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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-06-20; City Council; ; Semi-Annual Homelessness Action Plan Update and 2023 Point-in-Time Count DataCA Review __MK____ Meeting Date: June 20, 2023 To: Mayor and City Council From: Scott Chadwick, City Manager Staff Contact: Mandy Mills, Housing & Homeless Services Director mandy.mills@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2907 Chris Shilling, Homeless Services Manager chris.shilling@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2284 Jessica Klein, Senior Program Manager jessica.klein@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-5973 Subject: Semi-Annual Homelessness Action Plan Update and 2023 Point-in-Time Count Data Districts: All Recommended Action Receive a report and provide direction to staff as necessary on the semi-annual Homelessness Action Plan data and the latest 2023 Point-in-Time Count results. Executive Summary This report provides an update on the City of Carlsbad’s ongoing efforts to reduce homelessness and its effects on the community, which are top priorities for the City Council. The city continues to make steady progress toward the City Council’s homelessness goal, implementing the actions in the City Council-approved Homelessness Action Plan. This report presents the semi-annual data covering the period from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2022, along with the results of the 2023 Point-in-Time Count of the local homeless population. The semi-annual report and the annual Point-in-Time Count in tandem provide the multiple data points necessary for a broad assessment of the city’s progress in its efforts to help people experiencing homelessness. Explanation & Analysis Background The City Council has prioritized homelessness as one of its top city goals. In March 2021, the City Council established a priority goal for fiscal year 2021-22 of reducing the unsheltered homeless population in Carlsbad. The City Council then included this goal in the city’s five-year Strategic Plan. June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 1 of 25 More recently, the City Council approved an updated Homelessness Action Plan on Feb. 7, 2023, that includes a comprehensive package of strategies and initiatives that the city plans to carry out over the next five years to support this effort. City staff will present this and subsequent semi-annual reports to keep the City Council and the community updated on the city’s efforts to reach the City Council’s goal, using multiple measurements to evaluate effectiveness. In these updates to the City Council, staff will provide information on the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad, performance metrics and outcomes, and updates on the Homelessness Action Plan and current program expenses. These updates are intended to provide the City Council and the community with an opportunity to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the city’s homelessness initiatives and discuss any potential concerns and potential adjustments. Semi-Annual Report The full report, attached as Exhibit 1, provides the semi-annual data for July 1-Dec. 31, 2022. Report highlights: • City programs have seen a 12% reduction in the number of unduplicated individuals experiencing homelessness when comparing the first 6 months of the current fiscal year to the first 6 months of the previous fiscal year. Programs funded by the city interacted with 381 unduplicated persons during the first two quarters of fiscal year 2022-2023, compared to 433 unduplicated persons at the same point last fiscal year. • The emphasis on having outreach social workers provide more in-depth case management has contributed to an increase in permanent housing outcomes. Data from the La Posada de Guadalupe emergency shelter is also included because the city now provides direct funding to the shelter. During the first two quarters of fiscal year 2022- 2023 covered by this report, city-funded programs helped transition 65 people into permanent housing compared to 38 over the same period last fiscal year. • The city has had a focused effort on connecting veterans experiencing homelessness to the permanent housing options available to them. The data indicates that Carlsbad had a significant reduction — 53% — in the number of veteran households experiencing homelessness during the first two quarters from July 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2022. • The data also show improvements in reducing the impacts of homelessness on the community when comparing the first two quarters of the last two fiscal years. The Police Department has seen an 11% decline in dispatched calls for service relating to homelessness between the first two quarters of fiscal year 2021-2022 and the first two quarters of fiscal year 2022-2023. There were 2,563 dispatched calls for service during the first two quarters of the last fiscal year and 2,276 calls for service for the same period this fiscal year. 2023 Point-In-Time Count data The Point-in-Time Count is conducted annually to collect an unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered individuals and families experiencing homelessness across the United States. This count is a requirement of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for all continuums of care that receive federal funding. It is one of the tools used nationally to assess the scope of homelessness