Capitola City Council

The inaccuracy of the HUD PIT Count results in significant numbers of homeless adults and children not being counted and therefore not receiving needed services. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Agree. However, this is the HUD count methodology which we are required to utilize and while not ideal, the use of this consistent methodology allows for the ability to track progress over time. Our partners throughout Santa Cruz County have also successfully advocated for changes to the methodology in the past and we intend to support these continued efforts in order to better refine the tool.

The lack of coordination between key stakeholders is a significant barrier to the efficient and capable implementation of homelessness solutions. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Coordination between key stakeholders exists but is insufficient. There is regional coordination through the Homeless Action Partnership (HAP) that acts as the HUD mandated Continuum of Care (COC.) The HAP is a collaboration of the five jurisdictions in Santa Cruz County (the County and the Cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Capitola, and Scotts Valley) along with homeless housing and services providers. However, not everything related to homelessness and addressed in this report is under the jurisdiction of the HAP. There are regional efforts to develop enhanced regional homeless governance options and we are in support of those efforts continuing to move forward.

The public opposition to homeless solutions is partially due to a lack of education, engagement and political will by City and County leadership. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Over the past 10 plus years, City leadership has worked to understand and tackle the complex issue of homelessness. Beginning with participation in the HAP to a leadership role in the preparation of the 2015 regional “All In” plan to end homelessness and ongoing participation in the COC/HAP. City leadership has staffed, or participated in multiple efforts to educate and engage the public on the topic of homelessness and worked in an effort to reduce opposition to a wide variety of possible solutions in our community. The County’s commitment to taking a leadership role in the issue by expanding beyond the creation of the Homeless Services Coordinator position into developing a full division devoted to leading and coordinating homelessness related activities is beneficial for all jurisdictions and is anticipated to provide clearer education, engagement and coordination. Generally speaking, a lack of political will is defined retrospectively when looking at failed programs and initiatives. However, it is important to point out that while not all of

Santa Cruz County elected officials have been unable to combat NIMBYism, which is a significant barrier to getting projects approved and built to support the homeless. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Elected leaders are responsible for making difficult policy decisions for our community. Difficult policy decisions, by their nature, involve tradeoffs between competing interests. Homeless issues often involve those difficult policy decisions. While a number potential homeless programs or projects have not been implemented some have been implemented. Those decisions were made based on policy tradeoffs and competing community interests. To categorize those decisions to not implement some of those proposed programs or projects as simply a response to NIMBYism appears overly simplistic and unfair.

Inconsistent and unclear funding sources and processes inhibit the effective implementation of solutions that require long term planning and sustained operations. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): There are funding challenges associated with homelessness that are partially due to lack of control at the local level. A significant portion of homelessness funding comes through the state and federal government, which the City has limited ability to control. There is currently no funding for homeless services that goes directly to the cities in Santa Cruz County

The Homeless Action Partnership (HAP) is not organizationally equipped with the appropriate authority, structure, leadership, staff, training or processes and as a result is ineffective in its mission of reducing homelessness. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Partially disagree. The HAP is a federally required COC for HUD recipients. Many of the homeless issues are outside the scope of the HAP. The ongoing work to develop a county-wide governance structure for homelessness related policies is envisioned to strengthen local homelessness response and administration thereof.

There are parcels of land throughout the county that appear to be unused or underutilized, and could possibly be used to build housing for the homeless. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree):

Santa Cruz County law enforcement response to homeless, addiction, and mental health issues has the potential to criminalize social, medical, and psychological conditions. This requires law enforcement to perform the role of social worker; a role for which they lack the resources and mental health training. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The Capitola Police Department is committed to providing proper care and services to individuals exhibiting non-criminal behavior resulting from social issues or behaviors resulting from medical and psychological conditions. All police officers have completed Crisis Intervention Training hosted by the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office, focusing on the need for collaborative efforts and the formation of effective partnerships with all available County resources to effectively provide assistance to less fortunate individuals suffering from homelessness, addiction and mental health issues. The Capitola Police Department utilizes “best practice” policing models to guide our responses and interactions with any individuals or groups in need of law enforcement services including those described above. Our well-established commitment to a professional and collaborative relationship with the mental health, social service and substance abuse professionals throughout the County is a key component to success. The primary focus of Capitola police officers related to enforcement will always be an assessment of known or potential criminal behavior rather than social, medical or psychological factors.

There is a lack of leadership from County and City officials to engage the business community in exploring potential solutions to homelessness. AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion X DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Some engagement has occurred and more is welcome.

Santa Cruz County and Cities, despite owning numerous parking lots, choose not to utilize their parking lots for safe parking programs, which results in an underutilization of resources that could help reduce homeless parking in neighborhoods and business districts. AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion X DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Safe parking program are in place with the County and the City of Santa Cruz through state HEAP funds. There is an ongoing effort countywide to expand and develop the project further.

Faith-Based Organizations are an underutilized resource in the effort to end homelessness. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Faith-Based Organizations are and have been very engaged and partner strongly throughout the region. They have had roles in county-wide and city committees and task forces to address the issue of homelessness and have brought solutions to the table that have been utilized including safe parking, temporary shelters, food, hygiene and clothing support in addition to other activities. As future opportunities arise, we welcome continued and increased engagement.

Santa Cruz County lacks an organization that is accountable for tracking the cost of homelessness, allocating funding, and measuring the effectiveness of funding which results in the inability to make progress toward solving the homeless problem. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Currently, there isn’t a single organization with this role and responsibility. Capacity to provide this level of analytics is limited. Efforts to build capacity for accountable for tracking the cost of homelessness, allocating funding, and measuring the effectiveness of funding is ongoing. The County Human Services Department is launching a new Housing for Health Division in Fall 2020. The new Housing for Health Division will develop and track housing data and increase evaluation capacity.

If underutilized parcels of land throughout Santa Cruz County were identified, such as the area near Coral Street in Santa Cruz, and the parcel adjacent to the County Government Mental Health Building in Watsonville, these parcels could potentially be used to increase the number of beds and services to support the homeless. AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): There are underutilized parcels of land throughout Santa Cruz County not all of which could be used to increase the number of beds and services to support the homeless due to underlying zoning. The County and the City of Santa Cruz have partnered with Housing Matters to explore potential additional uses as well as reconfiguration and expansion of current services in the Coral Street area some of which have already occurred in response to COVID. Capitola has no land use control or regulatory authority over the examples cited in the finding. The City of Capitola’s Housing Element identifies underutilized parcels of land within the City that could potentially be used to increase housing supply.