Monterey County Grand Jury • 2017-2018 • Agency Response
Response to: WHO’S IN CHARGE? Stepping up on Homelessness: The need for strategic leadership and comprehensive planning

Who's In Charge? Stepping up on Homelessness: The need for strategic leadership and comprehensive planning*

Published: August 22, 2018 7 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 12 findings

F1
93955 Homelessness is a bigger problem in the County than the biennial homeless census would suggest. Administration (831) 394-3054 Response: The City Council agrees with the finding, however, the City does not have an exact number of individuals who are homeless Planning within the City. The City does not have a significant daily homeless (831) 394-6700 population. The City has an estimated 5 to 10 homeless residents who FAX are transient but stay overnight on the beach or other areas. However, (831) 394-2472 on a daily basis, the City sees an estimated 80 to 120 homeless people traveling daily to utilize the services of the Salvation Army facility and Police MST transportation plaza. (831) 394-1451
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Elected County and City officials should provide government leadership to address homelessness. Response: The City has partially implemented this recommendation in several ways: The Mayor of Sand City has served for many years, and continues to serve, on the board of Community Human Services (CHS). CHS is a 501c(3) public nonprofit and Joint Powers Authority with a governing board of representatives from 15 cities and school districts within Monterey County providing substance abuse and mental health counseling and recovery services to middle and low-income individuals and families in Monterey County. The agency has a drop-in shelter for homeless youth. CHS has a 6-bedroom residential housing unit for homeless youth. In addition, the Mayor of Sand City is active in the Monterey County Mayor's Association which has selected Salinas Mayor City Hall Joe Gunter to take the lead on homelessness issues in conjunction with 1 Pendergrass Way the County. This Fall, Salinas will be constructing a 90-unit building Sand City, CA 93955 geared towards more affordable housing options available to the homeless. By combining this building with other social service programs, Administration homeless can make the move into permanent housing. Further, the City (831) 394-3054 has been active in addressing the homeless in Sand City and the Planning Monterey Peninsula by supporting Salvation Army Good Samaritan (831) 394-6700 which is located in the City and neighboring Seaside. The Salvation Army serves the homeless by providing food, shelter, and showers, FAX educational support, counseling services, and vocational direction. The (831) 394-2472 shelter also provides families with meal-planning, utility, and long-term housing assistance. The City also strives to increase available affordable Police housing in the City through its agreements with local developers. The (831) 394-1451 new South of Tioga project is required to provide 52 affordable units out of 356 units, and the Independent building currently provides 10 FAX (831) 394-1038 affordable units under an agreement with the City. The Sand City Police Department hand out pamphlets to homeless people that list service provider contact information. Incorporated May 31, 1960
F2
The County's homeless problem has the potential to get worse FAX if we do not invest in accessible housing solutions. Growing housing (831) 394-1038 insecurity will only increase demand on our underfunded, over- stressed public services. Incorporated May 31, 1960 Response: The City Council agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The County and its Cities should form an accountable leadership body that has power to oversee a regional approach to ending homelessness and address housing insecurity in Monterey County. Response: The recommendation has not yet been implemented by the City, but if other jurisdictions are willing to form such a body, the City Council supports a regional solution. There is no identified time frame.
F3
The County's strategy for addressing homelessness needs a clearer focus, accountable leadership, and enhanced capacity. Response: The City Council agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The County and its Cities should enter into a binding, enforceable agreement, such as a Memorandum of Agreement, to secure commitment to the plan and ensure responsibilities of each jurisdiction. Response: This recommendation has not been implemented by the City, but would be considered if and when such an agreement is drafted. The City supports an agreement for a regional approach. There is no identified time frame.
F4
Structuring the Continuum of Care administrator as a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization is conducive to securing funding and coordinating homeless services. However, a non-profit organization cannot establish public policy and planning needed to end homelessness. Response: The City Council agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Lead Me Home Leadership council should clearly define its purpose and goals. Response: This recommendation has not been implemented by the City and is not within the City's power to implement. However, the City supports a recommendation to the Lead Me Home Leadership Council City Hall to clearly define its purpose and goals. Pendergrass Way Sand City, CA
F5
The County has unofficially established the Coalition of Homeless Service Providers as a central organization for addressing homelessness. Making any non-profit the center of homeless solutions effectively creates the perception there is governmental leadership when there is, in fact, no formal political leadership. This arrangement provides elected officials with a way to avoid accepting political responsibility for addressing homelessness. Response: The City Council partially disagrees with this finding. The City Council does agree that the County has established the City Hall Coalition of Homeless Service Providers (CHSP) as a mechanism to 1 Pendergrass Way address homelessness and that addressing homelessness requires Sand City, CA political leadership and collaboration between governmental agencies, 93955 non-profits, and service providers. However, while the City agrees that Administration CHSP may not be the best path to eliminate homelessness, it is the (831) 394-3054 Council's understanding that the County Board of Supervisors authorized an agreement with CHSP to administer the Continuum of Planning Care and continues to provide political leadership in the area of (831) 394-6700 homelessness. The City Council does not agree that the arrangement FAX provides elected officials a way to avoid accepting political responsibility (831) 394-2472 for addressing homelessness.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