and is often used for funding decisions. (A continuum of care is a June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 2 of 25 regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals. In San Diego County, the continuum of care is managed by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, which oversees the annual count.) The count is conducted over a four-hour period in the early morning to collect data on homelessness in the region. This year the count was conducted on Jan. 26, 2023. The annual count is one data source to gauge the year-over-year trends and approximate the number of people experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad. While it cannot provide a 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 day. The 2023 Point-in-Time Count data, which was released June 8, 2023, is provided as Exhibit 2. It shows: • Carlsbad saw a 12.7% decrease in the total numbers of persons experiencing homelessness, from 118 individuals (43 sheltered; 75 unsheltered) in 2022 to 103 individuals (43 sheltered; 60 unsheltered) in 2023. There has been a 30% decrease in homelessness since 2020. • The unsheltered population also decreased by 20% in Carlsbad, from 75 persons in 2022 to 60 persons in 2023. There has been a 36% decrease in unsheltered homeless persons since 2020. The following chart displays pertinent information for Carlsbad from the 2023 count. (There is no data for 2021 because the count was not conducted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.) 2023 Point-in-Time Count Data 2020 2022 2023 Change from 2022 Carlsbad sheltered* 54 43 43 0% Carlsbad unsheltered 94 75 60 -20% Carlsbad total 148 118 103 -12.70% North County Coastal sheltered 238 276 360 30% North County Coastal unsheltered 383 469 423 -10% North County coastal total 621 745 783 5% * The number of sheltered homeless persons in Carlsbad only counts beds at the La Posada de Guadalupe emergency shelter available for homeless men, because 50 of the 100 beds are restricted for farmworkers as regulated by state funding that was received when the shelter was developed. The 2023 Point-in-Time Count figures in Carlsbad suggest a consistent decrease in those experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Carlsbad and a one-year decrease for those experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the North County Coastal region. While the total number of people experiencing homelessness in the North County coastal area increased from 745 in 2022 to 783 in 2023, it’s important to note the increase is in the sheltered homeless population, due to an increase in shelter availability. The North County Coastal unsheltered population decreased by almost 10%, with Carlsbad contributing to this decrease by a factor of 33%. Since 2020, sheltered homelessness in the North County Coastal area has increased by 51% while unsheltered homelessness has increased by 10%. June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 3 of 25 Meanwhile, the North County Inland area experienced a 29% increase in the unsheltered population. Overall, the North County Region, including the inland area, accounted for about 14% of the homeless population in San Diego County in the 2023 count. This is a decrease of 3% from 17% in 2022. The county’s overall homelessness count increased by over 25%, with the largest increase experienced in the central region, the City of San Diego. (The Regional Task Force on Homelessness has provided regional breakdowns with a deeper level of data for each region but is no longer providing individual breakdowns for cities.) While the Point-in-Time Count data is useful data to point out regional trends, it only provides a snapshot of information, which may or may not accurately reflect the size of the city’s homeless population over a sustained period of time. For this reason, the count does not provide enough conclusive evidence to measure progress towards the City Council’s goal of reducing homelessness in Carlsbad. Staff will continue to report on a variety of data points in alignment with the Homelessness Action Plan to inform the City Council and the public about the progress the city is making toward its goal to reduce homelessness. Fiscal Analysis An overview of semi-annual Fiscal Year 2022-2023 spending associated with the homelessness goal is included in the attached report, Exhibit 1. Next Steps Staff will present the next semi-annual report, covering the period from Jan. 1 - June 30, 2023, to the City Council in fall 2023. 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 Public Resources Code Section 21065 in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Exhibits 1. FY 2022-23 Semi-Annual Homelessness Action Progress Report 2. 