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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/12/2019 02 Homeless Issues - Future Options 't..an,gtntj ka d E$A aY BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 2. For Meeting of: November 12, 2019 ITEM TITLE: Homeless Issues - Future Options SUBMITTED BY: Joan Davenport, Community Development Director Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager SUMMARY EXPLANATION: The City Council requested an opportunity to discuss issues related to homeless populations in the City and general community. Staff has prepared a broad overview that summarizes the available data (extent of the population) as well as existing resources. As part of the 2020 City of Yakima budget, the Council authorized the "Clean City Project". The anticipated resources and direction for this project are included in this brief report. On October 29, 2019, the Yakima County Commissioners voted to adopt the optional one-tenth of 1% local sales tax to support mental health related programs, including rehabilitation of structures for these services. While it was mentioned that the Commissioners are considering a specific building located within the City of Yakima, no formal proposal has been developed or submitted for the City's review. Discussion by the City Council of the County's proposal should be delayed until the formal proposal is developed. ITEM BUDGETED: NA STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Neighborhood and Community Building APPROVED FOR r /� SUBMITTAL: f - Interim City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: ATTACHMENTS: 2 Description Upload Date Type D clumbcr Idler 11,E/2019 Cowl'Memo D Prarmotation Haireless Issues Slat us Rcuort 1117/2019 Backuutonal 3 Y . .. . F. 4. 'y Mayor Coffey and Members of Yakima City Council Cynthia Martinez, Acting City Manager Police Chief Matt Murray Dear Mayor Coffey/City Council, Cynthia arid Chief Murray, The annual Point-in-Time count of homelessness shows that for almost a decade now, Yakima's streets and greenspaces have been "home" to a large homeless population. As we know, this evokes compassion for their struggles, as well as frustration with actions and behaviors, commonly present with homelessness. While Yakima's homelessness rate is 171% of the national rate, it is average among Washington's ten largest counties. Steps can be taken to ensure our community does not accept that a portion of our population is likely to become homeless, simply due to this being "normal" in other large WA counties. Out of compassion for everyone in our valley, we must strategize and take action, Our Chamber membership, which is made up of many of the businesses in our valley, experience the effects of the homeless men/women/families almost daily. Some of their comments to us include: • We have homeless people who will camp in front of our business, often overnight. When they move in the morning (by themselves or with our prodding), they leave a mess which ranges from cigarettes and left over food to needles and human waste. • Customers are often wary of the homeless "camps"and or overflowing shopping carts and will often just stay away from coming in. • Our troshcons and dumpsters are ransacked leaving trash strewn about, • It is very hard to entice businesses to locate in downtown area when they see the problems caused by homelessness and nothing seems to be done about it. • Open drug use, left behind drug paraphernalia, using our alley or side of building as their toilets, vandalism to property, harassing our customers, causing our customers and staff to feel unsafe, putting out fires in dumpsters or on the sidewalks — all these are almost doily occurrences what are our taxes and assessments being used for? We urge our elected officials and policy makers to pursue a holistic approach to homelessness that integrates adequate amounts of professional-quality services (for issues like mental illness i',...1 (1111(L1k Lii)o • In North 98`)(1 • Plitt!it• 1119 '18 '1121 • RI\ tillP2'; 4 µ fry T Ye 1 tAl4 Ali ' s N1i P/L ✓n'LPl 4 ',M t : and addiction), with consistent and professional enforcement of civility and property crimes Such an approach has the highest likelihood of preserving and enhancing the quality of our community, Safety and respect for property and each other is the foundation of a sustainable society, as well as a basic precondition for thriving families and businesses. The public safety/consideration and property crimes resulting from homelessness, erode these foundations, Consistent and professional application of duly established standards for civility and property also benefits those struggling on the streets, with well-integrated and effective systems of rehabilitation and support (e.g. treatment and care for issues like addiction and mental illness). This approach communicates to the homeless population that our valley has not,accepted the idea that this is "as good as it gets" for them, and provides the action needed to make a real and positive impact for all, Call to action: The Chamber is not an expert in this area so we are calling on the City Council to lead and develop an actionable plan to resolve this issue, within the next six months, The plan must include dates and timelines for implementation and taking steps as defined by the plan, as well, We thank you for taking the time to listen to our position. If you would like to discuss this in more detail, please let us know.. 1"' may- c Verlynn Best I Bob Gent CEO, Yakima Chamber of Commerce Chamber Board Chairman '['us( Olike H(,v 1,19a • la ?i,rk ,thb.Therl, )',ikium. AA,>iilntan, 9S )()7 • Pliant, 1T•19.1 ' Ix 'V'1 • 1,1‘ I' i ''F* Unl Ess ISSUES HOMEL RT STATUS REPO CITY ACTIVITIES AND ACTIONS Yakima City Council Study Session .. . November 12 2019 s tit= ) � ,, a Imo, 4........ ._ , „„$„ : „ i ` lliaal a�u���0 Items to Cover Today : ■ Data- Point in Time Count - what is the extent of the problem, demographics of population - average time in a shelter, data on who and when folks exit to housing ■ Solutions - Homeless to Housing - Street, unsheltered camping, service resistant populations - Emergency shelter - Transitional - Permanent Supportive - Market Rate ■ The City's role and future opportunities? - House Bill 1406 - Collaboration and Education - Clean City Project - Camp Hope ■ Yakima County and Other provider plans ■ Council Options Data on Homeless Persons in Yakima 2019 Point in Time Count and HMIS data ■ Annual "Point in Time" (PIT) count is a requirement for communities that receive Federal homeless program funds from Housing and Urban Development (HUD). ■ PIT Count done by ACR Business Consulting—chosen by YVCOG who at the time of the PIT count (January 2019) still controlled homeless funding. ■ The entire Yakima Valley cooperates in the Point in Time Count. Individual cities do not conduct their own counts. ■ While every effort is made to be as accurate as possible, the Point in Time Count is not intended to be a "census" of homeless persons. It is a representative sample of the number of residents who experience homelessness. • A total of 818 homeless persons were identified in the 2019 PIT Count. • An estimate of total homeless persons found in the City of Yakima on the 2019 PIT day is 62% of the 818 homeless persons or 509 people identified in the City of Yakima. • In 2018, the estimate of City of Yakima homeless persons was 72% of the total 646 people or 465 persons. 2019 Point in Time Count Data Compared to 2018 2018 2019 Change % change Surveys Collected 443 539 96 22% Upper Valley 330 346 16 Middle Valley/Yakama Nation 75 190 115 South Valley 38 3 -35 Community Members Included 646 818 172 27% Unaccompanied Youth (under 18) 4 5 1 25% 18 - 24YR 35 57 22 63% Single, over 24 YR 342 359 17 5% Families with children 61 86 25 41% Dependents under 18 140 189 49 35% Seniors (over 55 YR) 136 126 -10 -7% Veterans 56 54 -2 -3% Chronic Homeless (total members) 203 172 -31 -15% • Selected -PIT •Data • PIT-Totals 2019.Chronic-Home less-Households 700 • • 600 vsJ a tFs'k �.X.;f - ry i 300 — T _ x # � t 3 • a T # y 200 _ YI 2015 2016 . ; 2017 2018 2019 � , - 4 ,A°°R ,. 0 Unsheltered ' 0 Emergency shelter ; °Transitional.Housing Total homeless counts: o Veteran Single. o Non-Veteran Single o Veteran Family 2015:-688 •."2017. 572 2018:818* ■Non-Veteran Family■ . 2016:580 2018: 646*. *PIT data.indicates not all survey participants responded to the question of • where they slept the night before ' Selected PIT Data 2019 Top 4 Reasons Ci red as Head of Household Data Cause for Homelessness 300 Participants could select more than one 250 Economic ........................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................... 200 Job Loss 150 .................................................................................................. .................................................................................................. .................................................................................................. .................................................................................................. .................................................................................................. .................................................................................................. .................................................................................................. .................................................................................................. .................................................................................................. 100 Alcohol/Substance Abuse ....................................................................... ....................................................................... ....................................................................... ....................................................................... ....................................................................... 50 Family Crisis 0 Served in Military Currently Fleeing Disabled Domestic Violence 166 168 170 172 174 176 178 180 a 2018 2019 Homeless to Housing From unsheltered to market rate housing there is a range of housing types to address homelessness. Although linearly there are options ranging from emergency shelter to market rate housing, individuals may enter the range of options at any point and need not move linearly from one housing type to the next. . TransitionalH inin Unsheltered, livingin vehicles, or _ Housing is designed ed to ... .... . ... .::::::::::. . ...