HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 10 - Homeless Navigation Center Update Community Development Agency
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Item # 10
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
October 19, 2021
TOPIC: Homeless Navigation Center Update
AGENDA TITLE:
Homeless Navigation Center Update
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive and file the Homeless Navigation Center update.
DISCUSSION
The Homeless Navigation Center (HNC) is designed to replace the City's interim
homeless shelter, the Link. The HNC will provide 200 beds, scalable to over 300 beds,
for Santa Ana residents experiencing homelessness. The facility will include family,
couples, men, women, and flex dorms, along with a commercial kitchen, offices for case
management and medical services, and an outdoor area for participants and their pets.
Adhering to the principles of Housing First, guests will be admitted with low-barrier
requirements through approved referral agencies. All guests will be transported in and
out of the shelter, as no walk-in traffic is allowed. During their stay, guests will be offered
a robust package of supportive services to transition them to permanent housing and to
cope with underlying issues causing them to cycle through homelessness. The
Illumination Foundation, the selected operator of the Homeless Navigation Center, will
partner with Clarke Lew Medical Corp. to provide medical and mental health care
services, exclusive of substance use counseling, for clients on-site at the shelter.
Current Status
At the September 7, 2021 City Council meeting, staff was directed to provide monthly
updates on the construction of the Homeless Navigation Center. To accommodate this
request, a new webpage has been incorporated into the existing Homeless Data
Dashboard. This site will be updated regularly, including photos. The Homeless Data
Dashboard can be found on the City’s website: https://www.santa-
ana.org/homelessness/interim-homeless-shelter-link/santa-ana-homeless-services-
data-dashboard.
Homeless Navigation Center Update
October 19, 2021
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It is important to note that on October 7, 2021, final permits were issued for the HNC,
which will result in work progressing more quickly than it has over these past few months.
In addition to the final permits, separate permits for the following items were also issued:
Light standards
Block walls (including height and linear length)
Trash enclosure
Parking lot (including number of spaces)
During the construction of the Homeless Navigation Center, data on referrals to the Link
on Commonwealth, the Hospitality House, and the family motel program will be available
on the Homeless Data Dashboard. Data captured from the Link Shelter on Red Hill from
its opening in 2018 through April 30, 2021 remains. The City’s Homeless webpage
(www.santa-ana.org/homelessness) and Homeless Data Dashboard will have a make-
over to coincide with the opening of the Homeless Navigation Center.
While tenant improvements continue in both the interior and exterior areas of the
Homeless Navigation Center building, project staff has been working behind the scenes
to determine the correct fixtures and furnishings for the site. The City is grateful to Kaiser
Permanente, Mountain View Condos Corp., and the Illumination Foundation, all who have
donated the lion’s share of the required office furniture—minimizing the number of items
to be purchased by the City.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
Submitted By: Steven Mendoza, Assistant City Manager
Approved By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager