SR-301-004-02 (10)
3CI-CO'-/~oZ
11- C
JAM 2 tl 1985-~
CM:VR:dvm
City CounC1l Meeting 1-29-85
Santa Monica, California
TO:
Mayor and City Councll
FROM:
CIty Staff
SUBJECT:
Report and RecommendatIons on VarIous Issues Related
to the Problems of Homeless People In Santa Monica
INTRODUCTION
ThIS report reVIews preVIOUs reports to CouncIl on the homeless
problem, identIfIes recent changes In the nature of the homeless
populatIon, reports on actIvItIes on the County level to address
homelessness,
and
provIdes
Councll
wIth
InformatIon
and
recommendatIons on a varIety of local serVIce program options.
ADMINISTRATIVE PERSPECTIVE
The Increase In the homeless populatIon IS a natIonal and
regional phenomenon and the needs of that populatIon cannot be
met by Individual local communitIes actIng alone.
Often It has
been changes on the federal and state levels WhlCh have left
local communItIes facIng a growIng population of people with
complex needs and problems.
ThIS has resulted in tremendous
pressure being placed on the non-profIt and relIgIous sectors of
the communIty to respond to needs WhICh are beyond a local
solutIon.
In most cases It 1S the responsIbIlity of the County
and Federal governments to develop and fund coherent programs to
meet the needs of people WIth chronIc mental dIsabIlitIes, those
JII29 ir
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who need Income maIntenance of some kInd, and those seeking
emergency food, shelter and medIcal care.
Staff belIeves that pursuIng a regional effort wIth the Ccunty is
the approprIate and most effectIve way 1n which to have a
SIgnIfIcant Impact on the problems of the homeless. However,
pursuing a regIonal solutIon does not obvIate the need for
assumIng local responsibIlIty and actIon on this Issue. To that
end, thIS report makes a number of recommendatIons to Increase
CIty fundIng and programmatIc support for dealIng wIth the
homeless populatIon.
To date, the CIty'S overall approach In fundIng serVIces to the
homeless has been to support small, decentralIzed serVIce
facIlitIes to mInImIze a negatIve impact on the surroundIng
community. City funding, alone, cannot solve the homeless
problem but can proVIde fInancial support to those local groups
who feel motIvated to serve the populatIon In need and mitIgate
some ImmedIate local problems. Some Santa Monica serVIces, most
notably TurnIng POInt Shelter, have conscIously been developed as
InnovatIve model programs to be duplIcated In other local
communitIes. TraInIng and technIcal assistance have been offered
by the WestsIde Shelter CoalitIon and Santa MonIca agenCIes to
Interested groups throughout the metropolItan area to expand the
network of avaIlable serVIces.
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Issue OutlIne
Recently, the CIty Attorney's offIce provIded Council WIth a
comprehenSIve reVIew of legal and legIslatIve changes WhICh have
had an Impact on homeless people In need of substantIal care.
On December 11, 1984 CouncIl requested that CIty staff schedule a
specI al meet lng to dI s cuss the IS sue of the homeless, create a
WorkIng Group on the homeless, and prOVIde addItIonal InformatIon
on a variety of areas addressed in thIS staff report.
SpeCIfIcally, CouncIl requested Inrormatlon on:
1. Status of County efforts to address the homeless problem.
2. Research needed by the CIty.
3. EstablIshIng a WorkIng Group on the Homeless.
4. DIstrIbutIon of $25,000 for emergency food durIng the hOlIday
season.
5. Appropriate means of offerIng outreach/InterventIon serVIces
eIther through city staff or contract WIth an outSIde agency.
6. Need for addItIonal patrols In senSItIve areas of the city,
Including conSideratIon of use of non-sworn personnel.
7. FeaSIbIlity of CIty fundIng of addItIonal serVIces for the
homeless IncludIng a day labor program and day center.
BACKGROUND
In November, 1983 and February, 1984 CouncIl was prOVIded WIth
informatIonal staff reports WhICh IdentIfIed the grOWIng natIonal
problem of homeless people and revIewed varIOUS approaches
utIlIzed by surrounding communItIes to cope WIth the dIlemma.
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In summary, the homeless populatIon IS composed of dIfferent
types of Ind i vIdual s. There ar ethos e who are al cohol or drug
dependent, those with chronic mental disabilities, those who are
VIctims of unemployment, and those who move from one category to
another for a variety of reasons. For some IndIviduals a
margInal street eXIstence has become the lIfestyle of chOIce. In
recent years the homeless populatIon has become younger and
includes increasIng numbers of famIlies.
The causes of homelessness are generally agreed to Include hIgh
unemployment rates, the eccnomic recession, cutbacks in
entItlement programs, Increased restrIctIons In varIOUS support
programs, the reductIon of the populatIon In state psychiatric
hospItals, the lack of adequate and affordable hOUSIng, and the
converSIon of SIngle room occupancy hotels to luxury apartments
in downtown urban areas.
WhIle the homeless populatIon continues to grow, some changes In
the makeup of that population are being seen by serVIce
prov Ider s. The per centage of people wIth severe emot lanaI and
mental problems has grown to represent an estImated 30-40% of the
homeless population, In the VIew of local agenCIes and County
offICIals. In addItIon, those who have been homeless for a short
time are increasing as are the numbers of younger people in theIr
20s and 305, most of whom are also mentally dIsabled. These
people are often rebellIous, and unWIllIng to take theIr
prescribed medIcatIon. Because there are not hospItal beds to
accommodate thes e Ind 1 vidual s, they ar e found Increas ingl y In
public areas of CItIes across the nation.
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Local agenCIes are not equIpped to handle severely dIsturbed
people In large numbers. The local TurnIng POInt shelter has had
to lImIt the mentally dIsabled to 25% of the reSIdents at the
shelter on any given nIght to mInImIze dIsruptIon to other
shelter reSIdents seekIng counselling and other serVIces.
SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE HOMELESS POPULATION
It IS generally recognIzed that there IS 11 ttle accurate data
avaIlable on the SIze of the homeless populatIon.
1\.n AprIl, 1983 WorkIng Paper publIshed by the WestsIde Shelter
CoalItIon estImated the Santa MonIca homeless populatIon as from
750 1,000 people wIth about 5,000 In the combIned VenIce,
CuI ver City, West L. A. , Santa MonIca areas. CountywIde
estImates range from 30-50,000 WIth Los Angeles now exceedIng New
York as the CIty WIth the largest estImated homeless populatIon.
(The County Task Force will be prOVIdIng reVIsed countywIde
estImates In Its June final report.) The only data avaIlable to
thIS city IS the number of polIce contacts WIth homeless persons
(476 IndIVidual tranSIents commItted mIsdemeanors from 2/20/84 -
12/20/84) and the numbers of homeless served through local CIty
funded agencIes. However, these fIgures severely underestImate
the total populatIon by IndIcatIng only those seekIng help and/or
exliIbItIng dangerous or unlawful behaVIor.
A lImIted number of InvestIgatIve studIes have been conducted but
often those have been lImited to IndIVIduals contacted In
shelters or agency waitIng lInes.
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Rather than addItIonal general estImates of the numbers of
homeless, the research which IS currently needed is that which
focuses more comprehensIvely on a specifIc group wIthIn the
hor,leless populatIon to analyze Its needs and the causes of Its
homelessness more thoroughl y. Along that line, the Rand
CorporatIon IS seekIng foundatIon support for a study of the
homeless mentally III which would examIne the Impact of
deInstitutIonalIzatlon on the mentally III IncludIng theIr level
of functIonIng and theIr subsequent InteractIon WIth law
enforcement and other agencies. Staff has IndIcated the CIty I S
interest in helpIng to facIlItate such a comprehensIve study
WhICh could IdentIfy the Impact of state and natIonal policy
decIsions on a local communIty such as Santa MonIca and perhaps
lead to needed reform.
SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS
Federal fundIng for emergency services has been made avaIlable on
an Irregular basis over the past 2 1/2 years. Currently FEMA III
monIes are beIng made avaIlable to rehabIlItate eXIstIng shelters
and for the purchase of food or shelter vouchers. In most cases
there are strIct lImIts on the use of FEMA funds (e.g. must be
spent only for food and spent wIthin the next 3 months, cannot be
used for any adminIstratIve costs such as staff). A number of
local CIty funded agencIes have applIed for FEMA III monIes for
focd and have received the followIng grants:
opec
CLARE and LIEU-CAP
Westside Food Bank
$ 45,000
25,000
60,000
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These funds are dIsbursed by a UnIted Way DIstrIbutIon Board
composed of repr esentati yes of the AmerIcan Red Cross, Jewish
Federatlon, County Communlty Services Department, Salvatlon Army,
CatholIC Welfare Bureau, Southern Call fornla EcumenIcal CounCIl
and League of Cltles. The total FEMA III allocatIon for LA
County IS $3.02 mllllon. FEMAII prOVIded $2.2 and FEMA I $2.97
mIllion for LA County.
Through the Maxlne Waters Blll (AB 2579), $5,000,000 WIll be made
avaIlable stateWIde for the creatIon of new shelters. ThIS can
Include bUlldlng rehablli tatlon or renovatIon, the purchase of
Slt.es or leaslng of equlpment but not for operatIng expenses.
The shelter prOVIded must be temporary (not over 60 days
accommodatlon) and the mlnImum grant WIll be $200,000. However
these monles are avaIlable for overnlght shelter only and WIll be
granted to agencles currently prOVIdIng shelter serVlces In LA
County. The CIty could appl y for a grant from th1 s program and
contrac t out the shelter effort to aloe al group Inter est ed ln
purchasing, rehabIlItatIng or leasing a shelter SIte.
Staff w1ll contlnue to work closely wlth local agencies to
identIfy and seek fundIng for local emergency serVlces prOVIders.
UPDATE ON COUNTY EFFORTS
Emergency serVIces to the very poor are tradItIonally seen as a
responsiblllty of the county government. A CountYWIde Task Force
on the Homeless was establIshed by the Boa.rd of Supervisors on
May 29, 1984 to study problems faCIng the homeless and develop
recommendat1ons for short and long term solutions to these
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problems. An Interlm report on the homeless was presented to the
County Board of Supervisors on December 4, 1984 which included
the followIng recommendatlons:
1. SerIous consIderat1on be gIven by the Board of Superv1sors to
four specIfIc proJects:
a. A day tIme drop In, multI serVIce center In the SkId Row
area to be duplIcated elsewhere In the County If it proves
successful.
b. A technIcal assIstance prOject offerIng aid to agencIes or
indIvIduals interested In developIng serVIces for the
homeless.
c. ContractIng WIth agencIes to provide shelter as an
alternatIve to the hotel voucher program.
d. EnforcIng health and safety standards In voucher hotels.
2. An emergency meetIng be held wIth representatIves of all
C1 tl es in the County to seek a co-ord1 n ated sol utI on to th e
homeless problem.
3. County funded Jobs programs work wIth shelter resIdents
seeking employment.
4. County NeIghborhood ServIce Centers be used as communIty
based resource centers for homeless people and other County
serVIces address the needs of the homeless.
5. The CommunIty SerVIces Resource CorporatIon explore ways to
proVIde in-kInd and cash donatIons to supplement shelter
operatIons.
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No action as yet been taken on these recommendatIons.
Dur lng the months of February and March the Task Force will be
holdIng a serIes of publIC hearIngs on the problem In each
SupervIsorIal DistrIct and w11l 1ssue its fInal report in Mayor
June, 1985. The fInal report wIll Include recommendatIons
regard i ng mod1 f1cat Ion of regulations and legIslatIve act Ion on
the State and Federal levels.
The Board of SupervIsors has also asked for a staff study of the
"60 day sanctIon" WhICh prevents Ind1vlduals from reapplYIng for
Gener al Rel1 ef for 60 days if they have fa1led to ful fi 11 a
requIrement of the General RelIef program (such as not
partIcIpatIng
Ident1fied as
In a work search). ThIS sanction has been
one regulatory source of homelessness In Los
Angeles County.
