HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 6477
City of Palo Alto (ID # 6477)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Informational Report Meeting Date: 1/11/2016
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Homelessness Activities
Title: Addressing Homelessness in Support of a Healthy and Safe Palo Alto
From: City Manager
Lead Department: City Manager
Recommendation
This report is provided for City Council information only at this time, and provides an overview
of current City activities related to homelessness and upcoming Council agenda items on the
topic.
Executive Summary
The beginning of winter provides a tangible reminder of the ongoing needs of the unhoused
members of our society. This report provides a summary of existing winter shelter programs. At
the same time, recognizing that homelessness is a year-round issue, this report also discusses
ongoing programs and options for additional resource allocation.
Within the next two months, Council will have the opportunity to discuss several related issues:
• HSRAP funding allocation
• Countywide Plan to End Homelessness
• Cities Association request to support a resolution from the County’s Housing Services
Task Force, and to join the “All the Way Home Campaign.”
This report provides background information that should be helpful to the Council in
considering these items. Staff anticipates bringing back to Council a broader discussion on the
City’s role and available resources to assist in homelessness issues in the months ahead.
Discussion
The Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing takes the lead on cold weather shelters in
the County1.
1 More information can be found at the county webpage https://www.sccgov.org/sites/oah/Pages/Office-of-
Affordable-Housing.aspx.
City of Palo Alto Page 2
In North County, a shelter at the former Onizuka Air Force Station in Sunnyvale is expected
currently to provide 100-125 additional beds through March 31st. Beds at the Shelter will be on
a referral only basis by North County Homeless Services Agencies, meaning that an individual
has a bed for a three month period. However if someone does not arrive by 7pm, their spot will
be given away that night for a walk in. This facility provides a 100-person capacity and increases
to 125 during inclement weather, defined as:
• A forecasted overnight low of 38 degrees or lower with a probability of rain less than 50%;
or
• A forecasted overnight low of 42 degrees or lower with a probability of rain of 50% or
greater.
The County of Santa Clara is providing financial support to agencies to increase their capacity
for additional cold weather spots for the same period as the main shelter. These beds will also
be on a referral basis, and locally include Hotel de Zink – Palo Alto Rotating Church Shelter
operated by Inn Vision Shelter Network – increase of 5 spots beds or 20 in total, and Project
WeHope – East Palo Alto - increase of 20 spots beds. Warming centers are also available
throughout the county. In Palo Alto, the Opportunity Center serves as a “warming center
station” for Palo Alto during regular hours of operation of Monday-Friday, 8am – 4pm.
See attached for full program information on the North County Cold Weather Shelter Program.
The City was recently asked by County staff if we could open the Cubberley Community Center
as a shelter during periods of inclement weather this winter. In light of incompatibility with
other uses at Cubberley and the surrounding neighborhood, City staff responded that we would
not recommend City Council approval.
Current and Recent Year-Round Efforts
Recognizing that our long-term societal goal is to minimize the causes and effects of
homelessness, the City of Palo Alto as with other communities worldwide has employed various
strategies to address this vexing problem.
At this time, there are estimates of 100-400 unhoused individuals in Palo Alto, representing a
significant increase over prior years. The 2015 bi-annual Santa Clara County Homeless Point in
Time (PIT) Count taken in February 2015 lists Palo Alto’s homeless count as 219 (prior counts
are: 2011 – 151, 2013 – 157.) Some of this increase is believed by some to have resulted from
closure of the Sunnyvale armory and “the Jungle” encampment in San Jose just before the PIT
count was taken.
Causes and effects of homelessness are varied and debated. Clearly this can be a public health
issue, impacting individuals and the community with physical and mental health dimensions. In
some cases, public safety concerns are also present.
City of Palo Alto Page 3
The City currently supports several organizations that provide direct services to homeless
individuals. Resources currently deployed includes roughly $600,000 per year, primarily to the
Downtown Streets Team, with smaller amount contributions to Momentum for Mental Health,
InnVision Shelter Network and Peninsula HealthCare Connections. Through a separate
collaboration with the County, Peninsula HealthCare Connections – New Directions, the City’s
support is also providing one case manager and related expenses ($125,000/year for two years)
through June 2016. At this point, 810 people have been housed, with 7 more currently in the
housing search process aidded by the case manager.
In addition, Avenidas and City staff are in discussions about increasing services to senior
homeless individuals. The City has recently experienced an increase in senior homeless persons
who often spend time in Cogswell Plaza. The City has requested that Avenidas consider, as part
of its partnership with the City, additional provision of services to the homeless. Avenidas has
agreed to discuss.
Staff believes that overall these services are productive and working for a majority of affected
individuals. However, these services are not effective for individuals with severe substance
abuse and/or mental health issues. Further, there are a small number of individuals (estimated
by PAPD at less than 20) who generate a large number of the quality of life and property crime
problems in the downtown area.
To address this latter segment, the Police Department’s 54-person Special Enforcement Detail is
tasked with ongoing enforcement. This has resulted in issuance of 500 citations and execution
of approximately 150 bench warrants over the past year.