2023 Point-in-Time Count Data June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 4 of 25 Exhibit 1 During the first half of FY 2022-23, 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. June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 5 of 25 SEMIANNUAL REPORT Reducing Homelessness JULY1 -DEC.31,2022 {city of Carlsbad 38 tttt tttt tttt ttt Shelter placements 381 Transitioned to permanent housing Unduplicated contacts Hotel voucher STAYS Police calls for service 4,405 Encampment CLEANUPS Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 2 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 hotel voucher and later placed into permanent housing). Fiscal Year Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 YTD Households transitioned to permanent housing* 2021-22 23 15 12 12 62 2022-23 37 28 65 Unduplicated contacts** 2021-22 253 269 309 324 749 2022-23 247 184 381 Police calls for service*** 2021-22 1,542 2,169 2,585 2,701 8,997 2022-23 2,548 1,857 4,405 Shelter placements 2021-22 28 29 39 14 110 2022-23 21 17 38 Encampment cleanups 2021-22 2022-23 10 33 7 28 16 17 50 61 Hotel voucher stays 2021-22 N/A 5 17 15 37 2022-23 10 13 23 Shopping carts collected 2021-22 N/A 37 48 17 102 2022-23 31 13 44 * This year’s data includes exits from La Posada de Guadalupe emergency shelter that were not available for the previous year’s data **134 new individuals were contacted during Q2 who were not contacted during Q1. The year-to-date total removes duplicate contacts. ***In FY 2022-23, Carlsbad Police officers went into the field for 4,405 homeless-related calls for service during the first two quarters, of which 2,276 calls were in response to a specific request or complaint and 2,129 were proactive department-initiated calls for service to help carry out city homelessness goals and enforce applicable laws. Data by Quarter June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 6 of 25 Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 3 The City Council approved $4,376,496 in general funds to support the homeless goal during fiscal year 2022- 23. This number includes carried forward encumbrances from fiscal year 2021-22 and two mid-year allocations. TOTAL BUDGET EXPENDITURES TO DATE Expenditures June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 7 of 25 $2,016,050 Spent to date $4,376,496 Total budget $2,366,446 Remaining Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 4 SPENDING BY CATEGORY Carlsbad’s Homeless Population* June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 8 of 25 Police salaries - $1,211,802.81 6 ~v~d~San Diego County prior to becoming homeless ~is% , ... Veterans Female ' • e 100% Adult ,55%44+ Community Resource Center (Rapid rehousing, other housing assistance) $279,268.41 Housing & Homeless Services salaries $327,302.06 e e 87% White '' 13%Black (2j 38% Disability Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 5 Point-in-Time Count Unsheltered data** *This demographic data is from the 2022 Point-in-Time Count as this information has not been provided for 2023 *The Point-in-Time Count did not take place in 2021 due to COVID-19 precautions. Homeless-Related Calls for Service During the first and second quarters of FY 2023-24, Carlsbad Police went into the field for 4,405 homeless- related calls for service, which made up 8.5% of all calls for service between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2022. Of those, 2,276 calls were in response to a specific request or complaint and 2,129 were proactive department- initiated calls for service to help carry out city homelessness goals and enforce applicable law. Changes to the city’s municipal code went into effect during November 2021, therefore officers have been more proactive to educate and enforce restrictions such as camping in public, trespassing and drinking in public parks. Public Safety June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 9 of 25 160 152 140 120 100 80 78 60 60 40 21 20 19 21 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 2023 Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 6 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 when an individual experiencing a mental health crisis is hospitalized for 72-hour psychiatric care when they are evaluated to be a danger to themselves or others. Percentage of all calls for services Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Homeless-related calls for services 10% 7% Homeless-related arrests 16% 16% Homeless-related citations 5% 5% Homeless-related mental health holds 3% 3% SERVICES During the first half of the 2022-23 fiscal year, 88% of homeless persons contacted accepted some form of clinical intervention. This includes case management, assessment, care coordination, crisis intervention, program information, diversion and treatment planning. June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 10 of 25 n ~~ 8.5% Related to homelessness 88% Accepted services Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 7 The Homeless Outreach Team officers and contract social workers provide a lot of other services in addition to clinical services. Services accepted Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 YTD Information only 226 45 271 Emergency shelter referral 37 71 108 Mail delivery 8 3 11 Transportation to services 10 7 17 Police transportation 28 9 37 Substance abuse treatment 5 30 35 ID assistance 7 4 11 Permanent or bridge housing referral 1 25 26 Benefits access (medical insurance, CalFresh program, VA benefits, etc.) 9 38 47 Other (appointment coordination, case management, blankets, etc.) 11 104 115 Food assistance 3 9 12 Hospital transport 3 1 4 Referrals to mental & physical health care 5 32 37 Personal needs assistance (clothing, phone, prescriptions, etc.) 5 4 9 Reunification travel assistance 1 8 9 TOTAL 359 390 749 June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 11 of 25 ' I , il Ct) m 6 ~ • • a,11 y ff Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 8 In late Sept. 2021 the City Council approved amendments to the city’s municipal code to address public safety and quality-of-life concerns related to homelessness and public spaces. These new laws became