HomeMy WebLinkAbout19E - HOMELESS SVC RPTREQUEST FOR
COUNCIL ACTION
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE:
MAY 1, 2018
TITLE:
HOMELESS SERVICES QUARTERLY
REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2018
THROUGH APRIL 2018
{STRATEGIC PLAN NOS. 1,6; 5,4; 5,6}
CITY ANAGER
RECOMMENDED ACTION
CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY:
APPROVED
❑ As Recommended
❑ As Amended
❑ Ordinance on 18' Reading
❑ Ordinance on 2ntl Reading
❑ Implementing Resolution
❑ Set Public Hearing For
CONTINUED TO
FILE NUMBER
Receive and file the Quarterly Report for Homeless Services for the period of February 2018
through April 2018.
DISCUSSION
On February 6, 2018, the City Council received the first Homeless Services Quarterly report
detailing the City's many efforts to address homelessness. This report is for the quarter ending on
April 30, 2018, and provides updates and statistics for many of the homeless services
implemented throughout the City. The report is divided into four sections:
1. Law Enforcement
2. Affordable Housing and Case Management
3. Funds Committed to Address Homelessness
4. Other Services and Initiatives
The report also highlights three major initiatives that will help to address homelessness. These
initiatives include: 2018 DRAFT Homeless Plan, Santa Ana Point -in -Time Count and Survey,
and Civic Center Plaza Operation.
In addition, the report includes a timeline that highlights the successes and accomplishments in
the area of homeless services by City staff and community partners.
Lastly, the City's new Homeless Services Manager, Hafsa Kaka, joined the City in February 2018
to enhance the coordination of the City's efforts to address homeless services and has identified
four guiding principles:
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Homeless Services Quarterly Report for February - April 2018
May 1, 2018
Page 2
• Goal of bringing best practices of homeless service delivery to the City of
Santa Ana, such as Housing First and Harm Reduction.
• Strengthened collaboration with County and Cities in coordination of
homeless services and programs.
• Increased assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness and
addressing areas of housing, employment, mental health, and other basic
needs.
• Coordinated services with law enforcement, affordable housing, homeless
outreach, housing navigation and case management.
1. Law Enforcement
The Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) has been instrumental in addressing homelessness.
The SAPD tracks the number of calls for service that are received by the City on an on-going
basis. In 2017, SAPD received a total of 8,554 calls for service related to transient disturbances,
trespassing, drunk in public, battery and Santa Ana Municipal Code Violations.
With the recent removal of individuals experiencing homelessness in the Civic Center Plaza, the
SAPD has continued to dedicate two teams to provide the ongoing outreach.
a. Two Homeless Evaluation Assessment Response Team (HEART) officers, two Orange
County Health Care Agency outreach workers and the SAPD Civic Center Patrol
Team, continue to address homeless related issues. Specific outreach has been
conducted at Birch Park, Angeles Park, Sasser Park and the Old Orange County
Courthouse.
b. The Quality of Life Team (QOLT) was formed in January 2018 to address concerns
and requests related to municipal code violations, property storage and improper use
of public/private property. This multidisciplinary team is comprised of staff from the
SAPD, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Code Enforcement and Orange County
Healthcare Outreach workers.
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Homeless Services Quarterly Report for February - April 2018
May 1, 2018
Page 3
The activities associated with the QOLT are displayed in the table below:
Quality of Life Team (QOLT)
12 WEEK
Total Fiscal
Average
Statistics From
TOTAL
Average
468
Per
Funding
1/23/18
$183,220*
Per
Day
through
Week
4/13/18
_..
Description
No. of Locations Reported
423
35
9
No. of Individuals Contacted
547
46
11
No. of Encampments
(can be multiple per location
395
33
8
No. of Service Pick Ups
(can be multiple per location -
286
24
6
Ru bb ish/Trash/Debris
No. of Locations Posted
133
11
3
No. of Property Stored
(@ City Yard/Facility - personal
40
3
1
property & items of value
No. of Shopping Carts
Disposed of
135
27
7
No. of Cubic Feet of Trash &
45,600
3,800
950
Debris Collected
No. of Tons of Trash
& Debris Disposed of
1,008,000
112,00028,000
No. of Private Property
Assistance with Courtesy
Clean-up and Removal of
76
8
2
Transients
2. Affordable Housing, Outreach and Case Management
As an entitlement city, the City of Santa Ana receives an Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) to
fund non-profit homeless service providers in the areas of street outreach, emergency shelter,
homeless prevention and rapid rehousing. Following is an update on ESG ongoing efforts:
ESG
Qg
Total Fiscal
Year 2017/2018
Individuals
Served
468
1,209
Funding
$128,988*
$183,220*
Disbursed
*Reflects HUD IDIS system as of 4/24/2018
*May not reflect all of Quarter 3
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Homeless Services Quarterly Report for February - April 2018
May 1, 2018
Page 4
Permanent Supportive Housing
PSH
Q3
Total Fiscal
Year 2017/2018
Total Number of PSH Units Developed
Santa Ana Police Department HEART Team
ESG Program Funds
$45,000
for Homeless Individuals or Families
71
71
Total Number of PSH Units in the
Subtotal
$585,526
Pipeline for Homeless Individuals
139
N/A
or Families
The Orchard (HOME Program Funds)
$1,199,869
3. Funds Committed to Address Homelessness
Programs
Amount of Funds.
Emergency Solutions Grant for FYI 7-18
$429,526
Santa Ana Police Department HEART Team
ESG Program Funds
$45,000
Illumination Foundation
CDBG Program Public Service Funds
$75,000
WISEPlace (CDBG Program Public Service Funds)
$36,000
Subtotal
$585,526
Projects
Amount of Funds
The Orchard (71 Project -Based Vouchers)
$7,895,194
The Orchard (HOME Program Funds)
$1,199,869
The Depot at Santiago (8 Project -Based Vouchers)
$710,460
Santa Ana Veterans Village (HOME Program Funds)
$353,962
Santa Ana Veterans Village
(75 Project -Based Vouchers
$11,489,000
Aqua Housing (56 Project -Based Vouchers)
$7,000,000
Subtotal
$28,648,485
Total Funds Committed Fiscal Year 2017/2018 1 $29,234,011 1
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Homeless Services Quarterly Report for February - April 2018
May 1, 2018
Page 5
4. Other Services and Initiatives
STRATEGY
ACTION
OUTCOMESITIME-FRAME
Create an Interdepartmental Team on
Completed —
Homelessness to coordinate all City
Team meets weekly
agencies and activities.
Improve the internal
Consider opportunities to improve
Completed- April 2018
coordination and
conditions in the Civic Center.
communication between
City agencies providing
services and enforcement
Adopted an anti -abandonment ordinance
and an anti -panhandling ordinance.
In Progress
Develop a webpage regarding how
Completed- January 2018
Santa Ana is addressing homelessness.
Utilize the Santa Ana City
Draft a new section to the Santa Ana
Charter and Municipal
Municipal Code related to storage or
Completed- December 2017
Code to make
property and services in the Civic Center
improvements
area.
Coordinate with courts,
Participate in regional bodies and
other cities and County of
discussions to achieve the greatest
Ongoing
Orange
impact on homelessness in the City.
Enlist non-profit and faith -based
organizations serving homeless
individuals to agree on a strategy to help
Ongoing
move individuals off of the streets and
Coordinate with Non -Profits
into housing.
and Faith Based
Organizations
Continue to fund non-profit Emergency
Solutions Grant homeless service
providers to provide street outreach,
Ongoing
shelter, homeless prevention and rapid -
rehousing services.
Initiate and participate in lobbying for
On-going — Staff is
Develop and implement
legislation and resources; solicit State
participating on the County's
specific legislation related
and Federal assistance to respond to the
Advisory Committee for No
to housing and
needs for housing, enforcement and
Place Like Home funds and
homelessness
social services for the growing homeless
are following relevant
o ulation.
legislation
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Homeless Services Quarterly Report for February - April 2018
May 1, 2018
Page 6
Magor Initiatives
2018 Draft Homeless Plan
Under the leadership of the Deputy City Manager, staff collectively published the 2018
Homelessness Draft Plan on the City website at http://santa-
ana.ora/homelessness/documents/HomelessDraftPlan3-17-18 pdf. The Draft Homeless Plan
serves as a plan of action to address homelessness in the City and provides nearly 30
recommendations for the County of Orange and Cities to collectively improve its homeless
services. The plan focuses on long-term solutions in six different categories:
1. Addressing Housing Needs
2. Outreach & Supportive Services
3. Strategic Planning & Policy Development
4. Active Coordination & Collaboration with Agencies, Neighboring Communities & Faith
Based Organizations
5. Communication and Transparency
6. Capacity Building
2018 Homeless Point In -Time Count and Survey
Following direction by the City Council, on the early morning of March 31, 2018, approximately
140 City staff, Police Officers and community volunteers deployed into the City to engage with
unsheltered individuals for the Santa Ana Homeless Point -In -Time (PIT) Count and Survey.
