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Home My WebLink About2023-03-16; Homelessness Reduction Efforts in the City of Coronado (Districts - All); Barberio, GaryTo the members of the: C:ITY COUNCIL Date-3l\bf2~CA V CCL .. CM-~-· ACM _V'oa_ DCM (3)~ March 16, 2023 Council Memorandum {cityof Carlsbad Memo ID# 2023025 To: From: Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services Mandy Mills, Director of Housing & Homeless Services Via: Chris Shilling, Senior Program Manager,~meless Services Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ~ Re: Homelessness Reduction Efforts in the City of Coronado (Districts -All) This memorandum provides information related to the City of Coronado's efforts to reduce its homeless population. Background There was recerit media attention about the reduction in the City of Coronado's annual Point-In Time Count numbers of people experiencing homelessness. The following table identifies the City of Coronado's annual Point-In Time Count numbers for the last six years (there was no unsheltered Point-in Time Count in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic): 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 5 6 1 16 1 Discussion The City of Coronado has historically had a low number of people experiencing homelessness. There are a variety of reasons for the low homeless population in Coronado. Geography The City of Coronado has a total area of 7.9 square miles of land, but the majority of the island is military property. The civilian portion of the island is mostly single-family homes with several hotels and resorts and a small amount of other commercial businesses. Coronado is geographically isolated as it is a tied island connected to the mainland by the Silver Strand. Access to Coronado is not easy. By vehicle you can drive onto the island via the Coronado Bridge, or on the Silver Strand from Imperial Beach. On bicycle, one could access Coronado from Imperial Beach. Without a vehicle or bicycle, a person must take a bus or the ferry. Community Services Branch Housing & Homeless Services Department 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2810 t Council Memo -Homelessness Reduction Efforts in the City of Coronado (Districts -All) March 16, 2023 Page 2 Demographics Coronado has a small population of approximately 20,000 people, and less than 8,000 households. The average household income is $174,248, and the average median home price is over $1.8 million. With incomes and home prices so high, people living in Coronado generally do not become homeless. Access to Services for People Experiencing Homelessness The City of Coronado does not have any homeless shelters or other types of homelessness housing within the city. There are also no businesses, social services or amenities that homeless people generally seek out. Coronado's Homelessness Response The City of Coronado's Police Department has stated that their approach to homelessness has evolved over time. After the Martin vs. Boise court decision, in response to concerns raised by residents and businesses, the Coronado City Attorney's Office worked With the Coronado Police Department tci develop a general approach to dealing with homelessness and camping in the city. The city's ordinances make it illegal to camp, lodge, or sleep on any public median, street, or right-of-way; camp, lodge, or sleep in a public park or beach between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.; camp, lodge, or sleep on private property without permission; or sleep or recline in any automobile parked upon any public street or highway for more than 2 hours. According to the City of Coronado Police Department in a staff report on March 2, 2021, "Contrary to the impression of some citizens, vagrancy laws are generally unenforceable. In order for Coronado to enforce its ordinance that prohibits sleeping in a public park, beach, median, or right-of-way, CMC 40.48.010, some form of shelter needs to be offered. Then, if refused, the City may issue a citation for illegally camping. Coronado entered into a short-term agreement with St. Vincent de Paul Village to provide an alternative for the unsheltered." The city pays $3,802 per month to Father Joe's Villages in Downtown San Diego for the use of one shelter bed. For an additional fee, the city may also add up to two family members to the room. Intake is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week. The city does not fund any other homeless services. Summary Coronado has a unique geographic and demographic makeup that contributes to its historically low number of persons experiencing homelessness. Regarding enforcement, the City of Carlsbad has similar ordinances in place regarding encampments and a similar approach of offering services. The one ordinance that Coronado has adopted which Carlsbad has not is the prohibition of reclining or sleeping in any automobile parked upon any public street for more than 2 hours. The Carlsbad Police Department believes such an ordinance would be impractical to enforce. cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager Cindie McMahon, City Attorney Mickey Wiiliams, Chief of Police Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Community Services Branch Housing & Homeless Services Department 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2810 t {city of Carlsbad