There should be a clear distinction between governance of the 93955 Continuum of Care - as an integral part of the broader strategic plan - Administration and the leadership body charged with implementing a regional (831) 394-3054 strategic plan to end homelessness. Planning Response: The recommendation has not been implemented by the City (831) 394-6700 as it does not fall within the City of Sand City's power to implement. FAX The City Council supports efforts to clarify the roles of various entities (831) 394-2472 that implement the strategic plan.
F6
The Coalition of Homeless Service Providers is a small Police nonprofit that does not have sufficient capacity to administer the (831) 394-1451 County's strategic plan to end homelessness and its continuum of care FAX for both Monterey and San Benito counties. It does not provide (831) 394-1038 political leadership to coalesce public support and government commitments around a concrete action-plan to end homelessness. Incorporated May 31, 1960 Response: The City Council partially disagrees with the finding. While the City Council is unable to assess the capacity of CHSP to administer the County's strategic plan, it is our understanding that the "Lead me Home" Leadership Council includes elected officials. The City Council agrees that addressing homelessness requires a regional approach and political leadership by all local governments.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
If the County effectively exerts control of Coalition for Police Homeless Service Providers through the Leadership Council, then the (831) 394-1451 County should clearly define the purpose and role of the Coalition for FAX Homeless Service Providers. It also follows that the Coalition for (831) 394-1038 Homeless Service Providers. It also follows that the Coalition for Homeless Service Providers should be adequately funded and staffed Incorporated May 31, 1960 in proportion to its level of responsibilities with respect to securing resources and performing services for the county. Response: The recommendation has not been implemented by the City as it does not fall within the City of Sand City's power to implement.
F7
The composition of the Leadership Council and its location within the Coalition of Homeless Service Providers has affected the focus of the leadership council. The Leadership Council's critical opportunity of generating and executing a strategic plan to end homelessness has narrowed to providing oversight of the Continuum of Care. Response: The City Council partially disagrees with this finding. The Leadership Council was influential in the drafting of "Lead Me Home, the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness." The City Council agrees that much work remains to be done in the area of homelessness.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The newly created regional leadership body (see R2) should update and implement a regional strategic plan to end homelessness by defining its purpose, goals and assessments to measure and track progress. Response: The recommendation has not been implemented by the City as such a body has not yet been formed. The City Council supports the formation of a regional leadership body and will participate in such a body. There is no established timeline for this recommendation.
F8
The structure of the Leadership Council does not provide authority to design and execute a regional plan to end homelessness, and it does not support full public accountability for meeting stated targets. City Hall Response: The City Council agrees with this finding. Pendergrass Way
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The strategic plan should be revisited annually using outcome measurements to evaluate and adjust strategies for meeting goals. Response: The City Council supports the Leadership Council revisiting the strategic plan on an annual basis and using outcome measurements to evaluate and adjust strategies for meeting goals.
F9
Sand City, CA Political leadership is necessary to secure public support, enact 93955 policy and planning decisions that capitalize on state legislation, and execute a regional homeless plan. Administration (831) 394-3054 Response: The City Council agrees with this finding. Planning
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
Reports that assess which goals are, or are not, being met should be generated and made publicly available. City Hall 1 Pendergrass Way Response: The City Council supports the generation of reports, made Sand City, CA available to the public, that assess which goals are, or are not, being 93955 met. There is no established timeline for this recommendation. Administration
F10
Government decision-making is essential for making choices (831) 394-6700 about resource commitments. FAX Response: The City Council agrees with this finding. (831) 394-2472
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
The new regional leadership body should produce a (831) 394-3054 transparent consolidated budget to maximize resources and identify Planning expenditures. ΑII municipalities should demonstrate their (831) 394-6700 commitment to the regional plan to end homelessness in an equitable or proportionate manner. FAX (831) 394-2472 Response: The City Council supports the commitment of all municipalities to a regional plan and that involvement in such a plan Police should be equitable and proportionate. (831) 394-1451 The City of Sand City appreciates all the work the Civil Grand Jury has FAX done in preparing this report. We hope that this information addresses (831) 394-1038 the Grand Jury's findings and recommendations. Incorporated May 31, 1960 Please contact me if you have any questions or require additional information. Sincerely, Mary an Cachone Mary Ann Carbone Mayor of the City of Sand City City Hall 1 Pendergrass Way Sand City, CA 93955 Administration (831) 394-3054 Planning (831) 394-6700 FAX (831) 394-2472 Police (831) 394-1451 FAX (831) 394-1038 Incorporated May 31, 1960
F11
To meaningfully change the course of homelessness and Police housing insecurity, there must be a regional approach to (831) 394-1451 homelessness and the creation of a new governing body with the power to oversee implementation of the plan. FAX (831) 394-1038 Response: The City Council partially agrees with this finding. Either a new governing body could be created, or the current Leadership Council Incorporated May 31, 1960 could be altered and given the power to oversee the implementation of the plan.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
The strategic plan to end homelessness serves as an informal guide rather than a definitive regional plan. It needs to be updated and fully implemented. Response: The City Council agrees with this finding.
No recommendations for this finding

* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.