effective Nov. 11, 2021. Changes addressed camping on public, private and open space property; obstruction of property, trespassing and disorderly conduct; and expanded the areas where open containers of alcohol are prohibited. These amendments, along with other existing laws, provide police officers with adequate enforcement tools to ensure public safety and a decent quality of life for all people in Carlsbad. Police officers will continue to use their discretion to issue warnings and citations and make misdemeanor arrests for violations of the law. City staff will track data to gauge how the team balances the need to build rapport with the homeless community while holding them accountable and enforcing applicable laws. Limited-Term Stay Motel Voucher Program From July 1 through December 31, 2022, 23 households were issued a total of 141 nights in a hotel with a total expenditure of $18,958.03. Of the 23 households assisted, 11 were able to move on to other shelter or housing following their hotel stay. Quality of Life June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 12 of 25 • Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 9 The city recognizes homelessness is a top concern of the community and understands the importance of outreach and engagement. Below is an overview of some of the outreach efforts implemented from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2022, to help keep the community informed and engaged about the city’s efforts to reduce homelessness. 1 community presentation 3 internal focus groups 2 community newsletter updates The Housing & Homeless Services Department partnered with the Police Department to present on a panel about Carlsbad’s homeless services efforts hosted by the Rotary Club of Carlsbad. The Housing & Homeless Services Department also held three internal focus groups with city staff from departments whose duties intersect with homelessness to gather feedback to help create the city’s new Homelessness Action Plan. Staff also responded to hundreds of phone calls and emails from individuals experiencing homelessness, business owners, social service providers and members of the public. Public Outreach June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 13 of 25 Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 10 The City of Carlsbad believes in addressing homelessness with compassion and fairness. Here is a current list of services created to help those experiencing homelessness as well as to improve the quality of life of the community collectively. San Diego Humane Society The purpose of the San Diego Humane Society contract is to provide individuals experiencing homelessness with a safe place to temporarily board their animals when they are not able to bring them to treatment facilities or services. Staff have found this has been a primary barrier preventing people from accessing services. The contract provides short-term emergency boarding and emergency medical care for approximately 25 animals of persons experiencing homelessness – free of charge – so homeless individuals can access care and resources. Rocket John Portable Restrooms and Handwashing Stations The Rocket John contract provides four portable restrooms and handwashing stations and routine cleaning and maintenance in the downtown Village. The city first added these public bathrooms back in 2017 to combat the Hepatitis A Crisis in the homeless community. With COVID-19, the city added more restrooms and handwashing stations to promote health, sanitation and 24/7 access to clean water to individuals living unsheltered. One portable restroom has been removed based on community concern, so three portable restrooms are currently being provided. Community Resource Center The city continues to partner with the Community Resource Center to operate its rapid rehousing and employment and benefits contracts. The contracts provide case management, security deposit support, rental assistance, landlord advocacy, financial education, stabilization support, referrals to higher levels of care, benefits enrollment, job readiness support, resume building and employment connection. The Community Resource Center had 130 enrollments in its rapid rehousing and employment and benefit programs in the first half of FY2022-23. The center placed 28 households comprised of 42 individuals in housing during this time. Interfaith Community Services Interfaith Community Services is the current outreach and case management contractor for the City of Carlsbad’s Homeless Outreach Team. Interfaith Community Services 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 housing, medical care, public benefits, mental health, substance use treatment and basic needs. During the first half of FY2022-23, Interfaith Community Services and the Homeless Outreach Team engaged with 223 unduplicated clients experiencing homelessness. Regional Partnerships June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 14 of 25 Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 11 Non-City Funded Homeless Outreach The County of San Diego and People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) each have a dedicated outreach worker in Carlsbad full-time. The outreach worker from PATH is specially trained in working with individuals or households with behavioral health needs. In addition, the county is providing benefits enrollment at Harding Community Center (bi-weekly) and Interfaith Service Center (weekly) to assist people enrolling in MediCal, CalFresh and General Relief programs. Catholic Charities The Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego operates the La Posada de Guadalupe emergency shelter in Carlsbad. The shelter has the capacity to serve 50 single men experiencing homelessness. The city provides funding for staff, operations, training and technical assistance. 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, and they are responsible for responding and triaging any incoming cleanup requests based on health and safety for homelessness on city property. This contract provides clean-up services 3 days per week, 52 weeks a year, often including encampment clean-ups. When encampment clean-ups 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. Case Collaboration/Case Conferencing City staff work closely with staff from city funded programs and other partners working in homeless services. Staff facilitate 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. This collaboration also provides training and resource coordination. Trainings and coordination have included: Affordable housing training, mental health resources, senior housing options, CalAim programs, homelessness specific housing resources, San Diego Humane Society programs and Showers of Blessings. Community partners report gratitude for the level of cohesion and collaboration that exists within the agencies working on homelessness issues in Carlsbad. Veteran Focus City staff have been working closely with community partners to specifically support our veteran community in accessing resources and finding places to live. During the first half of FY2022-23, veteran homelessness decreased by 53% in our community. The city is partnering with the county to reduce veteran homelessness. June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 15 of 25 Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 12 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. June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 16 of 25 25 ~-\i Veterans ~ Z 21 20 ~ Individuals 16 15 15 15 13 13 10 10 Jun-22 Jul-22 Aug-22 Sep-22 Oct-22 Nov-22 Dec-22 CAL•VET )r San Diego A. Hum~n~,,~ ~ MtRACOSTA AL IFORN IA DEPARTM ENT OF V ET ERANS AHA.IRS y coLLEGE Alliance for IAN DIEGO COUNlY Regional Solutions Connecting North County •~ CARLSBAD "-= s ,t· t ~?, cr Catholic Charities DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO tl Tri-City Medical Center 4'Chowers ~ A :m~~~Jngs ~CRC COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER . t· ~1.:✓ Carhbad Villay:e RJtoua w n rxprmnce lhe v11lagr SAN DIEGO Regional Task Force on Homelessness NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT • tit/tn:uis· Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 13 For each reporting period, staff will include one or more success stories of real people who were connected to community services as a result of the city’s homeless response efforts. These are their stories, which they have given the city permission to share. Their names have been changed to protect their confidentiality. Meet Jim Male: 55+ Permanently housed: December 2022 Jim was living at the La Posada de Guadalupe shelter in the fall of 2022. The staff at La Posada referred him to the Community Resource Center Rapid Re-housing Program for support in finding a place to live. He was employed by a staffing agency and had the funds to pay his rent. The Community Resource Center helped him get into a senior community by paying for his deposit and some limited term rental assistance. He was then laid off by the staffing agency, and the Community Resource Center was able to help him maintain his housing. He was enrolled with the Community Resource Center’s employment and benefits specialist, who helped him set up interviews for a new job with a higher wage. He is now doing well and continues to have support services through the Community Resource Center. What worked • La Posada de Guadalupe gave Jim a place to stay so he wouldn’t be sleeping outside. While he was there, he was able to secure employment through a staffing agency. • La Posada staff referred him to the Community Resource Center for help finding housing. • The Community Resource Center helped Jim secure a place to live using the rapid re-housing program. • The Community Resource Center continued to support him with its Employment & Benefits Program after he lost his job and needed a new one to continue paying his rent. Success Stories June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 17 of 25 Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 14 The Richardson Family Family of 3 siblings Reunified with family: November 2022 A family of five, two parents and three adult children, lived out of their vehicle in the Village area. The parents each had a disabling medical condition and the three adult children suffered from mild cognitive disabilities. The family lived off a very minimal fixed income. The family was contacted regularly by the Police Departments Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) and the Interfaith Social Workers. They used services like meals with Feeding All God’s Children, showers at Showers of Blessings, and an occasional gas card, but remained hesitant to referrals for housing options. The mother passed away and the father ended up hospitalized long-term which left the siblings to fend for themselves. HOT continued to contact the children on a regular