Title
Status Report of Emergency Response Services for the Homeless in the City of Alameda
Body
To: Honorable President Scott Means and Members of the Social Service Human Relations Board
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In The Road Home: A Five-Year Strategic Plan to Prevent & Respond to Homelessness in Alameda (The Road Home <https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/assets/public/departments/alameda/econ-dev-amp-comm-services/the-road-home-plan-adopted.pdf>), created by former Community Development Department staff in cooperation with the Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) and City Council (Council), the City of Alameda (City) committed to goals, strategies, and metrics to meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community, was accepted by Council October of 2021. Housing and Human Services Department staff actively works to carry out Council directed initiatives in cooperation with other City departments and area social service providers to serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the City. Twice a year, staff formally reports on progress to SSHRB.
BACKGROUND
Together, Council and SSHRB have identified addressing homelessness as a key priority.
• In 2016, Council tasked SSHRB with reviewing City policies and procedures around homelessness.
• In 2018, Council adopted the Homelessness Report <https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/assets/public/departments/alameda/econ-dev-amp-comm-services/community-services/alameda-homelessness-report.pdf> authored by SSHRB’s Homeless Action Plan Work Group in collaboration with Alameda Housing Authority and City staff.
• Next, the City supported the recommendations to align local priorities, ordinances, and policies in support of ending homelessness through expanding permanent and affordable housing as presented in the EveryOne Home 2018 Strategic Update.
• In 2018, Council declared a shelter crisis and the City gained access to State of California (State) funding, Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP), to serve individuals experiencing homelessness.
• In January of 2021, SSHRB began work on a five-year plan to address homelessness, culminating with the publication of The Road Home, which was approved by Council on October 5, 2021.
• On June 6, 2022, Council further endorsed through resolution the Alameda County Home Together 2026 Community Plan: A 5-Year Strategic Framework Centering Racial Equity to End Homelessness in Alameda County (Home Together). A side-by-side comparison of The Road Home and Home Together goals highlights a need for Alameda to acknowledge and address the disproportionate effects of poverty and racism on minority members of our community, understand the root causes of homelessness, use mass education to increase the compassion and understanding of homelessness, and foster cooperation between counties and cities to serve those in need.
The last Status Report of Emergency Response Services for the Homeless in the City of Alameda (Status Report) was delivered by staff member Marcie Johnson in July 2023 (File #: 2023-2769).
DISCUSSION
Adopted by City Council on October 5, 2021, The Road Home outlines the following goals:
• GOAL 1: Secure a Housing Future for All Alamedans
• GOAL 2: Increase Access to Homeless Emergency Response Services
• GOAL 3: Mobilize Citywide Response to Homelessness
The primary purpose of The Road Home is to provide a roadmap to:
ü Prevent and reduce first-time homelessness;
ü Reduce chronic homelessness;
ü Shorten the period of time an individual or household remains homeless; and
ü Decrease returns to homelessness.
Programs that support the goals of The Road Home are housed in the Base Reuse and Economic Development Department, Rent Department, and Housing and Human Services (HHS). This status report specifically reviews the ongoing progress of HHS strategies that support goals one through three of The Road Home.
Strategy 2.1: Develop flexible resources for diversion, prevention, and housing retention
Flexible Funding: The City has contracted with Building Futures with Women and Children (Building Futures) and St. Vincent de Paul to provide one-time, flexible funding for housing problem solving and to provide emergency support for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Individuals served may receive outreach, housing counseling, referrals to needed services, and intake into HMIS. Decisions regarding funding are made collaboratively and center on specific client strengths and needs.
HHS Community Outreach Specialist: The Alameda Free Library is partnering with HHS to recruit a part-time City employee who will serve as a Community Outreach Specialist (Specialist). The Specialist will act as a case manager and serve individuals struggling with mental health, addiction, housing insecurity and homelessness. The Specialist will work alongside HHS staff and social service providers to deliver direct support to constituents experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The position's roles include: direct constituent interaction in the office, street and at constituents’ homes and places where they receive services; accompanying individuals to connect with services when and if necessary; interfacing effectively with social service providers to triage cases and address unmet needs; system navigation; client advocacy and record keeping and administrative functions associated with securing social services.