Cl ty staff WIll contInue to monl tor actl VI tIes on the County
level and keep CouncIl and Interested communIty groups Informed
of the upcomIng publIC hearIngs organIzed by the County Homeless
Task Force.
Following the tent C1ty program organIzed In downtown Los Angeles
durIng the holIday season, the homeless Issue has been brought to
the fore and new 1nitIatives are beIng taken almost dally by a
v ar 1 ety of agenc les both publl C and pr 1 vate 1n the County and
CIty of Los Angeles. Most notable 18 the establIshment of a
temporary shelter In downtown Los Angeles WhICh was constructed
and operatIng In a matter of days. Currently most pressure for
Increased serVIces IS beIng dIrected towards the County Board of
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Superv Isors WhiCh wIll undoubtedl y be addressing thl S Issue for
several months to come.
LOCAL RESPONSE
In many communItIes, IncludIng Santa MonIca, It has been the
church communlty WhlCh flrst became aware of the grOWIng homeless
problem and brought It to the attentIon of publIC offICIals.
In recent year s, the C 1 ty has become lnc rea si ngly In vol ved In
fundIng soclal serVice programs to address the needs of the
homeless as these have been better understood by local churches
and agencles. In each case the capaCIty of the serVlce provldlng
communlty and the ability of the reSidents of the city to support
such serVlces through volunteer hours and flnanclal support have
been crItical
in the conSIderation of new local
serVice
Inltlatlves.
In 1984 - 85 the Clty funded the follOWIng programs WhICh served
homeless people excluslvely:
CLARE - Sober Inn (feeds 50 people a day,
6 days a week, one mIdday meal)
$
24,960
OPCC
Turning Point Shelter (a co-operatIve
program run by several downtown churches
and agenCIes for 30 people per night)
62,400
Westslde EcumenIcal Conference (for purchase of
meal vouchers)
5,000
In addItIon, the CIty funded a number of programs WhICh serve
lOW-lncome reSIdents
Includlng
some homeless people.
The
follOWIng figures represent funds awarded for the entire program
efforts.
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LIEU CAP
OPCC TurnIng POInt Counselling Project
OPCC SOjourn Shelter for Battered Women
OPCC SteppIng Stone for Runaway Youth
Venice FamIly ClInIc
West SIde Food Bank
$ 57,206
134,486
31 , 771
62 I 030
21,424
28,084
In fl scal year 1983-84, the CIty co-sponsored wIth the Wes tSlde
Shelter CoalItIon a traInIng workshop for local agenCIes and
churches on how to handle the homeless populatIon and prOVIde
service and referral.
FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SERVICES
CouncIl requested that staff reV1ew the feasib1llty of prOVIdIng
addItIonal
serVlces
to
the
homeless
population
Includlng
Increased emergency feeding programs, a day labor program, crlS1S
In tervent lon team, day center ser VIces and Inc reased VIS i b 111 ty
of unIformed walk1ng patrols. A series of meetlng were held w1th
lecal agencles and Clty staff to address the feaslbil1ty of each.
To aSSIst 1n the evaluatlon of potential program responses I at
the request of CouncIl, a workIng group of 15 Ind1vlduals has
been convened to study the homeless problem 1n Santa Monica. The
group Includes representatlves of the buslness I religIOUS and
soclal service communl tles In the C1 ty as well as 1ndi vldual
concerned reSIdents and a formerly homeless person. The work1ng
group w111 study the homeless problem from the publIC safety and
SOCIal serVIces perspectives and make recommendations regardIng
legIslatIon, serVIces and local procedures. The first meetIng of
thIS group was held on Wednesday, January 23rd.
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SERVICE ALTERNATIVES
Emergency Feedln~ Programs
On December 11, 1984 Council authorized the expendIture of
$25,000 for the purchase of food for dIstrIbutIon to the needy
durIng the hOlIday season. The funds were allocated to the
WestsIde Food Bank, an agency founded by the WestsIde Ecumenical
Conference to faCIlItate food collectIon and dIstrIbutIon to area
agenc1es and churches, as an extens10n of Its current contract
w1th the CIty.