basis, exploring options for their situation and working to encourage them to accept services that could improve their quality of life. One of the siblings found a job to help sustain the family but was seriously injured after being hit by a car while riding a bicycle to work. The family eventually lost the vehicle they were living in due to mechanical issues. In November of 2022, the lack of shelter from their vehicle led the siblings to inform HOT about an aunt on the East Coast who they believed might be willing to help them. HOT worked with the Interfaith social worker to explore this option. After confirming the aunt was willing to help, the siblings were temporarily housed in a motel to facilitate family reunification. Travel arrangements were made with the assistance of a local nonprofit social service agency, and all three siblings returned to the East Coast to live with family. Interfaith confirmed their safe arrival. What worked • Local resources were able to meet basic needs for the family. • The Homeless Outreach Team continued to interact with the family and offer support. • When the family decided to pursue a reunification plan, the Interfaith Community Services social worker was able to connect them with resources and help the family reunite with a relative. June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 18 of 25 Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 15 Staff have experienced some challenges around the implementation of the City Council’s goal to reduce homelessness. Some of these include: Limited Housing Resources There is limited emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, available affordable housing and general housing options in North County and San Diego. Staff Vacancies There have been transitions and position vacancies on the Housing & Homeless Services Department, Homeless Outreach Team and social worker team. These vacancies have caused an increase in workload on the team. However, we remain on track with the implementation of the Homelessness Action Plan. Limited Shelter 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. Overcoming Challenges June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 19 of 25 Reducing Homelessness Semi-annual Progress Report: July – Dec. 2022 ___________________________________________________________________ 16 City staff have several projects on the horizon: • The Department of Housing and Homeless Services is continuing to provide support and monitor the progress on the La Posada de Guadalupe shelter expansion. • Staff are in the process of enhancing the city’s rapid-rehousing program using funds from the new HUD CoC grant in partnership with the Community Resource Center. • With the approval of the City Council’s FY 2023-24 operating budget, staff are working to execute agreements for the activities identified in the Homelessness Action Plan Funding Plan. • A partnership is being developed with the Regional Task Force on Homelessness to increase training opportunities for Carlsbad service providers. • Staff are collaborating across departments to identify recommended program options related to opioid settlement funding for the City Council’s consideration. • Staff are working diligently across departments to implement a data dashboard for homeless services within the city. Upcoming Work June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 20 of 25 Sheltered 2023 Unsheltered 2022 Unsheltered 2022-2023 Unsheltered Change Region City ES TH SH Total Total Unsheltered Total Unsheltered % Change Central Region San Diego City 2,598 572 45 3,215 3285 2494 31.7% North Coastal Region Carlsbad 43 0 0 43 60 75 -20.0% Oceanside 140 158 0 298 290 318 -8.8% Encinitas (San Dieguito, Solana Beach & Del Mar) 11 8 0 19 73 76 -3.9% South Region Coronado 0 0 0 0 1 1 0.0% National City 0 6 0 6 159 149 6.7% Chula Vista (Sweetwater) 39 83 0 122 318 206 54.4% Imperial Beach 0 0 0 0 19 25 -24.0% East Region El Cajon 881 276 0 1,157 203 185 9.7% La Mesa 0 0 0 0 36 35 2.9% Lemon Grove 0 0 0 0 60 31 93.5% Santee 0 18 0 18 76 48 58.3% Alpine (Crest-Dehesa)* 0 0 0 0 4 1 300.0% Lakeside*0 0 0 0 78 63 23.8% Spring Valley (Casa de Oro)* 0 0 0 0 71 60 18.3% North Inland Region Escondido (NC Metro & Hidden Meadows)152 27 5 184 304 182 67.0% Vista (Bonsall)31 0 0 31 88 76 15.8% Poway 0 0 0 0 2 23 -91.3% Fallbrook*0 0 0 0 19 25 -24.0% San Marcos 0 0 0 0 2 12 -83.3% Ramona*0 0 0 0 23 21 9.5% TOTAL 3,895 1,148 50 5,093 5,171 4,106 25.9% *Regions with an asterisk represent unincorporated regions. 2023 Point-in-Time Count Data Regionwide San Diego Continuum of Care 2023 WeAllCount Region Totals Exhibit 2 June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 21 of 25 I SAN DIEGO Regional Task Force on Homelessness North Coastal Region North Coastal Emergency Shelter Safe Haven Transitional Housing Unsheltered 194 0 166 423 Total: 783 Homeless Profile % of Unsheltered Persons* # of Homeless Persons % Sheltered Persons* # Sheltered Persons Veteran 12%50 13%46 Female 28%118 48%171 Families --57%205 Youth 5%22 48%174 Chronically Homeless 44%187 10%36 *Percentages rounded to nearest whole number Housing Inventory Beds Utilization Emergency Shelter 248 78% Safe Haven -- Transitional Housing 210 79% Permanent Supportive Housing 94 59% Rapid Re-Housing 83 100% Other Permanent Housing 58 64% San Diego Continuum of Care 2023 WeAllCount Region Totals June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 22 of 25 SAN DIEGO