Loading...
SR-6-C (97) RMJk tt!J1:6 ccs ~e 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 ~zQ~ ~ - he Jones Moutne, City Attorney F\strepts\homeless res ---- Adopted and approved this 23rd of March, 1999 ~ ,M,~ c::22Jt1 - ~~ -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 - ~ ~ . CJ-~ . 'c.4- '\ Mana M Stewart, City Clerk