It was st1pulated that these funds would be used for the purchase
of food to be made avaIlable to agenCIes and churches WhICh serve
the homeless and very low 1ncome people In Santa MonIca. The
Food Bank was asked to Inform local groups about the aval1abI11ty
of the food wlth the goal that no IndiVIduals seekIng food In
San ta Mon1ca dur 1 ng the holIday sea son need be turned away for
lack of available resources.
Many char 1 table or ganl zatIons rece1 ved ample food donatIons In
the perIod 1mmedlately surroundIng the holIdays and therefore the
grant monIes were ut11ized to purchase staples needed on a
rebular basis and to estab11sh l1nes of credit wlth local
wholesalers for part1cular types of food 1tems (e.g.produce). In
addItIon the Food Bank 15 uSIng the one tIme grant to make $5,000
worth of wholesale food avaIlable to the SalvatIon Army to cover
the cost of food d1str1buted through Its expanded dally lunch
program discussed next 10 thIS staff report. This purchased food
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WIll be used along wIth surpl us food collected through the Food
Bank's normal operatIon.
In the past several months the Ocean Park bag lunch program has
grown to a SIze which IS no longer compatIble wIth the
surroundIng resIdentIal area. After a thorough reVIew of
cIty-owned facIlItIes none was deemed SUItable for relocation of
the lunch program. However, dIScussIons wIth the SalvatIon Army
have led to a proposal In WhIch the Army would assume the feedIng
program through its Fourth Street facIlIty and the CIty would
prov Ide modest fInancIal support for the cost of the program.
ThIS change is slated for early February.
I f approved, the Army would recel ve $ 3,500 In CIty funds and
$5,000 worth of wholesale food from the Food Bank for the feedIng
program.
CrISIS InterventIon Team
In the December, 1984 informatIonal study, the CIty Attorney
recommended the establIshment of crISIS InterventIon teams
composed of one polIce offIcer and one CIVIlIan to patrol pUblIC
areas In whIch the homeless congregate.
Such a team could
respond to merchant and reSIdent concern as well as seek out
those IndIVIduals who are Interested In referral to serVIce
programs.
WhIle keepIng In mInd that a key element In the homeless problem
is lack of serVIces to WhICh the homeless can be referred, the
Idea of an outreach team has been raised In the past by social
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agenCIes as a logIcal extensIon of the work they do on a dally
baSIS. Agenc les feel that such a team should not S Imply refer
those In need to the already overburdened local agenCIes but
should be composed of IndIVIduals already experIenced In workIng
in thIS field and tIed in to the agency network. Along that
lIne, It has been suggested that 2 outreach positIons be funded
WIthIn a currently existing agency on a 6 month trIal baSIS to
work part tIme In the field and part tIme WI thIn the agency to
follow up on appOIntments etc. made dur ing outr each act 1 VItI es.
Such an arrangement would allow for a team WhICh is Informed of
the current service network and has day to day backup. The hours
of operatIon of such a team would be developed through
consultatIon between the polIce department and the contractIng
agency.
In addItIon to a 6 month pIlot outreach effort, staff IS
InvestIgatIng the establIshment of Increased traIning WIthIn the
PolIce to aSSIst offIcers and staff In the fIeld In dealIng WIth
homeless IndI v Iduals. A recommendatIon on thIS type of program
WIll be made durIng the FY 1985-86 budget proposal.
