Agenda Item A.4
CPMS PRESENTATION
Meeting Date: June 6, 2023
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
FROM: Jaime A. Valdez, Neighborhood Services Director
CONTACT: Chuck Flacks, Homelessness Services Coordinator SUBJECT: County Presentation on 2023 Point -in-Time Count and SB ACT Presentation on COVID-19 Impact on People Experiencing Homelessness RECOMMENDATION:
A. Receive a presentation by the County of Santa Barbara’s Community Services Department on the 2023 Point-In-Time Count; and
B. Receive a presentation from Santa Barbara Alliance for Community Transformation entitled “COVID-19 Impact on People Experiencing Homelessness in Santa Barbara:
A Community-Based Study.”
BACKGROUND:
2023 Point-in-Time Count Results – Santa Barbara County Community Services Department
During the last ten days of January, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities across the country to conduct comprehensive counts of the local population experiencing homelessness. These Point-in-Time (PIT) Counts measure the prevalence of homelessness in each community and collect information about individuals and families residing in emergency shelters and transitional housing, as well as about people sleeping on the stre ets, in vehicles, abandoned properties, or other places not meant for human habitation on a given night. The PIT Count is a single piece of a larger puzzle. The information gathered is informative but should be considered within the context of all of the d ata available within our community, including: The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), data gathered from individual service providers, Fulcrum mapping software, the Coordinated Entry System (CES), among others. Staff from Santa Barbara County’s Community Services Department will be presenting the 2023 results (Attachment 1).
1 Meeting Date: June 6, 2023
Homelessness Research Project – SBACT
The Cottage Center for Population Health, in partnership with Santa Barbara Alliance for Community Transformation (SB ACT) and Verti calChange, a data technology provider, conducted a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study which examined the challenges and opportunities faced by people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Santa Barbara County . The study used Photovoice (PV), a community based participatory research methodology, to collect data among individuals experiencing homelessness in South Santa Barbara County . PV uses photography to understand a phenomenon from the perspectives of indiv iduals most affected. These individuals are referred to as “co -researchers” rather than “participants” due to their involvement at each stage of the research process. Staff from SB ACT will be presenting results from the research project (Attachment 2).
DISCUSSION:
The Point-in-Time Count data gives a snapshot of life on the streets in Goleta and the Santa Barbara region. The SB ACT project allowed homeless people to capture their own experience through the lenses of cameras during the COVID -19 pandemic. The presentations provide a glimpse into how homelessness is experienced in Santa Barbara County.
Reviewed By: Approved By:
___________________ ___________________
Kristy Schmidt Robert Nisbet
Assistant City Manager City Manager
ATTACHMENT:
1. County of Santa Barbara 2023 Point-in-Time Count Presentation
2. SB ACT Homelessness Research Project Presentation
2 Attachment 1
County of Santa Barbara 2023 Point-in-Time Count Presentation 3 Community Action
Plan to Address
Homelessness
Adopted by The Goleta City Council
PROGRESS REPORT: 18 MONTHS
4 2
5 3
Private-Public Partnerships on County/ City Owned
and Use By Right sites:
• Hope Village - Intersection of Centerpointe and Southpoint Parkways in Santa Maria (DignityMoves)
• La Posada - 4500 Hollister Ave. in unincorporated area between Goleta and Santa Barbara (DignityMoves)
• Bridge House Expansion 2025 Sweeney Rd. in Lompoc
Valley (Good Samaritan)
• Calle Real campus in unincorporated area between Goleta and Santa Barbara
• Future St Vincent’s – Father Virgil Cordano Center Site Ending Unsheltered Homelessness
through Interim Housing
6 4
Lompoc – 6 Beds
Single Family Home
Santa Barbara - DignityMoves
33 units
Isla Vista –
up to 50 beds
Lompoc – Rainbow Village
up to 40 beds (20 units)
Hedges House of Hope
Santa Barbara – 3rd Floor
Hospitality House
up to 24 beds (12 rooms)
Interim Housing is inclusive of emergency shelter, low-barrier navigation centers, transitional housing and/or bridge housing beds.
Services generally include meals,
transportation, security, case
management, housing navigation,
public health and behavioral
health services, and links to
substance use disorder treatment
services, with the objectives of
transitioning residents to
permanent housing.
Santa Barbara re-established
at PATH (12 Beds)
7 Santa Barbara County
Housing Inventory
Chart and Point in
Time Count
2023
Santa Maria/Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care
8 6
2023 Housing Inventory Chart
Interim housing includes emergency shelter and transitional housing.
