HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 09 - Homeless Services Quarterly Report for the Period of 10/1/2023 through 12/31/2023Community Development Agency
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.....- Item # 9
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
February 6, 2024
TOPIC: Homeless Services Division Quarterly Report
AGENDA TITLE
Homeless Services Quarterly Report for the Period of October 1, 2023 through
December 31, 2023
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive and file the Quarterly Report for Homeless Services Projects and Activities for
the period of October 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
This report provides information for homeless -related activities coordinated through the
City's Homeless Services Division. This quarterly report provides activities regarding
SMART Outreach, the Jail Release Program, assistance and service updates for the
City's Shelter (Navigation Center), assistance provided through the Emergency Shelter
Grant Program, and Quality of Life Team (QOLT) summaries.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
EXHIBIT
1. Homeless Services Division Quarterly Report: October 1, 2023 through
December 31, 2023
Submitted By: Michael L. Garcia, Executive Director of Community Development
Approved By: Tom Hatch, Interim City Manager
City of Santa Ana — Quarterly Report
Second Quarter of FY 2023-2024
Homeless Services Division Quarterly Report
EXHIBIT 1
The Homeless Services Division along with our partners, have a comprehensive
approach to addressing homelessness. We focus on outreach, provide access to
services and shelter, partner with the Housing Division and continuously create space
for innovative programs to reduce and prevent homelessness.
Current Financial Condition
Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP)
The primary source of funding for homeless service programs is the Homeless Housing
Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) block grant, originating from the California
Interagency Council on Homelessness (CAL ICH). Funds support regional coordination
and expand/develop local capacity to address the immediate homeless challenges in
our community. The City is utilizing HHAP funding for the following eligible expenditure
activities:
- Outreach and Coordination
- Delivery of Permanent Housing
- Strategic Planning
- Services coordination
- Construction and Operation of the Navigation Center
- Administrative costs
HHAP Grant
■ Services coordination
■ Outreach
Permanent Housing
�j Navigation Center Operations
�(j� ■ Strategic Planning
■Administrative
February 6, 2024
Page 1
City of Santa Ana — Quarterly Report EXHIBIT 1
Second Quarter of FY 2023-2024
Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA)
The City of Santa Ana receives State PLHA funding from the California Department of
Housing and Community Development (CA HCD). PLHA provides for housing -related
projects and programs that assist in addressing unmet housing needs of our
community. Expenditures under The City's 5-year plan has allocated the following:
- Construction, Operation, and Purchase of the Navigation Center
- Administrative Costs
95% 1
SMART Outreach
PLHA Grant
■ Administrative
■ Construction, Operation, and
Purchase
The SMART program provides outreach and engagement teams, seven (7) days a week
to address non -emergency outreach focused on providing services, addressing mental
health, connecting clients to housing and helping people out of homelessness.
Outreach Contacts
1,508
Case Management
1,519
Street Exits
181
Calls Dispatched
2,316
Housing Exits
10
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City of Santa Ana — Quarterly Report EXHIBIT 1
Second Quarter of FY 2023-2024
Jail Release Proaram — SMART
Recognizing the gap in our system to assist individuals being released from the City's jail
to the streets, the new Jail Release Program was created. Upon request from the City's
Jail, City Net's case managers meet with homeless neighbors at the jail upon exit to
develop a plan that will include services aimed to end the individual's homelessness.
Total referrals for the Jail Release Program: 163
Total number of clients that refused services during the intake processing: 121
SMART
Outreach
Served Clients
(Oct 29 - Dec 2023)
Accepted Service
42
Mental Health
1
Substance Abuse Services
3
Shelter Follow -Up/ Call Back
12
Housing Services Referral
2
Taken to Shelter
4
Reconnection/Diversion Services
1
Other
18
Navigation Center Program Updates
The City works closely with Illumination Foundation on operation and referral procedures
as well as resource suggestions.