AddItIonal Foot Patrols In Downtown Area
As the homeless populatIon In the downtown area has increased
over the past 2 years, varIOUS efforts have been made to maIntain
a sense of securIty for area reSIdents In the PalIsades Park,
LIncoln Park and ThIrd Street Mall areas. In December, 1983
polIce foot patrols were inItIated. While less effICIent from a
polIce resources management perspectIve than vehIcle or
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motorcycle patrols, foot patrols are felt to Increase police
VISIbIlIty and contrIbute to a feelIng of securIty. Currently
police department staff patrols the downtown area for a total of
500 hour s per week. WIth the an t1cIpated add i tl on of a
motorcycle unit, unIformed polIce ViSIbI11 ty wIll be qUIte hIgh
in downtown Santa MonIca. Staff recommends the followIng
addItIonal actIon to augment the present downtown unIformed foot
patrols:
the addItIon of 4 parkIng structure attendants (2
permanent and 2 on an as-needed basIs) to double the
current staffIng of the parkIng structures. These guards
are cIvIlIan, unIformed personnel who work under the
superVISIon of the
break-Ins and other
PolIce Department and handle car
crImes WhIch occur In and around the
parking structures. They walk through the structures,
between the 6 structures and along the Th1rd Street Mall 6
days a week from 11:30 am - 8 pm w1th two guards on duty at
any tIme. It IS suggested that this staff 1ncrease may be
modIfIed as the parkIng operatIons staffIng of the downtown
parkIng structures IS developed. ThIS approach allows fer
added patrols of the Mall area In a cost-effICIent manner
whlle maIntaInIng an early warnIng system for the polIce
department. The cost for this program WIll be partIally
covered by revenues from the recent parkIng structure
permit fee Increase.
Day/or Temporary Labor Program
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The need for short-term employment opportunIties has been
IdentIfIed as critIcal for homeless people to allow them to
accumulate cash and get back on theIr feet. However, there IS a
lImIted percentage of homeless people who are In a pasl tlon to
take advantage of such employment WIthout fIrst haVIng access to
shower s, cl ean clothes and food, and there ar e cur ren tl y many
people, not all of whom are homeless, already seekIng such
employment because permanent employment IS not avaIlable. The
current Casual Labor Desk at the State of CalIfornIa EDD offIce
on Broadway has an average of 25-30 appll cants a day for 10 or
fewer pOSItIons.
The feaSIbilIty of
opportunItIes must
concerns:
the
be
CIty offerIng short term
conSIdered in light of the
employment
follOWIng
the need for close superVISIon of any work crews
the need to prOVIde cleanup, coveralls, shoes and
protectIve gear to partICIpants
the need for a hIrIng hall out of WhICh to hIre
indl V Id uals on a da i ly baSIS (how can people be reached
for work?)
the fact that summer youth
employment efforts would
such opportunIties to
be
the
competItIve WIth offerIng
homeless
the need to create procedures In WhIch people could get
paId that day for work done in ord er to pay for food and
shelter immedIately.
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Because employment opportun1t1es are scarce at thIS t1me,
part1cularly in unskilled pos1tlons, any temporary employment
program would have to serve those seeKIng work, whether homeless
or not. It 1S important to keep 1n mInd that the lack of steady
employment for many has created the1r homelessness, and that
permanent Jobs are what 1S sought. AlternatI vely, for those
indIvIduals who are emotIonally dIsturbed, full tIme employment
might not be approprIate or possIble. A screening procedure to
id entl fy those able to benefIt from such a program, would be a
key element In the program's success.
If Counc1l wIshes to pursue the establishment of a short term or
day 1 abor program I staff suggest s tha t 1 t be structur ed as an
extens Ion of an al ready eXl st in g employment serVIce WIth
screen1ng procedures already 1n place, work1ng 1n close
cooperat1on w1th emergency serV1ces providers.
Day Center
There has been a consensus for the past 2 years among serVIce
prcvlders that a day center IS needed for homeless people In th1S
area. A center would provIde an Indoor locatIon to WhICh the
homeless could come to spend tIme away from publIC areas of the
CIty. Such a facIl1ty can also be the contact point for a
varIety of health and counsell1ng services which the homeless are
in need of. However, locatIng an approprIate bU1ldlng for such a
serV1ce has been the prImary factor In preventIng Its creatIon.
The offIces and outdoor waItIng areas of emergency serVIces
prov1ders are at thIS point serving the functIon of day centers
to some degree, although the fac1lltIes are Inadequate. So too,
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are publIC l1brarIes
restIng places for
havens.
throughout the
many homeless
County which
people seeklng
have
become
warm,
safe
Staff supports the Idea of a day center If an approprIate
locatIon 1.S avaIlable and an agency IS Interested In makIng the
comm1.tment to adequately staff such a program. It IS possible
that such a day center could be des1.gned to address a part1.cular
subgroup from wIthIn the homeless populatIon (e.g. women,
familIes) and thereby have less dlff1.culty 1.n locating a
faCIlIty. An operatIng budget for a day center could range from
$50,000-300,000 a year depending on lts SIze and the Intensity of
serVIces proVIded.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
1. Funds are avaIlable In the WIlshIre-Montana set-asIde,
account #01-200-262-000-661 In the Community and NeIghborhood
SerVIces DIVISIon to fund the SalvatIon Army food program.