Data Notes:
• Increase of 46% in
the number of
beds since 2020.
815
769 810
674
766 855
213 127 103
280 355
285
890
962 984
1278
1649
1627
0 200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Interim Housing Rapid ReHousing Permanent Supportive/Other Permanent Housing 9 Housing
Authorities
Voucher
Distribution
Map
7 North County:
29% of formerly
homeless
voucher-holders
Mid County:
24% of formerly
homeless
voucher-holders
South County:
46% of formerly
homeless
voucher-holders
Zip
Code Region Total
93427 Mid 2
93436 Mid 217
93440 Mid 12
93460 Mid 18
93463 Mid 4
96436 Mid 1
93254 North 2
93434 North 24
93454 North 116
93455 North 38
93458 North 129
93013 South 28
93067 South 3
93101 South 203
93103 South 38
93105 South 49
93108 South 3
93109 South 5
93110 South 32
93111 South 23
93117 South 102
(Homeless at application)
10 Who is Counted in the Point in Time Count ?
Included
• Makeshift shelters
• Streets
• Vehicles
• Parks
• Abandoned buildings
• Bus or train stations
• Airports
• Camping grounds
NOT Included
• Couch surfers
• Double-ups
• Rehabilitation or
mental health facilities
• Most in jail or prisons
• Awaiting eviction or
foreclosure
• Hospitalized
The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a strict definition of homelessness which dictates who can and can not be counted in the Point in Time Count.
11 9
2023 Point in Time Count: Key Observations
• 3.7% decrease
• 12% decrease in the numbers of persons living unsheltered. • 15% increase in the number of persons sheltered.
• Races over represented in comparison to the general
population:
• Black, African American or African persons
• American Indian, Indigenous persons
• Families of Hispanic ethnicity are also over
represented in comparison to the general
population.
12 10
2023 Point in Time Count: Key Observations
• Sub-p opulations identified in the System
Level goals of the Community Action
Plan:
• Veterans counted decreased 30%.
• Families (households with minor children)
counted increased 47%.
• Unsheltered youth increased by 1, remaining
essentially consistent.
Are you experiencing
homelessness as a
direct result of impacts
of COVID-19 (sickness
loss of income due to
closures etc.)?
15.57% - YES
13 11
1223 1367 1202
674 595 685
0 500
1000
1500
2000
2020 2022 2023
Unsheltered Sheltered
1,897 1,8871,962
Total Persons Counted
Experiencing Homelessness
14 100
200
300
400
500
600
700
2020 2022 2023
Chronic Homelessness*
620
565
618
* Has been homeless for at least 12 months and has a disability as defined in section 401(9) of the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360(9)). 15 16
Santa Barbara County Point in Time Count 2023 14
A majority of individual survey
respondents, 64%, identified as Non-
Hispanic, while 36% of individuals
identified as Hispanic.
A notable discrepancy is the over
representation of Hispanic families .
21% of families in Santa Barbara county
responded non-Hispanic, while 79% of
families experiencing homelessness
responded as Hispanic.
79%
21%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Hispanic Non-Hispanic
36%
64%
0%
18%
35%
53%
70%
Hispanic Non-Hispanic
Families Individuals
Ethnicity
17 15
78%
2%
6%
1% 1%
14%
83%
7%
1% 4% 1% 4%
White Black Asian American
Indian/
Indigenous
Native
Hawaiian/
Pacific Islander
Multiple Races
All Population of Santa Barbara County
Those Experiencing Homelessness in Santa Barbara County Race
18 16
Count by Area
City/Area 2023
Total
2022
Total
2020
Total
Carpinteria 23 21 39
Goleta 136 92 166
Santa Barbara 787 822 914
Isla Vista 88 112 69
Lompoc 158 215 142
Buellton/Solvang/Santa
Ynez Valley 20 12 2
Santa Maria 472 457 382
Guadalupe 8 2 3
Unincorporated North* 122 154 119
Unincorporated South 73 76 61
Totals 1,887 1,962 1,897
*Includes Bridgehouse Shelter
19 17
2023 Persons and Vehicles
2022 Persons and Vehicles
20 18
2022 Vehicles
2023 Vehicles
21 Sheltered and Unsheltered by City/Area
7 375
39 102 16223
129
412
49 131
20 310
8 120
0 100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Unsheltered
Sheltered
136
787
88 233
472
22 Persons Living in Vehicles by City/Area
12 42
275
67 84 11 87
1 7810
100
206
28 72
10 99
8 78
2022 2023
23 Questions and Discussion
Contact Information:
Kimberlee Albers
Homelessness Assistance Program Manager
County of Santa Barbara
[email protected]
24 Attachment 2
SB ACT Homelessness Research Project Presentation
25 COVID-19 Impact
on People Experiencing Homelessness
in Santa Barbara:
A Community-Based Study
26 Overview
• About the Study
• How We Collected Data
• What Was Learned
• Discussion
27 Photographs and Subject Material Warning
• The pictures that you see throughout this presentation were taken by the co-researchers
as part of the study.