Activities/Services - Q2
Illumination Foundation
Medical Group
Recreational Activities
Mariners Church
Alcoholics Anonymous
Monthly Baptism Services
OC Social Services
Stress Reduction
Parenting Classes
Santa Ana WORK Center
on -site services
Day Habilitation Programs to maximize independence
City staff assisted in connecting one (1) individual to Disneyland for employment. This
resulted in a new relationship with Disneyland to implement an employment opportunity
program for shelter guests.
Navigation Center guest participated in Bless Fest, an off -site program for Thanksgiving.
Each Navigation Center guest had the opportunity to receive free medical, dental,
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City of Santa Ana — Quarterly Report EXHIBIT 1
Second Quarter of FY 2023-2024
dermatological, vision, haircuts, manicures, make-up, clothing, legal and childcare
services. Each guest also received a new backpack stocked with personal hygiene items,
toiletries and scripture reminders.
Together with Illumination Foundation, City staff donated gift cards and toys for each adult
and child at the Navigation Center for the Christmas holiday. Santa Claus, helped to
distribute each gift, warming the hearts of many.
Individuals Housed
During this quarter, a total of 20 individuals found permanent housing, and six (6) of
these individuals were guests at the Navigation Center and found permanent housing
through either Permanent Supportive Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Illumination
Foundation's Micro Community or Renting a room without a subsidy.
During this quarter fourteen (14) City residents experiencing homelessness (not
guests at the Navigation Center), found permanent housing through the Housing
Authority's programs of Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV), Veterans Affairs
Supportive Housing (VASH), Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) and Project -Based
Voucher (PBV.)
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City of Santa Ana — Quarterly Report EXHIBIT 1
Second Quarter of FY 2023-2024
Emergency Solutions Grant Program
The City awards Emergency Solutions Grant program funds annually to non-profit
homeless service providers. In this fiscal year, funds are utilized for SAPD street outreach
and engagement, a Domestic Violence emergency shelter, to rapidly rehouse homeless
individuals and families, and to prevent families/individuals from becoming homeless.
During this quarter, organizations have worked diligently to enroll and deliver services to
our residents. Quantitative data is shown below.
Organization Name
Project Name
Served Clients
(Oct — Dec 2023)
Santa Ana Police Department
HEART Program
28
Outreach
Illumination Foundation
Rapid Re -Housing
0
Illumination Foundation
Homeless Prevention
3 individuals / 1
household
Interval House
Domestic Violence
20
Shelter
WISE Place
Steps to
2
Independence
Staff has continued to serve the community in the following ways throughout Q2:
• Reviewed and made continuous improvements to the layout, content, and forms
on the Homeless Services webpage for easier access and understanding.
• Fielded Homeless Hotline calls and emails from the public and provided
information, referrals and education to business owners, residents and individuals
experiencing homelessness.
• As a requirement of State funding, Homeless Services staff held focus groups
including individuals experiencing homelessness to provide feedback on bridging
the gap in racial and gender equity for homeless programs.
• Contracted with two non-profit organizations to address gang prevention and
intervention.
Quality of Life (QOLT) Selected Summaries
• Customer Service Requests were opened and submitted with Caltrans to address
homeless hot spots on their properties. Caltrans properties continue to receive
complaints from the surrounding businesses and residents.
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City of Santa Ana — Quarterly Report EXHIBIT 1
Second Quarter of FY 2023-2024
• Orange County Public Works Service Requests — Orange County Flood Control
(OCFC) Channel property immediately behind the property at 2100 S. Fairview
has had significant trespassing issues with the development of encampments.
This area is within close proximity to the County's Yale Navigation Center and
immediately south of the Kenneth Mitchell Child Development Center/ Kenneth E.
Mitchell School at Fairview and Harvard. The grassy area (2000 S. Fairview) has
attracted daytime and nighttime activity from those individuals who leave items in
the bushes and enter the OCFC Channel.
• QOLT continues to provide support to Union Pacific on clean-up efforts as the City
considers additional measures.
QOLT and City Net routinely contact individuals on the Caltrans, Union Pacific railroad
and OCFC Channel property to offer homeless outreach services. These services include
mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse related services as well as shelter.
Many unhoused individuals are found to be service resistant.
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