City’s ability to house the homeless on decline
CITY HALL — A public hearing to discuss the city’s progress in fighting homelessness was put off on Tuesday, aggravating some elected leaders who feel getting the down-and-out off the streets should be a higher priority.
The Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday decided to postpone an annual public hearing regarding the status of efforts to fight homelessness until a Dec. 13 meeting. The decision to delay was made primarily due to an anticipated lengthy discussion regarding student access at Santa Monica College’s Bundy campus, located across from Santa Monica Airport at 3171 S. Bundy Dr., officials said.
In light of the Bundy debate — which lasted nearly four hours and included more than 35 public speakers — the City Council bumped discussion about City Hall’s code enforcement program, the composition of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, as well as public comment regarding the annual homeless report, which was never heard.
Councilman Bobby Shriver said he was dismayed by the fact the homeless problem was being disregarded due to matters, he felt, should have been managed in a less time-consuming manner.
“Tonight, there was supposed to be a report about homelessness,” Shriver said. “I hope people are aware of the opportunity costs here. Homelessness is the No. 1 issue. Right now, there’s a man with mental illness and gangrene living in the streets, and (not talking about it) has a real cost.
“We have to make a decision promptly to get on with homelessness.”
In a January 2005 survey, 39 percent of Santa Monicans listed homelessness as the most important issue facing the city. In addition, 53 percent of the respondents said City Hall was spending too little or the right amount on homeless services, while 17 percent felt it was spending too much. One quarter of survey takers didn’t know if the amount of tax money being spent on the down-and-out was appropriate.
Had the discussion taken place, city staff was prepared to present a report which explains the history of its homeless program and described strategies to attain goals.
In 1991, the City Council appointed community members to a task force to develop recommendations on ways to fight homelessness. This effort resulted in a report, “A Call to Action,” which laid out the strategies that have become the blueprint for the development of homeless services in Santa Monica.
According to city staff, the report continues to guide City Hall’s homeless efforts. Servicing has centered around a model called the “Continuum of Care,” which begins with outreach and emergency day services, leads to case management, housing, jobs and post-service counseling.
PERMANENT HOMELESS HOUSING ON THE DECLINE In fiscal year 2004-05, City Hall funded nine homeless agencies. As a condition of city funding, these agencies develop plans to address some aspect within the Continuum of Care and help lead the down-and-out to a condition of self-sufficiency, according to the annual homeless report.
During the same period, a total of 2,861 homeless individuals were provided with case management, temporary housing, addiction recovery, mental health services and employment assistance through the nine agencies funded by City Hall. Of those who received services, 52 percent were male and 48 percent female. A total of 613, or 21 percent, were children.
Through support from the agencies, 874 homeless individuals received emergency or transitional housing — and 309 people, or 14 percent of those serviced — transitioned into permanent housing over the course of the year, according to the report.
Over the last three fiscal years, City Hall has declined in its ability to provide the homeless with employment and housing, according to the report. While permanent housing for the homeless who’ve received services peaked with 433 units in fiscal year 2002-03, that number has been reduced by 100 units since 2004-05. This decline in the amount of permanent housing is attributed to the competitive rental housing market in Santa Monica and the Westside, according to the report.
The placement of homeless individuals into permanent employment has also significantly reduced, dropping from 437 positions in fiscal year 2002-03 to 351 positions in 2004-05, according to the report.
NEW CONCEPTS BEING FOSTERED 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.
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” criteria.
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.
In addition, a program called the “Chronic Homeless Project” is also underway which 25 people have been enrolled to date and 25 people are off the streets.
Plans are also underway to work more closely with the county on a regional homeless plan called Bring LA Home, expected to begin early next year. City Hall, supporting a suggestion by Shriver, is also hoping the West LA Veterans’ grounds will be used, in part, to support homeless veterans.
City Hall is working with other entities to develop a regional psychiatric urgent care center.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 10, 2005. Read the original PDF.