Homelessness Response UpdateJanuary 23, 2023
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FY 2021-23 Major City Goals
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Economic Development
Housing and Homelessness
Public Safety
Street Improvements
Housing and Homelessness Goal
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Housing and Homelessness. Update City codes and standards to encourage housing construction to meet diverse needs; collaborate with developers and non-profits in efforts to increase overall housing stock with a priority on affordable housing availability; and partner with regional agencies and organizations to address homelessness and related sheltering issues in the city and region.
Topics to Cover
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Recent Actions by the City and Partner Agencies
Draft Ordinance on Camping on Public and Private Property Potential Allowed Areas for Camping
Cabins for Change Housing Facility
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Temporary 20-unit temporary emergency housing site now operating 2/3 occupied with full occupancy late Jan.
Reservation-based temporary housing rather than drop-in shelter 24/7 management and security with case management and client support First use of small cabins as shelter site in the county
Barca Street Housing Facility
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5CHC now focusing on development of homeless housing facility on City-owned property at 955 South 4th Street Long-term lease with 5CHC approved in June 2022 with plan for additional non-congregate temporary housing 5CHC seeking grant funds to construct and operate project Goal of facility opening by early 2024 for additional shelter space
Encampment Access Limitations to OpenSpace Area
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Approximately 20 homeless individuals camping within city jurisdiction in El Camino Real (ECR) area “No parking” signs installed on ECR along with fencing on private property at 950 ECR Homeless individuals have moved closer to residences on Margarita Avenue leading to more service calls Increased in open space access at Margarita Avenue/Charles Street
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Draft Camping Ordinance
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Council directed staff on November 14 to consider following options in drafting a camping ordinance:
Prohibiting camping in certain locations such as El Camino Real area while designating defined permitted camping areas on public property or vacant property that could be purchased for this purpose Establishing limited camping hours at certain locations and requiring belongings to be removed outside of the hours Restricting belongings and supplies allowed when sleeping in public spaces to tents, blankets, pillows and sleeping bags to help enforce additional case law through Johnson v. Grants Pass, 50 F.4th 787 (2022) decision.
Staff aimed to bring discussion to Council on February 14 but advanced timing given importance of ordinance timing
Draft Camping Ordinance
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Goal of establishing legally-defensible approach to regulating camping on public and private property given lack of sufficient space Chapter 14 sets forth findings and purpose of the City’s homelessness response policy Chapter 14.1 regulates use of any vehicles for human habitation on public property including the use of vehicles or tent camps on private property Chapter 14.2 regulates camping on public rights-of-way and City property
Ordinance Chapter 14.1
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Prohibits use of any vehicle for human habitation on public property between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Prohibits use of any vehicle for human habitation within 500 feet of a residence or school Does not prohibit use of a vehicle for habitation on a public street if authorized by City Manager pursuant to established rules and regulations Allows for a permit to park recreational vehicles temporarily overnight on the street by a resident Allows for temporary parking of vehicles and camping on private property with regulations
Ordinance Chapter 14.2
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Prohibits camping on City property unless authorized by the City Manager who can designate allowed areas on City property where camping can occur Camping in allowed areas on City property may only occur for 24 hours at a time after which relocation at least 600 feet away required within 72 hours Campsites must be 1,000 feet from any homeless facility or shelter and 500 feet from any residence, business, school, child care facility, or other sensitive uses Campsites may not obstruct City rights-of-way, are limited to only 144 square feet in size, and must be at least 150 feet apart No structures or equipment may be used other than tents No open flames, recreational fires, or burning of garbage allowed Violations of ordinance may be cited with criminal or administrative citation with continued violations may be grounds for closing campsite with 72 hours of notice
Potential Allowed Areas for Camping
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Overall premises:
Insufficient shelter space makes City’s existing camping prohibition unenforceable Policy interest in prohibiting camping on certain public property requiring camping be allowed on other public property Draft ordinance provides substantial limitations and restrictions that are more enforceable City Manager has authority to determine where camping could be allowed on public property but seeking Council input and direction
Potential Allowed Areas for Camping
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Option 1: All public properties in city
Option 2: Only in open space areas and parks
Option 3: Only in open space areas or parks
Option 4: Only in parking lots, basins, sidewalks, or vacant property Option 5: Only on vacant property
Potential Allowed Areas for Camping
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Option 1: All public property in city
Formalization of what can currently occur given lack of shelter space Camping would be allowed on all City-owned public property Blanket allowance could lead to increase in camping and not consistent with direction of limiting location Option 2: Only in open space areas and parks
Camping would be allowed in ECR open space area and all City parks Prohibited on other public property
Option would be impactful to residents throughout community
Potential Allowed Areas for Camping
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Option 3: Only in open space areas or parks
Two-pronged option that would allow camping in only the ECR open space or in all or designated parks ECR open space is large and passive area with most camping access but significant neighborhood and environmental impacts Parks offer land and restrooms but there would be significant neighborhood impacts Allowed areas could be in a portion of the ECR open space or parks Option 4: Only in parking lots, basins, sidewalk, or vacant property Would enable City to prohibit camping in all open space areas and parks Could lead to increase in homeless activity and camping along West Grand Avenue Right-of-way access concerns with sidewalk usage
Potential Allowed Areas for Camping
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Option 5: Only on vacant property
Would enable City to prohibit camping on all public property except defined City-owned vacant property South 4th Street parcel is example though the site is intended for housing facility and would need 5CHC approval given lease City could also purchase vacant land for this purpose
Site would have limited supervision but would not have structured housing or service component but just space for tents Could be akin to County’s “safe parking” area on Oklahoma Avenue and impact nearby residences and businesses
Summary
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Staff seeking Council direction on draft camping ordinance and identification of potential allowed areas for camping Pending such direction, staff would continue to work on ordinance and related policy on allowed areas Proposed timing is ordinance introduction in February and public hearing and adoption in March
Homelessness Response Update
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Questions or Comments
Legal Requirements
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Martin v. Boise case law prohibits enforcement of camping prohibitions in public spaces if no designated indoor shelter space or public space for homeless individuals in a community City does not currently have shelter space or designated specific public space for homeless individuals to go Cabins project provides first shelter space in South County but does not have enough space to meet Boise threshold Cabins are fully reserved though nobody from El Camino Real encampment area yet has expressed interest
Temporary Emergency Shelter
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Most Important Issue Facing Grover Beach from Community Survey (November 2021) GROVERBEACH.ORG
Most Cited Activity to Address Homelessness in Community Survey (November 2021) GROVERBEACH.ORG
Overall Approach
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Overarching goals with addressing homelessness:
Demonstrate compassion with enabling unhoused individuals to obtain needed services and housing Ensure order with maintenance and cleanliness of public spaces Homelessness is much larger issue than traditional role of cities and is a regional issue every community is facing Renewed focus by County with new homelessness plan with goal of reducing homeless population by 50% in five years Access to housing critical yet very difficult given low housing supply with increasing demand for housing assistance
Summary of Previous City Actions
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Secured over $1.5M in CDBG funds administered by 5Cities Homeless Coalition (5CHC) for homeless prevention, warming center, and other needs Supported 5CHC on 20-unit temporary emergency housing on County property at 1523 Long Branch Avenue Purchased vacant property at 955 South 4th Street for homeless housing facility developed and managed by 5CHC Conducted multiple trash removal actions in El Camino Real and Ramona Park encampment areas and removed gazebo at the park
Winter Warming Center and Homeless Prevention Efforts
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Six different facilities have served as South County winter warming center since 2016 Warming center at South County Regional Center this winter run by 5CHC with funds from various agencies 5CHC homeless prevention assistance program includes eviction prevention and rapid rehousing Exponential increase in requests with 30 weekly requests now compared with 5-10 this summer $250,000 in homeless prevention assistance provided since July Nearly 5,000 calls for assistance and 2,000 office visits to 5CHC since January