• SUBJECT MATERIAL WARNING: The content of this presentation may be emotionally challenging due to the nature of what is being discussed. • If you need additional information or resources, please email Landon at [email protected]
28 A B O U T T H E S T U DY
A B O U T T H E S T U DY
29 COVID-19 Impact on People Experiencing Homelessness in Santa Barbara: A Community-Based Study
Research Question
What challenges and opportunities
did people experiencing
homelessness
face during the
COVID-19 pandemic in south Santa
Barbara County?
30 • Photovoice uses photography to
understand a phen
omenon
• Captured from the perspectives of
individuals most affected
• Individuals are referred to as co-
researchers
COVID-19 Impact on People Experiencing Homelessness:
PhotoVoice
31 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N
D ATA C O L L E C T I O N
32 • Partnership with SB ACT, Vertical
Change, and Cottage Health
• May 24 - August 12, 2021
• Focus groups:
13 group discussions
1-on-1 discussions
Focus Groups: Data Collection
33 Focus Groups: Data Collection
• Data collected from three different homelessness communities:
Sheltered (non-congregate shelter, congregate shelter, and recently housed)
Unsheltered
(parks, streets, and/or encampments)
Vehicular
34 Focus Groups: Encounters
Encounter 1
Research Team:
• Distributes disposable
camera
• Trains co-researcher in
Photovoice
Encounter 2
Research Team:
• Picks up co-researcher
camera for development
• Reviews photos
- Mandated re
porter
reviews photos
depicting illegal or
illicit activities
Encounter 3
Research Team:
• Conducts co-researcher
focus groups
• Discussions focused on
meaning beh
ind photos
• SHOWeD technique
used to facilitate
discussions
35 Focus Groups:
Sample
Demographics
n=38 Percent Sample
Sex
Male 26 68.4%
Female 12 31.6%
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 36 94.7%
Hispanic/Latino 2 5.3%
Race
American Indian or Alaska Native 3 7.9%
Asian 2 5.3%
Black
or African American 8 21.1%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 3 7.9%
White 29 76.3%
36 8
7 11
10 8
0 2
4 6
8 10
12 Non-Congregate
Shelter (e.g.,
motel, pallet
shelter)
Sheltered (e.g.,
PATH, Rescue
Mission)
Unsheltered (e.g.,
parks, street)
Vehicle Current or Former
Cottage
Recuperative Care
Program Patient
Current Living Arrangement
37 W H AT W E L E A R N E D
W H AT W E L E A R N E D
38 Focus Groups: Findings
Finding 1: Changes in resource
availability
drastically impacted co-
researchers’ access to basic needs
Finding 2: Co-researchers stated that
perceptions o
f homelessness were
more negative during the pandemic,
and they felt a general sense of
disconnection from the rest of the
community
39 Focus Groups: Findings
Finding 3: Co-researchers
navigated both challenges
and opportunities
Finding 4: Co-researchers
provided recommendations
for change
40 Finding 1: Basic Needs Impacted
Changes in resource availability
drastically impacted co-researchers’
access to basic needs
…before the pandemic, I used to go to the
library daily to charge my stuff, read, and
then when that shut down, initially it was
supposed to be just a coupl
e of weeks and
then it turned into, you know, 15 months.
So that that kind of drastically changed
my daily routine and then the routine of a
lot of people not being able to go there…
-- Co-Researcher
41 Finding 1: Basic Needs Impacted
Changes in resource availability drastically
impacted co-researchers’ access to basic
needs
….probably the biggest hurdle that came up
with electricity was that the library had to be
shut, and the library was literally the main
place that everybody who doesn't have access
to electricity or to electronics because peop
le
can't get jobs if they can't do applications.
The iPads and the phones will not process
applications. You have to have a regular
computer. And the only place that we had any
access to that was library.
-- Co-Researcher
42 Finding 2: Negative Perceptions of Homelessness
Perceptions of homelessness were more
negative during the pandemic
…we get to the motel and I’m so grateful
for the motel. And I say, oh yeah, a poo
l,
I'm supposed to swim for my hip and
back. .