Conducted as part of the Homeless Draft Strategic Plan, the results of the survey established
data on the number of individuals living without housing — both on the streets and in shelters.
This information will help to ensure that homelessness resources are allocated appropriately in
the City. With this information, the City is able to better understand the characteristics of
individuals experiencing homelessness in Santa Ana and to determine the most effective
methods to address homelessness in our community, in partnership with the County and
surrounding cities.
The March 31, 2018 Santa Ana PIT Count and Survey identified 587 sheltered individuals, and
824 unsheltered individuals (figures include Plaza of the Flags). A separate PIT Count was taken
on March 18, 2018, in the Plaza of the Flags where a total of 206 individuals were identified as
experiencing homelessness. When combining the total number of both sheltered and unsheltered
with both PIT counts (Civic Center Plaza of the Flags and the City at large), the total 2018 PIT
count equals to 1,617. This number represents an increase of 121% unsheltered individuals from
the January 2017 PIT Count.
The 2018 Santa Ana Homeless PIT Count and Survey shows that the vast majority of Santa
Ana's individuals experiencing homelessness are unsheltered (1,030 of the 1,617 homeless
individuals). The Homeless PIT Count and Survey also revealed the following:
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Homeless Services Quarterly Report for February - April 2018
May 1, 2018
Page 7
• 81.8% of the individuals expressed experiencing homeless for more than one year
• 52% reported coming from outside Santa Ana
• 50.7% reported some type of substance abuse
• 36.9% reported having disabilities
• 32.6% reported having mental health concerns
• 28.5% reported having experienced domestic violence
• 7.7% reported as a veteran
Civic Center Plaza Operation
In March 2018, US Federal District Judge O. Carter held a status hearing with County Officials,
City Mayors, City Managers and other stakeholders to address homelessness relative to the
Santa Ana Riverbed. In this hearing, the Judge resolved that the same effort be administered for
the homeless residing in the City of Santa Ana, and more specifically for the extensive
population in the Civic Center . The Judge has mandated the prioritization of County assistance,
resources and placements for homeless individuals in the Civic Center. As such, on April 2,
2018, the County Health Care Agency provided referrals and shelter options and connections to
services for the homeless individuals residing in the Santa Ana Civic Center in partnership with
Santa Ana Police Department who provided safety and security.
As of April 12, 2018, the Civic Center Plaza of the Flags has been cleared and fenced as part of
the strategic plan to renovate the area. During this project, 234 individuals were assessed, with
99 individuals accepting the following services: emergency shelters, residential substance abuse
treatment programs, recuperative care and mental health treatment programs. Santa Ana Police
Department HEART & QOLT Teams are continuing to work with the County Health Care Agency
teams to outreach to individuals experiencing homeless in the City of Santa Ana.
Timeline that highlight recent Successes and Accomplishments
On February 1, 2018, Community Development Partners hosted a Grand Opening & Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony for the Orchard in Santa Ana, a 72 -unit permanent supportive housing
development serving chronically homeless individuals in Santa Ana. The Orchard is the largest
single permanent supportive housing project in Orange County and demonstrates the City's
commitment in reducing homelessness.
On February 12, 2018, Hafsa Kaka joined the City of Santa Ana as the new Homeless Services
Manager. Hafsa has extensive experience in homeless services from Los Angeles County.
On February 21, 2018, the Orange County Continuum of Care (CoC) hosted the Inaugural CoC
Board Meeting. Election of the CoC Board Officers resulted in the City of Santa Ana to be
nominated and approved as Board Chair. Judson Brown, Housing Services Manager,
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Homeless Services Quarterly Report for February - April 2018
May 1, 2018
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representing the public housing agency, was successfully approved to chair the CoC Board for
the next two years. Hafsa Kaka, Homeless Services Manager, holds a seat for the Procedural
Review Committee and Deputy City Manager, Robert Cortez, will hold a seat in the Commission
to End Homelessness.
