CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
CITY COUNCIL MEETING – COUNCIL MEMBER ITEMS REPORT
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: NATALIE MOSER, COUNCIL MEMBER
DATE: NOVEMBER 21, 2023
SUBJECT: ADDRESSING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY
Issue Statement
In alignment with our updated Strategic Plan, where addressing homelessness is a primary goal, I bring forth a pressing issue that demands our immediate attention and action: Veteran Homelessness. Our commitment to a continuum of care that not only reduces homelessness but also maintains the quality of life for our entire community is crucial. We have made significant strides in establishing and improving this continuum over the years, developing a more connected system of care to decrease homelessness in our community.
The importance of addressing Veteran Homelessness was highlighted during the recent Veteran’s Day ceremony by Lt. Colonel Hendrickson. He poignantly addressed concerns about this issue within our community, emphasizing, “
That’s not right.” His words resonate with the values of our city and the need to ensure we are taking action.
To address this, I propose a collaborative study session to thoroughly review the current state of Veteran homelessness in our city. This session would include:
• Examination of Data: Reviewing the most recent counts and anecdotal evidence of Veteran homelessness.
• Insights from Social Services: Gathering anecdotal stories from our Social Services team members. • Engagement with Support Entities: Discussing the role and contributions of supportive services, including our Veterans Resource Center.
• Resource Assessment: Evaluating housing resources for Veterans and available support from Federal, State, and County agencies.
• Identifying Opportunities and Gaps: Discussing potential improvements and gaps within our current system.
• Frontline Feedback: Soliciting ideas and insights from those directly involved in these efforts.
My recommendation is to initially focus on ensuring we have access to and are connecting unhoused veterans with applicable resources, and how we, as a City Council, can advocate for their needs. This approach to addressing Veteran homelessness aligns with our broader goal of reducing homelessness and can serve as a model for addressing homelessness across other populations.
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
CITY COUNCIL MEETING – COUNCIL MEMBER ITEMS REPORT
Recommended Actions:
Request the City Manager and staff to present the following information at a study session in the first quarter of 2024:
• Schedule and conduct a collaborative study session focused on Veteran homelessness. • Develop a targeted action plan based on the findings of the study session to address gaps and opportunities related to Veteran homelessness.
• Engage with local, state, and federal agencies to maximize resources and support for this initiative. • Regularly review and adjust the strategy to ensure continued progress and effectiveness.
Environmental Status:
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 4 - Homelessness, Strategy A - Explore options to collaborate with faith and community-based organizations, the City's HB Cares Volunteer program, CalOptima, and others to provide social services in a cost-effective manner.
For details, visit www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan.