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DATE: |
February 28,2023 |
05 |
SUBJECT
Title
UPDATE THE COUNTY’S HOMELESS ACTION PLAN AND ADOPT THE “ALL IN”: THE FEDERAL STRATEGIC PLAN TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS (DISTRICTS: ALL)
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OVERVIEW
Over the last few years, the County Board of Supervisors has made significant investments to address the lack of emergency housing and prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. On November 2, 2021 (4), The County adopted a Framework to End Homelessness in the region to align the existing work to assist people experiencing or at risk of becoming homeless. To ensure alignment in the Region, the Regional Task Force on Homelessness also created a Regional Community Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. These policy recommendations have been instrumental to address homelessness in the region and find housing solutions.
To further our commitment to prevent and seek an end to homelessness, I am recommending that the County work with the Regional Task Force on Homelessness to incorporate the federal strategic plan “All In” to Prevent and End Homelessness into the County’s existing Homeless Action Plan and identify County owned land that can be used for emergency housing solutions.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHAIRWOMAN NORA VARGAS
1. Direct the CAO to review and incorporate relevant portions of the “All In”: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness into the County’s existing Homeless Action Plan,
a. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to report back to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors within one hundred and twenty (120) days with an update of the new Homeless Action Plan and identify available County owned land that can be used for emergency housing solutions such as safe parking, safe villages, or other emergency housing solution.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Based on the 2022 Point in Time Count, there are approximately 8,427 individuals living in the streets or shelters throughout San Diego County. This is a significant increase of 56% from 2020. Twenty-four percent of those living in the streets are 55 and over, and about 47% of those seniors experienced homelessness for the first time, with 57% having a physical disability. This action aligns with the County’s strategic plan to utilize policies, facilities, infrastructure and finance to provide housing opportunities that meet the needs of our communities.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Updating our homeless action plan will allow us as a County to leverage our relationships with the Federal and State government to seek additional funds and resources to address homelessness in the Region. This board action aligns with the County’s strategic plan to ensure that capability to respond and recover to immediate needs for individuals, families, and the region.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact with these recommendations. There may be future fiscal impacts based on recommendations from today’s action. Any such recommendations would return back for consideration and approval by the Board. Upon return by staff, funding for future costs will need to be identified by the department and will proceed once identified. At this time, there will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
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Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
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BACKGROUND
On November 2, 2021 (4), the County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the Framework for Ending Homelessness to align the existing work throughout the region to assist people experiencing homelessness or at-risk of experiencing homelessness, with the ultimate goal of ending homelessness. The Framework for Ending Homelessness is anchored in five strategic domains: Root Cause and Upstream Prevention, Diversion and Mitigation, Services, Treatment and Outreach, Emergency/Interim Housing and Resources, Permanent Housing and Support. Additionally, each of the five strategic domains is driven by five key commitments that guide the County’s approach: Person-Centered, Data, Regional Collaboration, Sustainability, and Equity. This framework has been crucial to the work leading up to the board Declaring Homelessness a Public Health Crisis on September 27, 2022(21) and creation of the Regional Community Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.
On October 12,2022 the Regional Task Force on Homeless and regional CoC’s released the Regional Community Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness to be the guiding principle and foundation for moving to action of address homelessness in San Diego over a period of five years. The Regional Plan identifies system and resource gaps, promotes evidence-based approaches for the homelessness crisis response system including person-centered orientations like Housing First, Trauma-Informed, and progressive engagement, places a focus on equity, and embraces the truth that housing ends homelessness and everyone can thrive in housing with appropriate support as needed. The Plan is made up of three parts which include, identifying system challenges and gaps, regional vision, shared goals, and foundational strategies and lastly work with key stakeholders to develop an implementation plan.
To further the Regional Community Action Plan, I recommend that the CAO work with The Regional Task Force on Homelessness to adopt the following recommendations
1. Direct the CAO to review and incorporate relevant portions of the “All In”: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness into the County’s existing Homeless Action Plan,
a. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to report back to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors within one hundred and twenty (120) days with an update of the new Homeless Action Plan and identify available County owned land that can be used for emergency housing solutions such as safe parking, safe villages, or other emergency housing solution.
By adopting the All In: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, we are aligning with the Federal goals to seek an end to homelessness and can leverage additional federal funds and resources. The All In: Federal Plan, lays out an ambitious plan to reduce homelessness by 25% nationwide by focusing on upscaling housing demands, improve effectiveness of homeless response systems and prevent homelessness. Additionally, staff will report back on available county land and identify which sites could be suited for cabin-style safe villages, overnight parking, or other emergency housing solutions. The creation of these sites will aim to address the lack of emergency housing and criminalization of people who find shelter within their vehicles by providing a safe space where they can receive services and avoid parking violations.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s requested action ties to the San Diego County’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan of utilizing policies, facilities, and finance to provide housing opportunities that met the needs of the community as well as reduce disparities and disproportionality and ensure access for all through a fully optimized health and social service delivery system and upstream strategies.
Respectfully submitted,
NORA VARGAS
Supervisor, First District
ATTACHMENT(S)
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