On February 22, 2018, Deputy City Manager Robert Cortez, Acting Deputy Chief, Kenneth
Gominsky, and Homeless Services Manager, Hafsa Kaka, met with U.S Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) legal representative to discuss incidents involving persons
associated with homeless encampment at the Civic Center Plaza and HUD employees at the
Federal building. In order to increase safety for HUD employees at the Federal building, the City
of Santa Ana has committed to train HUD staff on safety precautions. Additionally, the Homeless
Services Manager followed up on legislative lobbying to pursue additional funding from HUD, to
address homeless services in the Civic Center. This was followed by a meeting with Deputy City
Manager, Housing Division Manager and Homeless Services Manager with HUD Field Policy
Representatives encouraging City of Santa Ana to secure collaborative funding relations with the
CoC.
On February 28, 2018, leaders from Orange County's corporate, philanthropic, faith -based,
government and non-profit gathered at UC Irvine, to kick off the "United to End Homelessness," a
community -wide initiative led by Orange County United Way to ensure integrated and sustainable
solutions are implemented for persons experiencing homelessness in Orange County. Santa Ana
was represented by Mayor Pro Tem Martinez, Housing Division Manager, Judson Brown,
Homeless Services Manager, Hafsa Kaka and Terri Eggers, Senior Community Development
Analyst. The campaign is in close collaboration with efforts by Orange County's Association of
Cities (ACCOC) to engage all 34 cities in a collaborative county -wide plan to develop 2,700 units
of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) within the next two to three years. Santa Ana attended
the Permanent Supportive Housing Technical Steering group led by ACCOC, to collaborate and
discuss allocations of PSH sites with the housing and city officials.
On March 1, 2018, the City of Santa Ana hosted Emilio Ramirez, representative of cities across
the State on the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council with the Housing Community
Development (HCD), overseeing Housing First guidelines and regulations of resources. The tour
was led by Housing Division Manager, Judson Brown, along with Homeless Services Manager,
Hafsa Kaka, Senior Community Development Analyst, Terri Eggers and Corporal Juan Montiel
with the Santa Ana Police Department Homeless Evaluation & Assessment Team (HEART). A
tour of the Plaza of the Flags was provided to highlight the City's homeless population, the
Courtyard Emergency Shelter and a tour of the Orchard PSH project. Most importantly, during
the tour, staff highlighted concerns regarding HCD's decision to restrict funding from No Place
Like Home (NPLH) to more than 49% of units into Permanent Supportive Housing, which will
negatively impact local cities with extremely limited resources to develop more Permanent
Supportive Housing. The message was well received and Santa Ana is working with Corporation
of Supportive Housing to continue the advocacy against limiting PSH from NPLH.
On March 30, 2018, the Honorable Judge David O. Carter held a status hearing with County
Officials, Orange County Catholic Workers and City of Santa Ana in regards to the homeless
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Homeless Services Quarterly Report for February - April 2018
May 1, 2018
Page 9
crisis in the County of Orange. The City of Santa Ana was represented by Mayor Miguel Pulido,
City Manager Raul Godinez II, Deputy City Manager Robert Cortez, Acting Deputy Chief Kenneth
Gominsky with Santa Ana Police Department and members from Santa Ana's City Attorney's
office along with Homeless Services Manager, Hafsa Kaka. Santa Ana called for Countywide
action on addressing homelessness and call on all cities to participate in a regional coordinated
effort to address homelessness.
On April 3, 2018, US Federal District Judge David O. Carter gathered both County and City
officials for a special hearing on homelessness. Judge Carter, specially extended invites to 34
City Mayors and City Managers to present and discuss their plans on addressing homelessness
in their City. This followed after the County Board of Supervisors rescinded the 3 City Plan to
dedicate land for emergency housing in the Cities of Irvine, Huntington Beach and Laguna
Niguel, where the respective City Council officials opposed the plan due to community protests
against the resolution. The City of Santa Ana was represented by Mayor Miguel Pulido and
Mayor Pro Tem Michele Martinez who spoke on the bench on the importance of a regional
collaborative approach in ending homelessness, the influx of homeless individuals coming to
Santa Ana from other parts of the County, and the significance of other cities to address the
problem. Mayor Pro Tem Michele Martinez also discussed the Santa Ana Point -In -Time count
that was conducted the weekend prior, which portrayed the increased numbers of individuals
experiencing homelessness in Santa Ana who traveled and were sent by other Cities to seek
services in Santa Ana. The City was also represented by City Manager Raul Godinez II, Deputy
City Manager Robert Cortez and Homeless Services Manager, Hafsa Kaka.