The City Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecuting violations of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code. Over the past year, the Office has taken a more hands on role in this area, replacing
outside counsel with a staff attorney, who is typically in court at least once a week on these
issues. Enforcement approaches have been frustrating for all involved, with limited ability to
compel compliance, given that jails are full and early release routine and an expensive bench
warrant system for individuals that fail to appear. Downtown businesses have similarly
expressed frustration with the City’s limited ability to effectively address conduct (Code
violations) that they see as a threat to business. While the criminal justice system is a necessary
component of a multi-faceted approach to address community health and safety, it is limited in
its ability to address fundamental issues that contribute to quality of life challenges downtown
and throughout the community.
Further Addressing Both Ends of the Spectrum of Needs
Clearly this is a complex and regional issue, one for which the City has considered and pursued
numerous strategies over time.
On a County wide basis, key resolutions have been forwarded for consideration of City support
on addressing homelessness.
City of Palo Alto Page 4
1) County Plan to End Homelessness in Santa Clara County – 2015-2020 – Lead Agency –
Destination Home - a public-private partnership. Through a Collective Impact Approach, the
Plan was created as a community-wide roadmap to end homelessness for the next five
years, and is proposed to guide government, nonprofits and other community members as
they make decisions about funding, programs, priorities and needs (Tentative Council Date
1-25-16)
Santa Clara County Housing Task Force Recommendations
In November, the Santa Clara County Cities Association received an update from the SCC
Housing Task Force (HTF) and a request from Cities Association President/HTF Member Jason
Baker to support a Resolution declaring homelessness a crisis and a call to action on the
implementation of affordable housing funding strategies as an effort to prevent homelessness
and ensure coordinated efforts countywide. It also received a request for cities to join the Santa
Clara County and City of San Jose “All the Way Home Campaign” - matching homeless veterans
with housing units. A fact sheet is attached with more information.
Other specific strategies have been suggested, such as pay-for-success grant funding models
and motel vouchers for families with minors, as well as operational practices such as the
availability of public restrooms and other facilities.
Next Steps
In all likelihood, undertaking a meaningfully greater role will require some additional program
management resources within the City. Given the range of strategies involved, the City’s
current decentralized services in related areas could thereby be better coordinated and focused
on gaps between services. This would accompany direct services, such as case managers
dedicated to specific segments of the population.
Staff is currently formulating options and recommendations on how to respond, and expect to
be looking at some near term (mid-year or FY 17 Budget) proposals to support our efforts.
Attachments:
ATTACHMENT A: Homeless Veterans Fact Sheet (PDF)
1 Source: Santa Clara County Point-In -Time Census and Survey Comprehensive Report 2015,
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/opa/nr/Documents/SantaClaraCounty_HomelessReport_2015_FINAL.pdf
Homeless Veterans in Santa Clara County
There are currently 703 homeless veterans in Santa Clara County, 683 are single and 20 are
living in families. Females comprise 13% of single homeless veterans and 65% of homeless
veterans in families. 314 veterans are considered chronically homeless, which is 46% of the
homeless veteran population. Only 37% of homeless veterans are sheltered, with 63%
unsheltered. 71% of homeless veterans were living in this county when they most recently became homeless.
Additionally, 8% were in a hospital or treatment facility just prior to becoming homeless and 23% are experiencing
homelessness for the first time.
Many U.S. veterans experience conditions that place them
at increased risk for homelessness, including higher rates
of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain
Injury (TBI), sexual assault and physical disability.
Veterans experiencing homelessness are more likely to live
on the street than in shelters and often remain on the
street for extended periods of time. 1
About the Campaign
The “All the Way Home” campaign is targeted at ending veteran homelessness. The City of San Jose, the County
of Santa Clara, the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara and Destination: Home are collaborating to
address this community crisis. It is inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama’s 2015 Mayors Challenge to End
Veteran Homelessness, in partnership with the Veteran’s Administration and Housing and Urban Development
(HUD). The campaign will work with landlords and apartment owners to increase access to rental units for
homeless veterans and their families. Outreach will also be made to corporations and faith based groups to aid
with land acquisition, housing development, access to rental units, financial assistance and services.
Funding Committed to End Veteran Homelessness
The City of San Jose will be committing up to $6 million for new housing opportunities that could serve more than
100 veterans. Recently, the Board of Supervisors authorized an additional $1.5 million a year in housing and
services for homeless veterans. The Housing Authority annually has up to $7.445 million available through
Veterans Affairs (federally supported) Supportive Housing (VASH) Vouchers.
The Need
Santa Clara County has one of the most expensive rental markets in the nation. With vacancy rates at an all time
low, we need our community partners to work with us to match veterans with housing units, ensuring that we are
able to bring them All The Way Home. The Housing Authority estimates that $3.835 million of our VASH funding
eligibility of $7.445 million (51.5%) will not be spent due to the inability of our veterans to be able to rent an apartment.
The Campaign is actively seeking partner landlords who will rent vacant units to homeless veterans. In exchange,
the veteran’s rent will be subsidized through the federal or local government.
Contact information
If you are interested in being involved in the “All the Way Home” campaign to end veteran homelessness or have
questions about the campaign, please contact colleen@destinationhomescc.org.
FACT SHEET: HOMELESS VETERANS IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY
Homeless Veterans
37%
63%
0
20
40
60
80
Sheltered Veterans Unsheltered Veterans
0
50
100
59% Psychiatric or
Emotional
53% Physical Disability 44% PTSD 53% Chronic Health
Issues
18% Traumatic Brain
Injury
Health Conditions Among Homeless Veterans
Homeless Veterans