Regional Task Force on Homelessness 2022-2023 Year Comparisons 2022 Total 2023 Total 2022-2023 Overall Change Region Total Total % of Total North Coastal 745 783 5% 2022 Unsheltered 2023 Unsheltered 2022-2023 Unsheltered Change Region Count Count % of Total North Coastal Region with Caltrans Count 469 423 -10% North Coastal Region without Caltrans Count 469 352 -25% 2022 Sheltered 2023 Sheltered 2022-2023 Sheltered Change Region ES TH SH Total Total % of Total North Coastal 146 130 0 276 360 30% 2023 Sheltered Count breakdown by Project Type ES TH SH 194 166 0 San Diego Continuum of Care 2023 WeAllCount Region Totals June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 23 of 25 SAN DIEGO Regional Task Force on Homelessness 2023 North Coastal Region Unsheltered Demographics San Diego Continuum of Care 2023 WeAllCount Region Totals June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 24 of 25 Gender less than 1% less than 1% Race SAN DIEGO ■ Male ■ Female ■ Transge nder ■ Not Singulary Male or Female ■ American Indian ■ Black, African American, or African ■ Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander ■ White ■ Multiple Races Regional Task Force on Homelessness Regional Breakdown SHELTERED + UNSHELTERED % of the Region Total Homeless Persons City of San Diego 63%6,500 North County Inland 6%653 North County Coastal 8%783 South County 6%628 East County 17%1,703 San Diego Continuum of Care 2023 WeAllCount Region Totals June 20, 2023 Item #14 Page 25 of 25 North County Coastal 8% City of San Diego 63% South County 6% SAN DIEGO East County 17% Regional Task Force on Homelessness All Receive -Agenda l,tem # /67 For the Information of the: Tammy Cloud-McMinn CITY COUNCIL OateWJ.d ;BCA V-CC .,,.,,- CM .,.-ACM -OCM (3) ~ -- From: Robert Stonebrook <stonebrook@roadrunner.com> Monday, June 19, 2023 5:38 PM Sent: To: Cc: City Clerk Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Melanie Burkholder; Teresa Acosta; Carolyn Luna; Mandy Mills; Chris Shilling Subject: Council Meeting Items 4 and 14 Thank you for the opportunity to review the homeless service provider contracts and Homeless Services semi-annual report. Below are some questions that I hope Council and Staff can review: 1. Has there been some reflection on the fact only about half the re-housing budget is going to rental assistance (other half, 4FTEs)(CRC Contract Exhibit C-4, page 13 of 15)? a. Is the utilization of rapid re-housing included in the quarterly data report (page 6 of 25)? Can the utilization of this be made more clear? b. Is there an expectation that expansion of rapid re-housing dollars will offset the need for shelter beds? 2. Has the concentration of outreach services (combined with the County's resource, Carlsbad will have 3 FTEs (plus HOT) doing outreach) been reviewed considering Homeless Services' concern about lack of shelter beds (Overcoming Challenges page 19 of 25)? a. Can Homeless Services provide details on what steps are being taken to increase emergency shelter beds (not including the rebuild of La Posada)? What roadblocks have been encountered to increase emergency shelter beds? If service providers were willing to establish emergency shelters, does · Carlsbad have locations identified? b. Can Homeless Services provide estimates of the additional capacity needed for emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, and affordable housing? 3. Good to see data entry into HMIS is required as part of the service provider contracts. Will that information be used for the fall reporting? • A suggestion is to provide reporting similar to what Regional Task Force is currently doing on a monthly basis (see below): how many entered homelessness, how many exited, where did they exit to, and how many still active. • To this reporting should also be added how many are waiting for shelter beds and how many are waiting for housing and what type. • To this reporting should be added the longest tenured person in HMIS and what is that person waiting for. Thanks again for reviewing. Certainly, homelessness remains a top concern for Carlsbad residents. Best, Robert Stonebrook Carlsbad, CA 1 What's new? [l] 1,289 First Time Homeless 657 Persons Housed CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless ou recognize the sender and know the content i 2 June 20, 2023 Mandy Mills, Director Housing & Homeless Services Chris Shilling, Homeless Services Manager Housing & Homeless Services Jeffrey Smith, Captain Police Department REDUCING HOMELESSNESSSEMI-ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTJuly 1 -Dec. 31, 2022 CITY COUNCIL 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. HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 2 {city of Carlsbad Homelessness Action Plan HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 3 SOCIAL WORKERS REGIONAL II COLLABORATION • ,_a • TEMPORARY ~ [] 'aT,' SHELTER r.