Title
Receive Report on the Homeless Action Plan Related to Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Receive Report on the Homeless Action Plan Related to Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
BACKGROUND
Homeless encampments in Alameda and across the entire Bay Area region have grown in recent months and the City is working to address this issue throughout the Island, including at the future Jean Sweeney Open Space Park (Sweeney Park). Staff felt it was critical to begin addressing this issue, especially with the near-term and future development of Sweeney Park and the significant number of homeless people camping on the site. Staff brought together a committee with representatives from Alameda Point Collaborative, Operation Dignity, the Social Services Human Relations Board (SSHRB), the Paramedicine Program and the Community Development, Police, and Recreation and Parks Departments. This committee drafted a Homeless Action Plan and began a collaborative process to address the homeless issue in a direct and compassionate way.
On September 1, 2016, the City entered into an agreement with Operation Dignity to provide an initial assessment of the homeless population throughout the City. To accomplish this, its mobile outreach team directly contacted and surveyed people at various encampments over a six week period. The intention of this assessment was to provide more data as well as to start developing relationships with Alameda homeless residents in order to begin connecting them with needed services.
On September, 27, 2016, City staff, in collaboration with Alameda Point Collaborative, Operation Dignity and SSHRB, held a community meeting to discuss the homeless issue in Alameda. Many neighbors of Sweeney Park attended as well as several homeless individuals. At the community meeting, numerous residents asked about the City providing ...
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