2. From January-June, 1985 the CIty will receIve $27,675 In
addItIonal revenue from the recently 1.ncreased parkIng fees.
ThIS 1.ncreased revenue wIll more than cover the addl tIonal
$17,000 reqUIred to hlre two permanent structure guards for
the remaInIng fIve months of the fIscal year.
3. Two as-needed structure guards can be funded through salary
savIngs In the polIce department InvestIgatIons DivisIon,
account #01-300-307-000-100. Two guards wIll cost $2467 per
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month and wIll be kept on until a new management system is
established for ParkIng Structure H2.
4. The addi tlon of a two-person outreach team for a 6 month
pIlot program to work out of a local agency in the parks and
sens~tive publ~c spaces In the c~ty w~ll cost approxImately
$3600/month. The cost of a day center program would vary
w~th the intensIty of serVIces offered, the SIze of the
program, and the admln Istratl ve start up costs assocIated
wIth the establIshment of such a program. The fundIng of the
outreach team and a day center program for the homeless wIll
compete w~th the fundIng of other social serVIce programs.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that CouncIl:
1. Authorlze staff, wIthIn the context of the 1985-86 Community
Development program, to seek an agency capable of provIdIng a
6 month pIlot outreach program composed of two full tIme
staff to work wIth homeless people In the Santa MonIca parks
and publIC areas. Councll wIll be provided wIth an
evaluatIon of the program and a recommendatIon on whether to
extend ~t after the f~rst 4 months of operation.
2. DIrect staff to IdentIfy temporary employment opportunit~es
WI thIn the CIty and work WI th the Casual Labor Desk of the
Santa Monlca EDD offIce to fIll these positions with homeless
and other need y Indl vlduals whenever possIble. Also dIrect
staff to work wIth local bUSInesses and the Chamber of
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Commerce to encourage theIr use of the EDD offIce to provide
opportunItIes for employment for the homeless.
3. Appropr late $17 tOaD from the General Fund non-departmental
contIngency account to account 11101-300-305-000-100 for the
hIrIng of two addI tlonal permanent structure guards to work
In the downtown/mall area for the remaIning 5 months of th~s
f~scal year and dIrect staff to Include these pos~ tlons In
next year's budget proposal.
4. Concur wIth staff plan to hire two as-needed structure guards
for the remaInIng 5 months of thIS fIscal year to be paId
wIth salary saVIngs In the polIce department.
5. AuthorIze the CIty Manager to enter Into a standard grantee
agreement with the SalvatIon Army of Santa MonIca for the
prOVIsion of a daily meal for destItute people and prOVIde
fund 1 ng of $3,500 from account #01-200-262-000-661 for the
fIrst fIve months of the program.
6. DIrect staff to seek and evaluate proposals for day shelter
programs WhICh ar e submitted by agenc les as an extension of
theIr currently eXIsting serVIce programs on the baSIS of
cost effectIveness, neighborhood Impact and capaCIty to
deliver serVIces. Such evaluation should be conducted In the
context of the development of the 1985 86 CommunIty
Development Plan and a staff recommendation presented to
Council at that tIme.
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7. DIrect
staff
to
monitor
relevant
legIslatIon,
publIC
hearings, etc. on the federal state and county levels
regardIng serVIces to the homeless and recommend actlon to
CounCIl when approprlate.
8. DIrect staff to work wlth the CIty Attorney's Offlce and
other appropr late resources In prov idl.ng tralnlng to polIce
offlcers on opportunitIes and constralnts In handling the
mentally dlsordered and other homeless lndivIduals.
Prepared By: VIVIan RothsteIn
CommunIty Lialsen
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