~· ~ ~® ... I•~ ~ TIT I LU UPDATED LAWS • • • • CLEANING, ~ ____...,._ "" SANITATION ~ I\ I\ COMPASSIONATE { City of tt -ENFORCEMENT Carlsbad c:::c:: HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 4 TONIGHT’S TOPICS Presentation Semi-Annual Homelessness Report Point-in-Time Count Data "Pd11ted or,11,iskot irn~of General Fund Budget Report $4,376,496* Total budget Remaining$2,366,446 $2,016,050Spent to date HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 5*Funding expenditures include general fund budget allocations for FY 2022-23, including carry-forward amounts and transfers Budget Report HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT Police HOT Team$1,211,802.81 Community Resource Center (Rapid rehousing, other housing assistance)$279,267.41 Housing & Homeless Services $327,302.06 Portable toilets $10,264.75 Urban Corps (Encampment and trash cleanup) $47,079.50 Interfaith Community Services (Social workers) $90,639.98 Hotel vouchers $18,958.03 La Posada Shelter (training and technical assistance)$2,156.25 Shelter support (CDBG + Housing Trust Funds) $42,287 Prevention services (CDBG funds for emergency rental assistance) $41,670 6 Report Highlights HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 7 Permanent housing placementsVeterans experiencing homelessness 12% Unduplicated contacts 11% 53%71%Dispatched calls for service AT A G L A N C E HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 8 Unduplicated contacts Shelter placements65 Transitioned to permanent housing 38 381 EncampmentCLEANUPSSTAYS Police calls for service4,405Hotel voucher 23 61 tttt tttt tttt tttt -.,; -.,; -■ -■ Homelessness Prevention HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 9 45 Households provided with prevention services Emergency Motel Vouchers HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 10 Households Hotel voucher nights Entered shelter, treatment or long-term care Entered permanent housing or reunited with family Police Calls for Service 4,405 calls 2,129 officer initiated 2,276 dispatched 8.5%Related to homelessness HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 11 {city of Carlsbad Police Calls for Service HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 12 Percentage of all calls for servic,,es Ql ~ e ft n i] Ct) H om,elless-rellat ed ca 11 s, for services Homeless-related arrests 16% Hom,elless-rellat ed citations 5% Home less-related me nta I hea Ith holds 3 % Q2 7% 16% ,5% 3% {city of Carlsbad What’s happening now •Proactive patrols at community parks •Increased security cameras in parks HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 13 {city of Carlsbad The Richardson FamilyThe Richardson family suffered from cognitive disabilities and had minimal income. The 3 siblings were alone living in their vehicle after their mother passed away and their father was hospitalized long-term. HOT contacted them on a regular basis, exploring options and encouraging them to find solutions. One sibling found a job but was struck by a vehicle on the way to work. The siblings were able to identify an aunt they could live with. They were placed in a temporary motel and helped to reunify. Their safe arrival was confirmed. HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 14 {city of Carlsbad •The Homeless Outreach Team continued to interact with the family and offer support. •When a reunification opportunity was identified the Interfaith Community Services social workers were able to connect them with resources to help them reunite. •Persistent service offering resulted in a solution that fit the needs of the family and they are now living safely with their aunt. What Worked HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 15 Jim’s Story Jim was staying at La Posada and working with the Community Resource Center Rapid Re-Housing Program. He was placed in housing when he lost his job with a staffing agency jeopardizing his housing. Community Resource Center helped him pay his rent and connected him to the Employment & Benefits Specialist. The Specialist worked with him to obtain a new job with a higher wage. He is now doing well and continues to have support services through Community Resource Center to maintain his housing. HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 16 •La Posada de Guadalupe provided Jim a place to stay other than the streets and he was able to secure employment with the stability. •Community Resource Center helped him secure a permanent place to live through the Rapid Re-Housing Program. •Community Resource Center continued to support him with the Employment & Benefits Program after his job loss so he could obtain other employment to pay his rent. •Jim is now living successfully and paying his rent at his new home. What Worked HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 17 2023 Point-in-Time Count •Unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered •Required by federal housing department •2021 count did not take place due to COVID-19 •Held this year in January 2023 •Included Caltrans locations counted for the first time HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 19 {city of Carlsbad HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT Data 2020 2022 2023 Change from 2022 Carlsbad sheltered 54 43 43 0% Carlsbad unsheltered 94 75 60 -20% Carlsbad total 148 118 103 -12.70% North County Coastal sheltered 238 276 360 30% North County Coastal unsheltered 383 469 423 -10% North County Coastal total 621 745 783 5% 20 2023 Point-in-Time Count 21 HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT Year over year unsheltered count data Point-in-Time Count 160 152 140 120 100 80 78 60 60 40 20 21 19 21 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 2.023 Encampment Resolution Grant Data dashboard La Posada funding Program options related to opioid settlement funding Upcoming HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 22 -■ -■ {city of Carlsbad Questions HOMELESSNESS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 23 {city of Carlsbad