HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-18; Citywide Homeless Update: November 2021 (Districts - All); Barberio, GaryTo the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date l 1111-. \ ltCA ~cc J
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Nov. 18, 2021
To:
From:
Via:
Council Memorandum
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Mandy Mills, Director of Housing and Homeless Services
Holly Nelson, Senior Homeless Program Manager
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager @
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2021216
Re: Citywide Homeless Update: November 2021 (Districts -All)
Homeless Outreach Team and Homel.ess Services Update
• The Homeless Outreach Team and Housing and Homeless Services Department finalized
the city's resource guide to help individuals experiencing homelessness with information
on housing, health services and basic needs. Staff will be stocking these brochures at the
various city facilities.
• The city's quality-of-life ordinances related to homelessness and public spaces went into
effect on Nov. 11, 2021.
• The Homeless Outreach Team has a new Lieutenant, Darbie Ernst, who started on
Nov. 16, 2021. She has been a member of the Carlsbad Police Department for over 21
years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Homeless Outreach
Team.
• Interfaith Community Services {Interfaith), the city's social worker contractor, continues
to experience a temporary staff shortage. Interfaith is in the process of hiring a second
clinician in the field. The Program Manager is currently filling the role of the second
outreach clinician.
• Two officers have transitioned off the Homeless Outreach Team. Officers Collier and
Monahan completed their assignment this week and helped train and onboard the new
officers. The city is grateful for their consistency and compassion towards individuals
experiencing homelessness. We are pleased to welcome new Officers Deluca and Rieg
to the Homeless Outreach Team.
• The Housing and Homeless Services Department completed interviews for.its new
Program Manager position. Staff hopes to make a formal offer and -fill the position soon.
Emergency Shelter and Hotel Voucher Program
• The Homeless Outreach Team placed their first unsheltered guest, a single female, into
the Emergency Hotel Pilot Voucher Program on Nov. 8, 2021. They were able to
successfully transition her into longer-term temporary housing the next day and utilize
the new San Diego Humane Society contract to board her dog.
Community Services Branch
Housing & Homeless Services Department
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-434-2810 t
Council Memo -Citywide Homeless Update: November 2021 (Districts -All)
Nov. 18, 2021
Page 2
• Several residents and staff members tested positive for COVID-19 at La Posada last
week. Staff quickly identified, isolated, and quarantined both of the affected individuals
and notified the city of the incident. La Posada pulled in additional staffing resources
from other internal programs at the agency. La Posada tests both their employees and
residents weekly for COVID-19. All recent test results have come back negative.
• City staff is working with Catholic Charities on potentially increasing the capacity of La
Posada within the existing structure. Catholic Charities is also studying feasibility of
expanding the structure.
Community
• The 2022 Point-in-Time {PIT) Count has been scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022,
from 4 - 8 a.m. The PIT is conducted one night per year to collect data on homelessness
in our region. The Regional Task Force on Homelessness has 50 volunteer slots open for
community members to participate. A registration link and email has been sent out to
former volunteers and 7 people have already signed up. The Housing and Homeless
Services Department will be using the Harding Community Center as a deployment site
for the City of Carlsbad .
• Holly Nelson, Senior Homeless Program Manager, and Lt. Jeff Smith, hosted two virtual
office hours on Oct. 28 and Nov. 9 and had a total of 12 residents in attendance. The
dates for November and December's office hours have been modified due to the
holidays.
• The Housing and Homeless Services Department will present thei! first quarterly report
update at the Dec. 7 City Council Meeting.
Regional '
• Both the County of San Diego's North County Social Worker Pilot Program and the new
County Behavioral Health contract have started their programs in the City of Carlsbad,
with two individuals now providing outreach in the community. Both outreach programs
have been working closely with the city's existing Homeless Outreach Team, Housing
Navigator, and outside contractors.
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Mickey Williams, Chief of Police
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services