On April 4, 2018, the Orange County City Managers Association (OCCMA) convened to discuss
the special topic on homelessness, in light of the special hearing this past week that US Federal
District Judge David O. Carter convened with City Managers and Mayors across the County on
addressing homelessness through regional collaborative efforts. Santa Ana was represented by
City Manager Raul Godinez II, Deputy City Manager Robert Cortez and for the homeless
segment, Homeless Services Manager Hafsa Kaka. City Managers divided in their respective
Service Planning Areas (North, Central and South) to strategize and coordinate efforts,
resources, and capacity in addressing homelessness in the designated SPA. As the City with the
most experience in the homeless issue, Santa Ana has taken a leadership role in coordinating
services, through a data driven approach in resource allocation and supportive services. Santa
Ana and Huntington Beach will be taking the lead to draft a strategic plan for regional efforts in
the Central SPA cities.
On April 5, 2018, the City requested the extension of the Orange County Santa Ana National
Guard Armory Emergency Shelter as a response to the Homeless crisis that the County of
Orange and the City of Santa Ana is experiencing. The following week, Governor Brown granted
a 90 -day extension for both Santa Ana and Fullerton Emergency Shelters at the National Guard
Armories.
On April 11, 2018, the City of Santa Ana's Housing Division Manager, Judson Brown, organized
a 15 -person tour of the City of Santa Ana' first Permanent Supportive Housing, "The Orchard," for
the US Department the Housing Urban Development's (HUD) Region IX and X field officers and
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Homeless Services Quarterly Report for February - April 2018
May 1, 2018
Page 10
Public Housing Authorities. The HUD representatives flew to Southern California to tour this
project among others in Southern California. The City of Santa Ana was also represented by
Deputy City Manager Robert Cortez, Homeless Services Manager Hafsa Kaka, and Senior
Housing Specialist Miriam Zepeda. The Housing Division Manager provided the presentation
reviewing the acquisition and rehabilitation of an existing motel in the City of Santa Ana, that now
provides 71 units of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals identified
through the Coordinated Entry System. HUD representatives expressed their kudos to the City on
the successful project and invited City of Santa Ana to teach other continuums on these best
practices. Later the same day, the City Manager Raul Godinez II and City Councilmembers along
with a representative from the Board of Supervisors and County staff, received a tour of the
project.
On April 12, 2018, Homeless Services Manager, Hafsa Kaka submitted an application for the
Helen Putnam award on Housing Programs and Innovation. The application highlighted the City's
coordinated efforts to address homelessness with internal and external partners, the City
emerging as a leader in the County to address the issue, and the recent initiatives in the 2018
Homeless Draft Plan. Most importantly, the Orchard Permanent Housing Supportive Housing was
highlighted to display the City's success and accomplishments in housing the homeless.
Most recently, the City of Santa Ana is pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded
one -hundred (100) project -based vouchers for homeless veterans to the Housing Authority of the
City of Santa Ana. This supportive housing assistance is provided through the HUD -Veterans
Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program which combines rental assistance from HUD
with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. This award is valued at over
$1,054,965 per year for Santa Ana to provide permanent supportive housing for homeless
veterans. Santa Ana was one of only 50 housing authorities awarded these vouchers statewide
and one of only 323 nationwide.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
The activities covered by this report allow the City to meet Goal #1 — Community Safety,
Objective #6 (Enhance Public Safety integration, communications and community outreach);
Goal #5 - Community Health, Livability, Engagement & Sustainability, Objective #4 (Support
neighborhood vitality and livability) and Objective #6 (Focus projects and programs on improving
the health and wellness of all residents).
FISCAL IMPACT
There
eiis�no fiscal
%impact associated with this action.
Judson Brown Robert C. Co
Acting Executive Director Deputy City Manager
Community Development Agency City Manager's Office
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