Title
City Council Referral Directing the SSHRB to Review City Policies and Procedures for Aiding Alameda’s Homeless and Make Recommendations to the City Council for Policy Revisions and Additions
Body
To: Social Service and Human Relations Board
From: Sherice Youngblood, Homelessness Action Pan Work Group
Danielle Thoe, Housing Authority of the City of Alameda
Re: City Council Referral Directing the SSHRB to Review City Policies and Procedures for Aiding Alameda’s Homeless and Make Recommendations to the City Council for Policy Revisions and Additions
BACKGROUND
On November 1, 2016, the City Council approved a referral directing the Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) to “review City policies and procedures for aiding Alameda's homeless in order to make recommendations to the City Council for policy revisions and additions." SSHRB tasked its Homelessness Action Plan Work Group to work with Housing Authority and City staff on the referral and to prepare a report for the full SSHRB’s review and action.
SSHRB’s initial Homelessness Action Plan Work Group included Doug Biggs and Jennifer Williams. Both of these Board members transitioned off the Board and Sherice Youngblood joined the Board and agreed to serve on the Homelessness Action Plan Work Group. Given the importance of the Council referral and its comprehensive scope, former Board members Biggs and Williams agreed to participate on an expanded Work Group to assist in the work. The expanded Work Group was comprised of two SSHRB members (Youngblood and Hyman), two former SSHRB members (Biggs and Williams), and City and Housing Authority staff.
Over the past 15 months, the Work Group met twice and staff gathered information, researched best practices, and talked through policies with local experts. The attached Homelessness Report (Exhibit 1) reflects the research completed to date and presents to SSHRB a number of options to serve individuals experiencing homelessness and address homelessness as a systemic issue within the City of Alameda.
The Work Group is requesting that the full SSHRB review and comment upon the report and, based on comments received, recommend that the report be forwarded to City Council for its review and approval.
DISCUSSION
The Homeless Report summarizes the current situation of homelessness in the City of Alameda, looks at services currently available to homeless individuals, and then provides recommendations for policy options to address both symptoms and causes of homelessness. The report's aim is to give SSHRB, City Council, and other decision makers a number of options with differing levels of impact and costs to the City to address homelessness.
This Report divides policy options into four main categories:
• Services to Homeless Individuals - these types of programs and policies will make life more comfortable for homeless individuals but will not reduce the number of individuals living with homelessness.
• Temporary Shelter for the Homeless - these non-permanent shelter options can reduce the time homeless individuals spend on the street during inclement weather or for the most vulnerable individuals but do not eliminate homelessness.
• Permanent Housing - while the most costly, long-term solutions to homelessness must involve a commitment to house the homeless.
• Local Code and Action - while not providing direct services to address homelessness, there are policy statements and changes to the City’s Zoning Code that can be made in order to better support those other policy and programming recommendations.
These policy options are further organized as follows:
|
Policy Area |
Program Options |
Timeline |
Cost |
|
Services to Homeless Individuals |
• Homeless Outreach Team • Supplemental Case Management • Community Paramedics |
Short-term |
Low to medium |
|
Temporary Shelter for the Homeless |
• Homeless Shelter • Winter Warming Center • McKay Ave. Property |
Medium-term; Ongoing |
Medium to High |
|
Permanent Housing |
• Local Funding of Homeless Housing • Construction of Additional Units of All Types/Prices |
Long-term |
High |
|
Local Code and Action Strategy |
• Zoning Amendments to Support Homeless Programs • Parking Meters for Homelessness • Homeless State of Emergency |
Short-term; Ongoing |
Low |
This report also serves as a reminder to the community that it is not illegal to be homeless in Alameda and reminds decision-makers that permanent housing is the only solution to ending homelessness in the City.
It is recommended that the SSHRB review the policy recommendations and recommend to the City Council that it approve the Homeless Report and direct staff to implement the recommendations contained in the report.
RECOMMENDATION
That SSHRB recommend that City Council approve the Homelessness Report and direct staff to implement its recommendations.
Exhibit:
1. Homeless Report