2018-063 - Shelter Crisis Related to Homelessness in the City of Santa Ana

Home Browse Search

H, In September 2017, the Santa Ana City Council approved the Homeless Prevention, Intervention and Mitigation Plan to address homelessness and the impact of homelessness on Santa Ana residents including investments in four sections: law enforcement; affordable housing; outreach and case management; and, coordination of additional resources and services. I. The City continues to fund Emergency Solutions Gants (ESG) to non-profit providers supporting the work of street outreach, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing and homeless prevention, wherein the City has administered $429,526 in total ESG dollars for fiscal year 2017-2018. J. In January 2018, the City created the Quality of Life Team (QOLT), consisting of multi -disciplinary members of city departments comprised of the Public Works Agency, the Community Development Agency, Community Preservation, the City Attorney's Office, the City Manager's Office and outreach works from the County of Orange Mental Health to model a field based team to implement a coordinated response to requests for services by the community due to impacts of homelessness and health and safety concerns. K. The QOLT team has contacted 1,370 homeless individuals, responded to 847 locations, addressed 929 number of encampments, stored 69 homeless individual's property, disposed of 533 shopping carts, disposed of 231 tons of trash and debris, and has assisted 176 private properties from January 2018 to July 2018. L. In March 2018, the City completed the 2018 Homeless Draft Plan, outlining the City's current plan and recommendations to address homelessness, including: addressing housing needs; outreach and supportive services; strategic planning and policy development; and, active regional coordination and collaboration with agencies, neighboring communities, faith based organizations, the County of Orange, and the other 33 cities within the County. M. In April 2018, the City conducted a Citywide Point -in -Time Count, and found that over 50% of the population arrived in Santa Ana from other parts of Orange County, creating a 121 % increase from last year's homeless count and further validating the City being negatively impacted by the County's clearance of the Flood Control Chanel in March 2018. N. The 2018 Point -In -Time count also indicated that Santa Ana is home to an estimated 587 sheltered homeless and 1030 unsheltered homeless, for a total estimated homeless population of 1617, including individuals, youth and families, and that 82% of the unsheltered population reported chronic homelessness and over 30% reported mental health disability, medical health disability, substance abuse, and domestic violence as barriers to attaining housing on their own. O. In April 2018, the City, in collaboration with the Santa Ana Police Department and the County of Orange health Care Agency, completed assessment of the Resolution No. 2018-063 Page 2 of 5