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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAP 2007-03-27 Item 2B - Resolution - 10 Year Plan to End HomelessnessTo: Mayor's Offic Community and Parks From: Evie Boykan,, Duman Services Date: March 27, 2007 Subject: 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness INFORMATION MEMO ISSUE Suburban jurisdictions are being asked to endorse the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in King County. BACKGROUND Homelessness is a local, regional and national issue. The Committee to End Homelessness in King County (CEHKC) developed a ten year plan to end homelessness in King County City Council received a briefmg on this plan in the fall of 2006. The Committee seeks endorsements of the plan from suburban jurisdictions. This endorsement shows support for the plan and a willingness to work with others to end homelessness, not just manage it. There is no financial impact in endorsing the plan. DISCUSSION /ANALYSIS /ALTERNATIVES Bill Block, Project Director of the Committee to End Homelessness already provided a presentation to the full Council in the fall of 2006. RECOMMENDATION Endorse the "A Roof Over Every Bed in King County: Our Community's Ten -Year Plan to End Homelessness" and adopt the attached resolution. di) COMMITTEE ;Y3 END HOMELESSNESS KING COUNTY Finally, a real plan to end homelessness "A Roof Over Every Bed in King County" within ten years How many people are homeless in King County? On any given night more than 8,000 people are known to be homeless in King County. This includes at least 400 youth and young adults, and approximately 2,400 people in families. About 2,500 meet the federal definition of chronically homeless, often with disabling conditions. Over 25% are children under the age of 17. As a community, we know this is unacceptable. What are we doing about homelessness? For the first time in our community's history, we are coming together to end homelessness. The Committee to End Homelessness in King County made up of representatives from nonprofit organizations, business, local government, homeless advocacy groups, the faith community and people who are or have been homeless has developed the Ten -Year Plan to End Homelessness in King County. The effort is focused on regional and cross system collaboration, and engaging communities and institutions that have not previously prioritized housing as their area of focus. This plan will end homelessness, not merely manage it. Why is it so important to end homelessness? Homelessness is expensive. Not only does it take a toll on people's lives, it is a huge financial burden on society. Tens of millions of dollars are spent each year in King County to feed, shelter, shower, medically treat or imprison homeless people. As we move more of these folks into housing and employment whenever possible we will spend far less in emergency services and they will contribute far more to their community and to the economy. What is in the Ten -Year Plan? The plan (available in full at www.cehkc.org) lays out a series of specific strategies and actions, with clear goals and measurable outcomes, for local leaders and their organizations to pursue over the next decade. The plan works to ensure alignment and coordination among all the entities in our community that are engaged in meeting the needs the homeless, and builds on local and national best practices for resolving homelessness. The key strategies are: 1. Prevent homelessness Make sure an adequate supply of appropriate housing and supportive services are available to help people stay in their homes as well as to engage in discharge planning. Discharge planning involves the jail, mental health programs and foster care. Services include rent and utility assistance, job training, employment and education assistance, health care, mental health counseling, foster care and chemical dependency treatment. 2. Move people rapidly from homelessness to housing Place homeless people as quickly as possible in permanent housing and then help them to stabilize and function independently by providing them with the supportive services they need to be successful in their homes. 3. Increase the efficiency of the existing system. We have a number of existing projects that address homelessness. We need to ensure that these are as efficient and effective as possible. 4. Build the public and political will to end homelessness Expand our community's commitment to ending homelessness by educating the public, tracking our successes and building on them, and establishing steady funding. 5. Measure and Report Outcomes We need to know exactly what our efforts are doing, where they are succeeding and where they need to be improved. How does the Plan differ from current practices? The Plan asks for a major change in how we do business and calls for broad and systemic integration of "best practices". In the context of ending homelessness this means integrating services and housing through single points of entry (providing access to both housing and services), service enriched permanent supportive housing (helping individuals get and keep their housing), and common funding processes (to avoid fragmentation of funds and services). These system changes will create efficiencies, avoid duplication and keep people housed rather than cycling through an expensive system. Studies have shown that providing housing to chronically homeless individuals is significantly more efficient and economic than the current system. For example, a local study in 2003 found that the 40 highest users of the sobering center and Harborview emergency room were chronically homeless