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cs HS BS JR f share\strpts\homeless wpd MAR 2 3 1999
Council Meeting March 23, 1999
Santa MOnica, California
TO Mayor and City Council
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT Recommendation to Adopt a Resolution Requesting the President of the
United States and Congress to Adopt a National Plan to End Homelessness
Introduction
This report recommends the City Council adopt a resolution requesting the President of the
United States, the U S Congress and other relevant federal agencies to develop and
Implement a comprehensive national plan to end homelessness
Backqround
On October 13, 1998, the City Council of Los Angeles adopted a resolution calling on the
President to take leadership In developing a nallonal plan to end homelessness On
December 8, 1998, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a similar
resolution and on January 6, 1999, sent a letter to the White House urging the
Administration and Congress "to create and fund a comprehensive National plan to end
homelessness With a pnorlty on programs for the homeless mentally ilL"
DISCUSSion
Homelessness came to national attention three decades ago DUring the 1970's and early
1980's, addreSSing homelessness became a Widespread grassroots effort through the (p~
MAR 2 3 t999
provIsion of food and shelter to a growing homeless populallon In July 1987, Congress
passed the McKinney Act creating legislation and funding for a vanety of homeless
programs around the country The Federal government and many local governments, In-
cluding Santa MOnica, have Initiated targeted funding strategies and programs designed
to address the needs of homeless people Despite these efforts, the number of homeless
people across the nation has continued to Increase With welfare reform threatenmg at-nsk
housed families and mdlvlduals with the prospects of becoming homeless, coupled with the
decreasing availability of low-cost housmg, the potential magnitude of homelessness
throughout the country requires a nationally-formulated and funded strategy to enable
people to leave the streets and achieve self-sufficiency with dignity
BudgeVFlnanclallmpacl
Staff recommendations In this report have no budgetary Impact
Recommendation
City staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution requestmg the
PreSident of the United States and Congress to develop and Implement a comprehensive
national plan for the homeless
Prepared By Julie Rusk, Manager
Tracy Scruggs, Supervisor
Joel Schwartz, Homeless Coordinator
Human Services DIvIsion
Community and Cultural Services Department
CS: HS:B :JR:f: share: strpts/homeless. wpd
RESOLUTION NUMBER 9378 (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA CALLING FOR
A NATIONAL PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
WHEREAS, THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE United States
IS increasing at an alarming rate; and there are an estimated 230,000 unhoused people In Los
Angeles County, including up to 5,000 over the course ot a year on the Wests Ide of Los
Angeles, Including Santa MOnica, and
WHEREAS, Santa Monica IS In the forefront of CommUnities In formulating and
Implementing innovative, Viable solutions to the pressing SOCial problems of our time, and
WHEREAS, over the last decade Santa Monica has developed a comprehensive and
coordinated continuum of care services and balanced response to homelessness; and
WHEREAS, neither Santa MOnica nor any other locality possesses the financial resources
to solve the problem of homelessness In the country, especially the lack of affordable hOUSing,
as well as adequate hOUSing and support services for the mentally III, and
WHEREAS, a national plan to end homelessness IS urgently needed, and must be a well-
organized, concerted program at the Federal level, as murllclpal and state eHorts alone could
lead to temporary solutions and to regional Imbalances, .
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Santa Monica City Council endorses and
supports a comprehensive national plan to end homeless ness, and that It urges the PreSident
of the United States, the United States Congress, and other relevant Federal agencies to
develop and Implement a comprehensive national plan to end homelessness.
APPROVED AS TO FORM
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he Jones Moutne, City Attorney F\strepts\homeless res
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Adopted and approved this 23rd of March, 1999
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~~ -o:;onnor, Mayor
I, Mana M Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa MOnica, do hereby certify that
the foregoing Resolution 9378 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meellng of the Santa
MOnica City Council held on the 23rd of March, 1999 by the follOWing vote
Ayes Councllmembers Feinstein, Genser, Holbrook, McKeown,
O'Connor, Rosenstein
Noes Councllmembers None
Abstain Councllmembers None
Absent Councllmembers None
ATTEST
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Mana M Stewart, City Clerk