Life Enrichment Committee
March 12, 2024
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor & City Council FROM: Councilmember Carroll Fife Council District 3
SUBJECT:
Homeless Intervention On 34th Street
And Mandela Parkway
DATE: February 29, 2024
RECOMMENDATION
Councilmember Fife Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Amending Resolution No. 89455 C.M.S, Which Among Other Actions, Authorized The City Administrator To Negotiate A Lease Agreement With The California Department Of Transportation (Caltrans) To Establish A New Homeless Intervention Site On Caltrans Right Of Way Parcels Located North Of 34th Street On Mandela Parkway (Property), To:
(1) Specify That Any Intervention Established On The Property Should Prioritize Unhoused Residents From The Nearby Encampments In Council District 3 And (2) Direct The City Administrator To Identify The Necessary Funds And Seek The Necessary Approvals To Establish An Intervention Comprised Of Rapid Response Transitional Shelter Units With Appropriate Facilities And Supportive Services
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Resolution No. 89455 C.M.S gave direction to the City Administrator to pursue a lease agreement with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to establish a homeless intervention site on Caltrans property located n orth of 34th Street on Mandela Parkway (Property). To date, there is no agreement between the City and Caltrans for the stated purpose.
To advance the work of creating a much -needed intervention, this resolution would amend Resolution No. 89455 C.M.S to: (1) specify that any intervention established on the property should prioritize unhoused residents from nearby encampments in Council District 3; a nd (2) direct the City Administrator to identify the necessary funds and seek the necessary approvals to establish an intervention comprised of rapid response transitional shelter units with appropriate facilities and supportive services.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
In October 2022, in response to the closure of the Wood Street encampment , the City Council adopted Resolution No. 89455 C.M.S, which directed the City Administrator to (1) expand access to the existing Beach Street homeless intervention site (Caltrans Lease Area 04-ALA-580- 38 & 39) for all vehicle types, including but not limited to, trucks and vans and identify the Honorable Mayor & City Council
Subject: Homeless Intervention on 34th Street and Mandela Parkway Date: February 29, 2024 Page 2
Life Enrichment Committee
March 12, 2024
necessary funds to service the site; and (2) negotiate a lease agreement with Caltrans to establish a new homeless intervention on Caltrans right of way located north of 34th Street on Mandela Parkway and identify the necessary funds and service providers to service the program.
The Department of Human Services recently informed the District 3 Office that initial conversations with Caltrans have taken place but have not progressed to a lease agreement.
Caltrans shared with City staff that a program plan, including identifying the intervention type and supportive services for the site has to be developed in order to move forward with a lease agreement. This Resolution provides additional direction to help in furthering this dialog and ensuring we stand up a vital intervention.
POLICY ANALYSIS
The goal and intent of this resolution is to: address the growing crisis of homelessness by adding a new safe shelter option to serve the most vulnerable members of our community; give further clarity to staff to allow them to advance lease discussions with Caltrans; and ensure effective prioritization for unhoused persons located near the Property. To this end, t he proposed legislation amends Resolution No. 89455 to specify that the intervention on the Property should consist of rapid response transitional shelter units with onsite facilities and services . Rapid response transitional shelter units can be more flexible and serve more groups, including families and if managed appropriately, can be more stable than other homeless intervention options.
Moreover, to help contribute to the safety of participating individuals and the overall effectiveness of the intervention , the resolution provides direction that any intervention established on the Property should prioritize unhoused persons from surrounding areas in District 3, which has the highest number of encampments in the City. Finally, this legislation directs and authorizes the City Administrator to identify the required funds, vendor, and service provider to establish and service the site.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed action does not entail any expenditures but instead gives direction to staff to find the requisite resources to establish a homelessness intervention as described above . Once funds are identified and an agreement is reached with Caltrans, the City Administrator would need to return to Council to receive spending and service provider authorizations.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
There was no specific public outreach conducted beyond the posting and noticing of this agenda item. However, community members, including those residing near the Property, have shared their desire to engage with the City in the creation of an effective intervention.
Honorable Mayor & City Council
Subject: Homeless Intervention on 34th Street and Mandela Parkway Date: February 29, 2024 Page 3
Life Enrichment Committee
March 12, 2024
COORDINATION
This legislation has been reviewed by the Office of the City Attorney and the Department of Human Services was consulted.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: Homelessness interventions can be expensive to operate but the long-term economic impact of managing encampments is proving to be much more challenging. The homelessness crisis has an extraordinary le vel of costs in terms of lives and finances . Getting people sheltered and creating a path toward stable housing is crucial to ending human suffering and improving the quality of life in the City.
Environmental: This Resolution does not have any direct environmental impact. However, providing a safe shelter option , as proposed, can help reduce the harmful health, safety, and environmental effects associated with waste and blight near encampments.
Race & Equity : The 2022 Point in Time Count found that 5,055 individuals in Oakland face homelessness, with Black Oaklanders disproportionately represented at nearly 70%. It is critical for the City to continue to expand shelter options, particularly in communities most impacted , with a goal and focus on transitioning individuals to permanent supportive housing.
Honorable Mayor & City Council
Subject: Homeless Intervention on 34th Street and Mandela Parkway Date: February 29, 2024 Page 4
Life Enrichment Committee
March 12, 2024
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Fife recommends that the City Council Adopt A Resolution Amending Resolution No. 89455 C.M.S, Which Among Other Actions, Authorized The City Administrator To Negotiate A Lease Agreement With The California Department Of Transportation (Caltrans) To Establish A New Homeless Intervention Site On Caltrans Right Of Way Parcels Located North Of 34th Street On Mandela Parkway (Property), To: (1) Specify That Any Intervention Established On The Property Should Prioritize Unhoused Residents From The Nearby Encampments In Council District 3 And (2) Direct The City Administrator To Identify The Necessary Funds And Seek The Necessary Approvals To Establish An Intervention Comprised Of Rapid Response Transitional Shelter Units With Appropriate Facilities And Supportive Services
For questions regarding this report, please contact Rediat Bayeh, Policy Director for Councilmember Fife, at [email protected].
Respectfully submitted,
Councilmember Carroll Fife
District 3