>.. ... . ...... • provide housing and supportive ; : .. living in inadequate structures Y .,-r .� .;x E i services to homeless persons to suchasses or abandoned ::. ' . facilitate the movement to .... . :..:.... .. ... . houses. ................................. . . . independent living within 24 months. �:: Permanent Supportive Housing Camp Hope, or other organized ° .:.v is encampments. A secure '4 housing with indefinite leasing or p ." rental assistance paired with >> ' location with sanitation, laundry, :,.;,.... supportive services to assist showers, and case Hone management. homeless persons. .. Emergency shelter includes - ;;v ° of :v Permanent Housing, which i . low-barrier shelters such as the ... : CSFL . : 4' UGM, winter weather shelters, includes affordable market rate " '" '°'::`' . hotel vouchers and short term housing and those on housing : . ....... : vouchers. respite care. I The it ' ROIe and Future Opportunities HB 1406 1406 Process: Council passed Council sets policy for use of funds within the legislation already to retain the tax requirements of the bill. • Pass intent to retain ' • IDEA 1: Construct Housing • Use the money to provide funds for affordable • Adopt resolution / w \ housing projects of other organizations m:• 0 • ................................................................................................................... ....... ... ........ ... .. ..... .................... ...... .. ............................................................................................ City retains ns .0073 /o 111 Y ............................ ................ ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... • A x. 140 000 r pp /Y ...................... ....................... ............................ ............... ............................. ... ............ ..... ....... ........ ..................... ..................................... ................. ....... 11101 #,11 Use for housing Use for emergency rent VkVaieligigg t.. g Y NWOS Collaboration & Education • City Council and staff participate • Staff is working on website additions: in the Yakima County Homeless Pages for resources and information Coalition including work on the 5 about homelessness in Yakima year plan and involvement in (underway) funding decisions • Education campaign regarding • City Council and staff participate homelessness and non-profits helping in the Homeless Network of the homeless? Yakima County • Education to the community regarding • City staff participated in the their opportunities to donate? Affordable Housing work group through the Homeless Network M M :.. ; H v 5iiiv:.! ri 4,1 5, u.: •• •. : :.'} :�R:ii,; iait 0:40: � tW't••• ..iiiiiviiiiiam • S 111 a 'i ....... } is a• he wxe ... ....... K .. nil_ d ay .... { Pabst . .v.. Y GLEAN CITY PRO. ECT zrr 4, , , , • Case Manager-the City will contract with a £ n= r , {+i +rr v nt n = z community partner (TBD) to provide case management services. This puts an additional case manager on the street to help support the T III needs of those experiencing homelessness, to connect them with services, or provide support as needed. - RFP-the request for proposals or Proiect qualifications will be finalized and the goal is to have the case manager contract in place by the end of April D2o. • Refuse Code Enforcement Officer- illegal homeless camps will be addressed by a refuse code enforcement officer trained to address homeless encampments. F` ■ Collaboration x�YPD, Codes and Public Works will .K continue to work together on enforcement and +Y complaint issues and evaluate ordinance changes. 1 le wmmw Camp Hope mm:... ... AA Allt afar � ■ Council amended the lease to extend the term to ..,:-...,..... ;. 2025, with two year renewal options through .u. a riFl 2029. The lease is at no cost to Sunrise Outreach • Y4 Center of Washington to provide this service to the k'.A ' "' N= A homeless. Temporary Encampments under RCW 35 . 21. 915 Temporary encampments are allowed on property owned or controlled by a religious organization. = a is •n .41 • N X•T.,N_i.. Y$y r.. Currently the only temporary homeless encampment in the city is operated on .e<,:nn . City property, so the City has been able to ensure public health and safety. To ensure public health and safety, emergency vehicle access and conformance with the statute, the Council could enact a permit process similar to that of Olympia for temporary homeless encampments on property not owned by the City. Current and F u t u re Ho u sing 1111111 Bicycle Apartments Next Step Housing 11.11,1111,11111 80 housing units YCCC Yakima County council Options—Next Steps • HB 1406 Use policies • 2.5 Acres ■ Other City Property to be used for affordable housing • Permit Process for Temporary Homeless Encampments • Education Plan and Outreach ■ Proposed Ordinance changes will be presented at your November 19th Council Meeting yry.y x:. 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