Fabian Lewkowicz/Daily Press Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson (right) tastes chili as the five judges choose their favorite among the 19 entries at the Willy’s Chili Cook-off during the 42nd annual Saint Monica’s Octoberfair. Judges, from left to right: Fran Curry, Father David Guffey, Nancy Catullo, Eric Becker and Jovanka Ruby. ‘Housing’ to work in tandem with Continuum of Care plan
CITY HALL — With an eye on fighting homelessness more effectively, City Hall has embraced a new strategy with an emphasis on providing housing first to the down-and-out.
City staff recently unveiled plans to incorporate a “Housing First” model to help alleviate the city’s homeless problem. Under the model, homeless individuals will be offered shelter by local providers, followed up with a rigorous case management plan intended to keep them on a path to self-sufficiency.
Currently, City Hall uses a “Continuum of Care” approach to dealing with homelessness. Under that model, a person must attain a series of goals in order to qualify for housing.
Housing First has been used for individuals and families, but city staff said it seems to work best with the “chronically homeless” — those who have been without a roof over their head for more than three years, or in and out of homes for the last five.
City Hall has been focussing its efforts on this population, especially after a recent report which indicated that of the Los Angeles-area’s 90,000 homeless, 40 percent, or approximately 40,000 meet the “chronic” condition. Both Housing First and the Continuum of Care models will be used simultaneously by City Hall, depending on whichever method is deemed best in assisting individuals.
Councilman Kevin McKeown said the approach will save City Hall money in the long run.
“The Continuum of Care has worked, but it hasn’t worked for everyone,” said McKeown. “I’m glad to see staff return to us with something in line with our sustainable practices.”
Although officials said Housing First is very successful compared to other programs, it’s a first for Santa Monica. The City Council approved the new model at the Tuesday, Sept. 13 meeting. The council had requested staff to search nationally for “best practice” programs to address homelessness, in order to make its own programs more effective.
The search led city staff to San Francisco and East Coast cities, where Housing First has proven to be among the most helpful models.
Stacey Row, who works with the city’s homeless service groups, said the success of Housing First depends on case managers building long-term service relationship with their homeless “clients.”
“Assertive case managers do ‘whatever it takes’ to get people into and keep them in housing,” Row said. “While healthy lifestyles are the ultimate goals, the initial focus is maintaining housing.
“That means supporting people to be good tenants and neighbors.”
In coming months, city staff will determine how housing under the model will be arranged for Santa Monica. Options include “safe havens,” “scattered site” and “master leasing,” staff told the council.
Safe Havens are modeled after the famous women’s shelter in San Francisco, a community living setting with supportive services usually provided on site.
Scattered site housing means the homeless would be sheltered in individual apartments throughout Santa Monica, in which supportive services would be provided in the tenant’s apartment.
Master leasing is another approach staff will consider for its Housing First model. This means multiple units of housing would be leased from a landlord, then subleased to homeless tenants. Supportive service offices are often located in the master-leased buildings.
City Hall received a $700,000 grant at the Sept. 13 meeting from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which will be put toward the Housing First program. The grant will allow homeless tenants to rent the apartment and begin case management.
City staff will continue to look at housing options best suited for Santa Monica and update the council in coming months with what they find.
Meanwhile, the new approach to addressing homelessness has strong support from elected leaders. Councilman Bobby Shriver, a homeless advocate, said that not only is Housing First one of the most successful programs available in helping the down-and-out, it’s also one of the most cost effective.
“In case anyone thinks this is going to make City Hall bankrupt, I want to emphasize that the research shows this is one of the best service programs that keep costs down,” Shriver said. “The money put into Housing First can provide four beds for a whole year, which one homeless person could cost the system during a few days stay at the hospital.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 26, 2005. Read the original PDF.