HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-24; Citywide Homeless Update: August 2023 (Districts - All); Barberio, GaryTo the members of the:
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August 24, 2023
Council Memorandum
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2023090
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:
Re:
Chris Shilling, Homeless Services Manager, Homeless Services
Jessica Klein, Senior Program Manager o eless Services
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager
Citywide Homeless Update: August 2023 (Districts -All}
Homeless Services and Homeless Outreach Team Update
• On July 11, 2023, the City Council approved acceptance of an Encampment Resolution
Grant from the State of California which will provide approximately $2.3 million in
funding over a 3-year period. Housing & Homeless Services staff held a grant kick-off
meeting with all subcontractors on July 20, 2023. The city is currently waiting to receive
the fully executed contract back from the state.
• The city provides Community Development Block Grant (CDBG} funding to Interfaith
Community Services, the Community Resource Center, and Brother Benno's to provide
homelessness prevention assistance to Carlsbad residents. From July 1, 2022, to
June 30, 2023, the contractors used all $110,199 allocated and provided prevention
assistance to 75 households.
• On August 8, 2023, Housing & Homeless Services staff met with the Carlsbad Unified
School District (CUSD} to increase coordination and share resources that are available to
help students and families experiencing homelessness. The CUSD will also be sharing
aggregate data related to how many families with students enrolled in the CUSD are
experiencing homelessness. However, since school districts use a different definition of
homelessness than the HUD definition, the data will be utilized as an additional
measurement to track for trends over time.
• The Housing & Homeless Services Department is in the process of hiring a new Housing
Navigator to replace the staff member who recently left the position. The new Housing
Navigator is expected to be on boarded by the end of August.
• The Housing & Homeless Services Department is continuing to work with the Innovation
& Economic Development Department to identify and prepare the housing and
homelessness data and metrics that will be shared on the city's website.
Community Services Branch
Housing & Homeless Services Department
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2810 t
Council Memo -Citywide Homeless Update: August 2023 (Districts -All)
August 24, 2023
Page 2
• The Housing & Homeless Services, Police, Fire and Finance Departments continue to
collaborate to design a program using National Opioid Settlement funding which meets
the settlement requirements for high impact abatement activities. The amount of
funding is still being determined but could potentially provide approximately $80,000
per year towards high impact abatement activities.
• The city's quality-of-life ordinances related to homelessness and public spaces went into
effect on November 11, 2021. These ordinances and oth~r federal, state, and local laws
have helped the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) hold the homeless community
accountable while continuing to offer compassionate outreach and resources. In
July 2023 Police Officers issued 15 written warnings, 54 citations, and made 10 bookable
arrests.
Emergency Shelter and Motel Voucher Program
• In July 2023, the Homeless Out reach Team (HOT) placed 3 individuals into the
Emergency Motel Voucher Program. Participants are typically allowed to stay up to
three nights. In rare cases, the HOT can increase the time if there are assured resources
that are taking longer to secure. Of the 3 placements, all 3 were bridged to shelter,
treatment, or more permanent housing.
• The Housing & Homeless Services Department began offering extended limited-term
motel stays of not more than 30 days to households who need additional time to
complete their housing plans on September 1, 2022. As of July 31, 2023, Housing &
Homeless Services has provided 14 households with extended motel vouchers. Seven
have successfully transitioned into stable placements, two are pending move-ins and
two have housing subsidies to obtain permanent housing and are in the process of
locating available units.
• The city continues to work with Catholic Charities on the La Posada de Guadalupe
· shelter expansion. On August 7, 2023, Housing & Homeless Services, Catholic Charities
and the project's architectural firm toured the soon to be opened 50 bed homeless
shelter in the City of Oceanside. The shelter has space for men, women and families
through referrals from the Oceanside Homeless Outreach Team.
Community
• The Community Resource Center has announced their organization was awarded a state
grant and they will be opening a Trauma Recovery Center in the City of Carlsbad. The
center will be located in an office building on Pio Pico Drive. A Trauma Recovery Center
provides trauma-informed mental health treatment and case management to
underserved people in need and victims of crime and violence.
Council Memo -Citywide Homeless Update: August 2023 (Districts -All)
August 24, 2023
Page 3
• On July 10, 2023, Housing & Homeless Services staff presented at the first Community
Police Engagement Committee meeting. The presentation provided an overview of the
city's Homelessness Action Plan.
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Mickey Williams, Police Chief
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Zach Korach, Finance Director