Strategy 2.2: Provide low-barrier, housing-focused temporary housing
Day Center Services: In July 2023, Council approved two contracts to continue Day Center Services which includes:
• Up to 12 overnight, emergency shelter beds,
• 25 safe parking spots that are co-located with the Day Center and where individuals receive comparable services, and
• Four City-owned trailers to house up to five individuals with priority given to the medically fragile
Day Center Services gives the service provider, The Village of Love Foundation (VOL), the ability to offer immediate shelter and build initial relationships.
Emergency Supportive Housing at Alameda Point (up to 26 beds): Four City-owned homes offer up to 26 beds for individuals and families experiencing homelessness with on-site supportive services available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provided by VOL staff. Since opening in November 2023, 31 unduplicated individuals have been served with nine individuals moving to permanent housing or programs. Referrals to Emergency Supportive Housing come through the Coordinated Outreach Team which includes members from VOL, Building Futures, Alameda Family Services, Five Keys Schools and Programs (Five Keys), St. Vincent de Paul, Alameda Police Department, Alameda Unified School District and Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless.
Dignity Village - Interim Supportive Housing (47 units, up to 61 beds): Dignity Village construction was completed in six months, which was aided by using modular construction. Dignity Village opened to residents on Thursday, May 10, 2023. Since opening, Dignity Village has served a total of 74 unduplicated individuals, 11 of which are Transitional Age Youth (ages 18 to 25) and 12 who are seniors (ages 65 and above). On February 6, HHS will bring to Council a request for approval for a contract with Alameda Family Services to fund a full-time mental health therapist to provide direct support to residents, training to staff, and linkages to mental health services as needed.
Warming Shelter and Warming Services (20 shelter beds and 6 to 7 hotel rooms): Christ Episcopal Church (Christ Church) has subcontracted Episcopal Community Services (ECS) to provide 20 winter Warming Shelter beds for the season. ECS staff will rotate to three different Alameda-based parishes to serve overnight guests seven days a week. Building Futures will place and offer case management for individuals living on the streets to shelter indoors in a hotel room for the duration of the winter months. Medically fragile individuals and seniors are prioritized to be housed through winter Warming Services in the hotel program.
Strategy 2.3: Expand outreach and supportive services to unsheltered households
Showers and Laundry services: The City continues to contract with WeHOPE to provide weekly showers and laundry through their Dignity on Wheels program. Services are hosted at The Village of Love (VOL) in collaboration with VOL services as well as the mid-County Housing Resource Center. Christ Episcopal Church (Church) opens their shower program on a weekly basis, and twice a week during Winter Warming Shelter months.
Mobile/Street Outreach: VOL’s renewed agreement was approved in July 2023 and extends through to September 2024. Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) services will continue to be available for seven days a week and an additional full-time position was approved for Mental Health Case Management for individuals living on the streets needing intensive care. VOL has been effective with identifying individuals in need, providing essential services like food and referrals, and getting individuals to accept services that help lead to housing and self-sufficiency.
Strategy 3.2: Strengthen the homeless response system infrastructure
Housing and Human Services: Effective July 1, the Housing and Human Services division of the City Manager Office was formed and reports to the Assistant City Manager. The Housing and Human Services (HHS) Division facilitates the preservation, rehabilitation and construction of affordable housing in Alameda; supports residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by providing services and shelter, as well as offering flexible funding; implements the affordable housing requirements of the City’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance; manages grants that support the construction of new affordable housing; and collaborates with community and social service providers whose programs preserve safety net services for low-income residents, including, but not limited to children, youth, seniors and persons with disabilities. HHS staff also support the Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) and the Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth and their Families (ACCYF).
Collaborative Process: City staff continue to support two main social service provider regular meeting spaces - Coordinated Outreach Team (COT) and Collaboration for Advancing Resources, Efforts, and Supports for Alameda’s Homeless (CARES). Both spaces are leveraged for the sharing of resources and coordination of services across the island.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the status report on Emergency Response Services for the Homeless.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcie Soslau Johnson, Social Services Manager