbadCA.gov>; celia.brewer@carlsbadca.com
Subject: Homeless Response Plan -Matt Hall.org
Dear Ms Brewer
I am writing to ask for clarification regarding the exact site access on the City of Carlsbad website
for the HOMELESS RESPONSE PLAN. I have searched through several points in the City website and
do not find a link for the Plan.
Looking at Mayor Hall's Political campaign site, it is readily available there. His site also has a link
to DONATIONS.
Again, as per the State of the City presentation early this year -why is Matt Hall linking his
campaign site to City ordinances and plans? I believe this is a conflict of interest.
Please do not tell me the link to Mall Hall.org is NOT linked to the plan because it is clearly so
linked.
Please also advise where we ordinary citizens can access the Homeless Response Plan on the City of
Carlsbad site.
Thank you
Patricia Amador
1
Tammy McMinn
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Council Internet Email
Wednesday, October 25, 2017 9:47 AM
City Clerk
Debbie Fountain
FW: Homelessness in Carlsbad
This email came in yesterday, after our deadline. I have forwarded it to the council.
From: Casandra Tompkins [mailto:
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2017 4:34 PM
To: Council Internet Email <CityCouncil@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Homelessness in Carlsbad
Dear Council,
\~
Tonight as you hear the speakers & staff present information regarding the state of homelessness in Carlsbad, I
hope that you will keep in mind what you have personally taught your children, niece's & nephew's over the
years as well as anyone you have taught in a spiritual capacity.
Last year I became aware, due to Face book, of a missing 19 year old from San Francisco who had a head injury
due to a skateboarding accident. He had been raised in Hawaii & S.F. so he was a surfer & a skateboarder. After
surgery he had minor bouts of memory loss and while recovering from surgery at his parents home he took the
city bus to see friends. He never made it.
Last summer there were possible sightings of him in Oceanside. The reality set in. Somebody's kid, with
memory loss, might very well be homeless on the streets here in San Diego County. And if I didn't at least try to
help, he might continue to be homeless and grow old on the streets as a person with no memory of who he is.
This is how I was taught. Help others who need it.
We cannot simply kick these individuals down the road. We can't do everything for them but we can at least
provide some basics like hand sanitation stations and restrooms. A place to shower occasionally would be a
plus. We are fortunate to be a moderately wealthy city. Surely we can share some of that with those who are
less fortunate.
Thank you for taking the time to think about who we are as a community.
Sincerely,
Casandra Tompkins
1
Tammy McMinn
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Council Internet Email
Wednesday, October 25, 2017 9:42 AM
City Clerk
Debbie Fountain
\-+eNvl ~7
' I r
Subject: FW: Hand washing stations and restrooms for tourists and the homeless
This email came in early this morning. I have forwarded it council.
-----Original Message-----
From: Stacy [mailto:s
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 12:24 AM
To: Council Internet Email <CityCouncil@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Hand washing stations and restrooms for tourists and the homeless
Dear Council,
I wish to express my support behind ideas to help our homeless population as well as our
tourist population. I am not naive to the fact that homelessness has become a larger issue in
Carlsbad as each city in San Diego Co. has to work together to identify ways to treat all people
humanely. The homeless population is generally made up of those who are unemployed,
underemployed and primarily individuals dealing with a mental health issue that takes over
their life and makes them unable to function with all of the demands placed on them to live,
work and contribute to society. The least we can do is to provide locations for what human
beings naturally have to do multiple times a day.
Homelessness won't be solved for many years, but humane treatment based on the necessity
of all living creatures on earth to eat and excrete food and fluids is possible in baby steps. I
believe this can be one of those baby steps. I admit I don't have an idea about the ideal
location for restrooms and hand washing stations, but I imagine we can use best practices
based on other city's best practices. We can't ignore the problem and hope it will go away.
Please consider adding restrooms and hand washing stations in our city. I believe other cities
will recognize the need as well and won't be an attraction for the homeless population to
migrate to Carlsbad anymore than people already have.
It really is one quick option to keep the community safe from communicable diseases as are
Hepatitis vaccinations.
Thanks for your consideration.
1
Kindly,
Stacy King
2