HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-06; Citywide Homeless Update January 2022 (Districts - All); Barberio, GaryTo the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date~CA vCC ✓
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Jan.6,2022
To:
From:
Via:
Re:
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, Acting City Manager ((;(v
Citywide Homeless Update: Januar?2022 (Districts -All)
Homeless Outreach Team and Homeless Services Update
{cityof
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2022004
• The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) and Housing and Homeless Services Department
received and distributed the city's Homeless Resource Guide to the Housing and
Homeless Services Offices, the Senior Center and the city's libraries. A digital copy is
available on the Homeless Response webpage for people in need and community
members to access. The Homeless Resource Guide was designed to provide individuals
experiencing homelessness with information on housing, health services and basic
needs.
• The Police Department began an initiative to reclaim shopping carts and return them to
the merchants that own them. Approximately 30 unattended shopping carts were
collected and returned to merchants in one week.
• The city's quality-of-life ordinances related to homelessness and public spaces went into
effect on Nov. 11, 2021. During the first month Police Officers issued over 60 infractions
and made over 20 arrests. The issuance of Carlsbad Municipal Code (CMC) infractions is
declining as compliance increases, but arrests have remained steady. The HOT will begin
tracking the warnings to reflect how the HOT balances the need to build rapport with
the homeless community while holding them accountable and enforcing city laws.
• All eight individuals whose names were pulled off the Section 8 waitlist and were issued
a voucher have been housed. The city's Housing Navigator was able to help the last
person move on Dec. 23, 2021. All eight individuals have a long history of homelessness
in Carlsbad, are age 50+, and have a disabling condition.
• The city's Housing Navigator has placed over 50 people experiencing homelessness in
Carlsbad on the Windsor Pointe initial placement list. Once initial placements have been
made, based on required weighting systems, a waitlist will be established.
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: January 2022 (Districts -All)
Jan. 6, 2022
Page 2
• The city executed a contract with the Regional Task Force on Homelessness to be a
participating agency on the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The
HMIS allows for all service providers to share information and bridge individuals living
on the streets to all levels of housing, from emergency shelter to permanent supportive
housing throughout the region. The HMIS provides real-time data on the inflow and
outflow of individuals experiencing homelessness and it can be used to develop
effective programming to meet the needs of the homeless population. Direct city access
to the HMIS aligns with one of the strategies listed in the city's Homeless Response Plan
created in 2017.
• The Community Resource Center expended all funds from the state by the end of
December 2021. In order to bridge the gap between December 2021 and the execution
of a new, two-year proposed professional services agreement, a short-term $35,000
contract was executed by city staff to ensure continued service delivery.
• The North County Pilot Program social worker has been riding along with the HOT. The·
social worker is becoming familiar with the HOT, homeless community and city.
• Holly Nelson, Senior Program Manager, will be leaving her role at the City of Carlsbad on
Jan. 12, 2022. We are grateful for her time at the city and appreciate all of the resources
she has provided to the city and individuals experiencing homelessness. The city has a
strong candidate to fill that position that is currently in the background and physical
stage of the hiring process. Once they have cleared that process and have given notice
to their current employer we will announce their appointment.
Emergency Shelter and Hotel Voucher Program
• The HOT has placed four households into the Emergency Hotel Pilot Voucher Program
since November. Participants are allowed to stay one night at a time in the Emergency
Hotel Pilot Voucher Program. One person was able to find alternative shelter, but the
other .households either refused further assistance or had difficulty getting bridged to
alternative shelter due to lack of availability.
• La Posada's COVID-19 outbreak has been controlled and stabilized. City staff is
appreciative of their diligence and dedication to managing the situation.
• City staff coordinated with the County of San Diego to facilitate a vaccination event at La
Posada's Emergency Shelter on Dec. 30, 2021. Twenty-one COVID-19 vaccinations and
11 flu shots were administered at the event. This event was held to improve and
support immunity in the La Posada community.
• City staff is working with Catholic Charities on potentially increasing the capacity of La
Posada within the existing structure.
Council Memo -Citywide Homeless Update: January 2022 (Districts -All)
Jan. 6, 2022
Page 3
Community
• The 2022 Point-in-Time (PIT} Count has been scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022,
from 4-8 a.m. The Regional Task Force on Homelessness has 50 volunteer slots open for
community members to participate. The city is actively trying to recruit volunteers for
the event. The city currently has 29 of 50 volunteer spots filled for the event.
Additionally, city staff is implementing new COVID-19 protocols to ensure volunteers
and staff are healthy. The Homeless Services Division will be using the Harding
Community Center as a deployment site for the City of Carlsbad.
• There will be no community office hours for the month of January 2022. City staff met
with the Communications & Engagement Department to brainstorm ways they could
expand community participation. Staff decided to host an office hour every quarter to
coincide with the release of the city's Homeless Quarterly Reports.
• The Housing and Homeless Services Department presented their first quarterly report to
the City Council on Dec. 7, 2021, and will present their second quarterly report update in
February 2022.
County
• 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 HOT, Housing Navigator, and outside
contractors.
• City staff helped facilitate the first case conferencing meeting with most of the service
providers in the City of Carlsbad who are working with those experiencing
homelessness. During this meeting, city staff and service providers discussed the most
acute cases in the city and problem-solved solutions to barriers.
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