individuals whose services cost an excess of $2 million. Housing them in supportive housing reduces their use of these expensive services, and is a much better use of public dollars. How is the plan being implemented? The Committee to End Homelessness has three primary policy entities: A Governing Board made up of more than 20 influential leaders provides high -level oversight. They mold and sustain the vision and leadership of the plan. More specifically, they will guide planning, coordinate current funding, and work to create additional resources. Members include business, faith, and elected officials from throughout the County, including, Enumclaw, Shoreline, Bellevue and Seattle. A Consumer Advisory Council is comprised of people who are currently homeless or who have experienced homelessness in the past. They provide needed expertise in how the system really runs and represent the broad interests and needs of homeless people countywide. Representatives include those who can speak to issues of homeless families, adults, veterans, youth, foster kids, and barriers to accessing services in every region in the County. An Interagency Council consists of executive director and department director level personnel from many of the entities working to end homelessness in King County. The Interagency Council designs changes to current programs; coordinates data collection, analysis and reporting; recommends policy direction to the Governing Board; and creates ways to better serve people experiencing homelessness. Members include business, faith, and agency and division directors from Tukwila, Kent, Bellevue, Kirkland, City of Seattle, King County DCHS, YWCA, Multi- Service Center, Kent Youth and Family Services, Plymouth Housing Group, Hopelink and more. Local Collaborations and Committees focus on implementation strategies. Three population committees integrate housing and services solutions for Single Adults, Families and Youth. Communications Workgroup work on day to day communications, legislative advocacy and creating long term public will. Resource Development and Alignment identifies strategies to create new resources and maximize the use of existing resources while being sensitive to other community needs. The South King County Forum on Homelessness and Eastside Homelessness Advisory Committee identify regional solutions in keeping with local needs and priorities. Finally, ad hoc workgroups are regularly convened to implement strategic priorities, such as establishing discharge policies for the criminal justice system and working with landlords to create incentives and other supports to allow them to house formerly homeless persons. Staff support for implementing the plan is provided by the King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) and funded in collaboration with the City of Seattle, United Way of King County and others. For more information on the plan, our work and the committees Visit our website at www.cehkc.oro or contact Bill Block, Director of the Committee to End Homelessness, 206 205 -5506 (bill.blockOmetrokc.aov) or Gretchen Bruce, Program Manager, at 206 296 -5251 (gretchen.bruce @metrokc.gov). Revised 3/20/07 www.cehkc.org A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, ENDORSING THE GOALS OF "A ROOF OVER EVERY BED IN KING COUNTY: OUR COMMUNITY'S TEN -YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS"; AND DECLARING THE INTENT OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA TO WORK WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PLAN. WHEREAS, it is estimated that there are over 8,000 people who experience homelessness in King County on any given night; and WHEREAS, in 2004, 11% of homeless households reported South King County as their last permanent address; and WHEREAS, additional attention is needed to restructure our region's existing homelessness services system, from managing homelessness to preventing and ending homelessness; and WHEREAS, the community including local governments, the United Way of King County, the faith community, non -profit organizations, and the business community has worked over the last several years to develop a plan outlining new efforts to address homelessness; NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Endorsement. The City Council endorses the goals of "A Roof Over Every Bed in King County: Our Community's Ten -Year Plan to End Homelessness" and supports the Plan's "commitment to ensure that there is an appropriate, affordable roof over the bed of everyone living in King County whether young or old, living alone or with families, sick or well." Section 2. Implementation of Plan. The City Council declares its intent to work with other governmental officials, the United Way of King County, faith and civic groups, communities of color, philanthropies, the business community, non -profit housing and service providers, and others to implement this plan over the next ten years. Section 3. Additional Resources. The City Council recognizes that additional resources will be required in order to meet the ambitious goals included in the Ten -Year Plan, and that local government resources are not adequate to achieve these goals. Therefore, the City of Tukwila supports efforts to increase funding at the Federal and State levels to pursue the goals of the Ten -Year Plan to End Homelessness. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at a Regular Meeting thereof this day of 2007. ATTEST /AUTHENTICATED: Jane E. Cantu, CMC, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Office of the City Attorney Verna Griffin, Council President Filed with the City Clerk: Passed by the City Council: Resolution Number: