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# All on the same page
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/all-on-the-same-page-editor/
- Published: 2006-06-15T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T18:21:43.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

*By John Maceri Executive Director, Ocean Park Community Center*

Your recent article, “A Place in the Sun,” provided a good overview of the Chronic Homeless Program (CHP) and the multiple challenges facing both the individuals trying to leave the streets and live independently, and the service providers who work diligently to support them in finding and maintaining permanent homes (SMDP, June 10-11, page 1).

There is one glaring error in the article. It states, “Before the program, providers such as OPCC, Step Up On Second, the St. Joseph Center and the CLARE Foundation were working almost entirely independent of one another …” This is simply not true. In fact, all of those providers, and several others who serve low-income and homeless individuals and families, have worked together very collaboratively and effectively for many years. This is done through formal and informal cross referral agreements; sharing program space and providing services through specialized programs where each partner agency brings their particular expertise to the collaboration. Many of these agencies have been successfully working together on a variety of programs and services for decades.

The success of the CHP is that it is built on the strength of the existing service network by having the city staff take a coordinating role in bringing the various city departments, particularly human services, police and fire, into the network. By identifying high utilizers of police and paramedic services, the CHP team can focus resources on those individuals and track the outcomes. The additional rental subsidies have expedited the move into housing for this select group, which is good for them and for the community.

Without the infrastructure and cooperation provided by all of the existing service providers, the CHP would be another good idea mired in bureaucracy. Instead, dozens of people have been housed and more are on their way to once again living indoors.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 15, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/061506.pdf?ref=smdp.com)