Oh, 'that's not for you people.' ... you
know, they don't understand how those
things hurt. And I know they don't mean
to say that. They just can't see it from our
point of view, there's no way you can
unless you're there. -- Co-Researcher
43 Finding 2: Sense of Disconnection
Co-researchers felt a general sense of
disconnection
During the pandemic, it was more or
less like an isolation type thing. Being
segregated and being homeless, and
people were so scared of
contacting
COVID-19 that they were actually just
distancing, not giving money and not
helping, not giving you any food or
anything like that…. -- Co-Researcher
44 Finding 3: Navigating Challenges
Co-researchers navigated challenges
during the pandemic
I had to do laundry, like in buckets. I
couldn't even take it to the laundro
mat,
you know, so even that was difficult to
do, especially on the street. I didn't have
a place to do it.
But luckily, I had my friend here, who let
me use his water, and I hung my clothes
out on the fence. So, I was able to have
clean clothes again. -- Co-Researcher
45 Finding 3: Navigating Opportunities
Co-researchers navigated opportunities
during the pandemic
…there’s nobody in this park probably due
to the pandemic, not sure . But it was
a
safe place to hang out at. I didn’t have to
worry about anybody coming by me or,
you know, I could sit at the table and do
my thing and not worry about catching
the pandemic COVID because there’s no
one around me. So, I felt very safe here
and relaxed… -- Co-Researcher
46 Finding 4: Recommendations for Change
Co-researchers provided
recommendations for change
…Water is life. Having free access to it
is really important. I think that we
should have more access to free
water
and infrastructure of water and
communication
…sanitation should be open like 24/7,
365, you know, and that would help
keep us cleaner and safer across the
board. -- Co-Researcher
47 Co-researchers provided recommendations for
change
I think as a community, we can just, we can learn
that, you know, hey, we all know how scary this
whole thing has been. This has freaked
out
everybody. It’s affected everybody.
We get that. We get that. But people it always—
always we need to pay attention to the people on
the fringes of society. Always, but especially
during these times. -- Co-Researcher
Finding 4: Recommendations for Change
48 R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S
R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S
49 Co-researcher Recommendations
Co-researchers shared several
broad recommendations to
effectively help and advocate for
individuals experiencing
homelessness during the COVID-19
pandemic and future crises
50 Co-researcher Recommendations
Recommendation 1:
Need for uninterrupted access to
resources
Co-researchers identified the need for
continuous, uninterru
pted access to
basic resources and resource hubs
51 Co-researcher Recommendations
Recommendation 2:
Impact of messaging on those
experiencing homelessness in times of
crisis
Co-researchers suggested a need for
positive messaging about thos
e
experiencing homelessness during
crisis situations
52 Co-researcher Recommendations
Recommendation 3:
Potential exists in community
relationships
Co-researchers discussed the need for
opportunities to develop
positive
relationships with law enforcement and
elected officials to address stigma in
decision-making during times of crisis
53 Co-researcher Recommendations
Recommendation 4:
Importance of maintaining opportunities
resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic
Co-researchers experienced some
benefits from changes
and opportunities
that arose during the pandemic and
recommended carrying forward these
opportunities in the future
54 Co-researcher Recommendations
Recommendation 5:
Seek input from those with lived
experience
Co-researchers invited community
leaders and policy
makers to seek input
from individuals with lived experience
of homelessness before making
decisions
55 Co-researcher Recommendations
“Make them more aware that there are
people that are suffering. Bring to light that,
hey, this is a person that needs help, and if
you can't see that because of whatever
reason, your own judgment or belief…they
can be helped…And all they need is, I always
say, “a hand up and a boot down.” And
seems like most people just want to be
listened to. They want to be heard.”
– Co-researcher
56 Upcoming Events
May 2023
SB Public Library
Display case with co-
research photographs
April 2023
Community sharing with
service providers and
decision makers
May 9, 2023
SB Public Library Event
“Meeting Folks Where
They’re At”
Photo exhibit and panel
discussion
6 pm to 7:30 pm
57 Acknowledgements
• Julia Petras, MSPH, BSN, RN
• Cottage Center for Population Health funding
• Cottage Health Research Institute grant
• Research volunteers
• Service agencies, shelters, and the safe parking program 58 Full Report
• Impact of COVID-19 on People Experiencing Homelessness • https://www.cottagehealth.org/population-health/initiatives/research- impact-covid-19-homelessness/
59 Discussion
• What are your thoughts
about the findings?
• Did any of the findings
surprise yo
u?
60