City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2023-01397 1/23/2024 Consent Item 2.
Continuation of a Local Declaration of a Shelter Crisis File ID: 2023-01397
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution: 1) making the findings necessary for declaration of a Shelter Crisis; 2) declaring a continuing Shelter Crisis, pursuant to Government Code sections 8698 et seq. through February 1, 2025; 3) directing the City Manager to submit an annual report required by California Government Code section 8698.4 to the State Legislature.
Contact: Ya-yin Isle, City Housing Manager, (916) 808-1869, [email protected]; Axel Magallanes, Housing Analyst, (916) 808-1844, [email protected], Office of Innovation and Economic Development
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The crisis of unsheltered homelessness is one that impacts an entire community, including those experiencing homelessness, housed residents, businesses, and neighborhoods.
Over the past several years, the City has made significant investments to increase access to and availability of shelter, services and permanent housing for people and families experiencing homelessness. Despite these efforts, homelessness and its impacts continue to rise:
· According to the report of the 2022 Point-in-Time Count for the County of Sacramento, on a single night in February 2022, approximately 9,278 persons were experiencing homelessness in the County. Approximately 6,664 of those persons were unsheltered. Within the City of Sacramento alone, approximately 5,038 persons were experiencing unsheltered homelessness. This population includes veterans, women, children, persons with disabilities, seniors, and other vulnerable groups.
File ID: 2023-01397 1/23/2024 Consent Item 2.
· The report of the 2022 Point-in-Time Count indicates a 67% rise in homelessness in the County of Sacramento since the 2019 Point-in-Time Count. This is the case despite a 57% increase in the shelter capacity of the Sacramento homeless service system during that same period. The increase in homelessness can be attributed to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as struggles with disabilities and chronic health conditions. The rise also reflects the continued challenges with housing affordability. Housing prices and rental rates continue to increase based on the scarcity of available housing. · Of those unable to obtain shelter, approximately 30% sleep in tents, 19% sleep in vehicles, and 22% sleep in other locations such as bridges, abandoned buildings, or in City warming centers. These individuals lack adequate sanitary facilities and are vulnerable to theft, crime, and extreme weather. These conditions threaten the physical and mental health of those experiencing homelessness. They also present a threat to the public health and well-being of the community.
· The next Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) count will be conducted on January 24 and 25, 2024.
In addition to the rise in homelessness, Sacramento is experiencing a housing emergency.
Residential rents are climbing, and many citizens face the threat of homelessness due to lack of access to affordable housing. Studies have shown that average rental prices and vacancy rates are the strongest predictors of homelessness in a community. Between the time of the 2019 and 2022 PIT, one-bedroom rents in Sacramento increased by 31%, and rental vacancy rates declined 27%.
The City is working hard to address the homelessness crisis and has made significant strides in improving the homeless response system including:
· Approving the Sacramento Local Homeless Action Plan, a regional plan that coordinates the local response to homelessness in June of 2022. The City is currently working in partnership with the County of Sacramento and the Sacramento City and County Continuum of Care on the next iteration of a regional plan.
· Entering into a partnership agreement with the County of Sacramento to increase efficiency by sharing information and training, to establish joint encampment engagement teams, to increase the number of shelter spaces, and to coordinate the delivery of services directly to individuals experiencing homelessness.
· Creation of the Incident Management Team in 2023 which focuses inter-departmental resources to address encampments. The team includes representatives from the Department of Community Response, the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento Fire Department, Code Enforcement, Public Works, and Animal Care.
File ID: 2023-01397 1/23/2024 Consent Item 2.
· Allocating funding to operate more than 1,250 shelter spaces each night for community members experiencing homelessness. This number includes the Meadowview Navigation Center, the X Street Navigation Center, North 5th Street Navigation Center, the City Motel Program, several transitional-aged youth specific shelters, safe ground sites, and more. · The City recently opened a shelter-and-service campus on Roseville Road in north Sacramento. The new campus will have the capacity to house up to 240 people experiencing homelessness in sleeping cabins and trailers.
Despite these efforts, there is insufficient capacity to shelter and house everyone experiencing homelessness in Sacramento. Homeless encampments are increasing across the city within public rights of way, exposing individuals experiencing homelessness to traffic hazards, crime and victimization, risk of death and injury, lack of adequate sanitation and debris services, and other conditions that are detrimental to each person’s health and safety.
Evidence demonstrates that providing low-barrier access to decent, safe, and stable housing and shelter combined with crucial support services in line with “housing first” principles is the most effective and efficient way to help end homelessness, while respecting client choice and autonomy.
Studies have also demonstrated how housing is the first step towards improved individual physical and emotional health, as well as reconnection with the community.
California Government Code Section 8698, et seq., allows the governing body of a city to declare a shelter crisis when a significant number of persons are without the ability to obtain shelter resulting in a threat to their health and safety.
Upon the declaration of a shelter crisis, State law protects the city with statutory immunities in the provision of emergency housing, provides regulatory flexibility to expedite the construction of shelters, and enables the city to allow persons unable to obtain housing to occupy designated public facilities. Despite the City’s progress, strict compliance with the provisions of state and local regulatory statutes, regulations, and ordinances prescribing standards of housing, health, safety, and environmental impact assessment may prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of the shelter crisis.
Policy Considerations: The City Council first adopted a resolution declaring a shelter crisis in the City of Sacramento on November 8, 2018. (Resolution No. 2018-0436.) That resolution declared a shelter crisis for the period between December 1, 2018 and March 1, 2019. Since then, the City has declared a shelter crisis four more times. The last time, on January 24, 2023, the City Council declared a shelter crisis that is currently in effect and expires on February 1, 2024. (Resolution No. 2022-0017.)
File ID: 2023-01397 1/23/2024 Consent Item 2.
The recommended action extends this declaration for an additional year and will facilitate provision of faster and expanded shelter and service approaches through February 1, 2025.
Economic Impacts: Not Applicable.
Environmental Considerations: This declaration is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15061(b)(3) (it can be seen with certainty that no significant effect on the environmental would occur) and 15269(c) (relating to specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency), and California Government Code sections 8698.4(a)(4) (actions taken by a local agency to lease, convey, or encumber land owned by a city, county, or city and county, or to facilitate the lease, conveyance, or encumbrance of land owned by the local government for, or to provide financial assistance to, a homeless shelter constructed or allowed by the Shelter Crisis Law) and 65660(b) (low barrier navigation centers).
Sustainability: Not Applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: Not Applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: Homelessness is one of the biggest issues facing the City, and the City Council has made significant investments over the past years to increase services, shelter capacity and housing supports for people experiencing homelessness. Despite these efforts, homelessness is on the rise, and is affecting communities throughout the City of Sacramento.
Declaring a shelter crisis will enable the City to shelter people experiencing homelessness more quickly in designated public facilities and suspend certain housing, health, and safety standards, the strict compliance with which may prevent, hinder, or delay using those facilities for shelter.
Financial Considerations: No funds are being requested as a part of this report. However, the recommended declaration may help facilitate receipt of public and private funds to alleviate homelessness.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not Applicable.
«{select('select RTF from Events where Events = ^'+EventsQuery.Events+'^ ')}» RESOLUTION NO.
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
DECLARING A SHELTER CRISIS IN THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO
BACKGROUND
A. According to the report of the 2022 Point-in-Time Count for the County of Sacramento, on a single night in February 2022, approximately 9,278 persons were experiencing homelessness in the County. Approximately 6,664 of those persons were unsheltered. Within the City of Sacramento alone, approximately 5,038 persons were experiencing unsheltered homelessness. This population includes veterans, women, children, persons with disabilities, seniors, and other vulnerable groups.
B. The report of the 2022 Point-in-Time Count indicates a 67% rise in homelessness in the County of Sacramento since the 2019 Point-in-Time Count. This is the case despite a 57% increase in the shelter capacity of the Sacramento homeless service system during that same period. The increase in homelessness can be attributed to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as struggles with disabilities and chronic health conditions. The rise also reflects the continued challenges with housing affordability. Housing prices and rental rates continue to increase based on the scarcity of available housing. The next Point-in-Time County will be conducted on January 24-25, 2024.
C. Of those unable to obtain shelter, approximately 30% sleep in tents, 19% sleep in vehicles, and 22% sleep in other locations, such as under bridges, in abandoned buildings, or in city warming centers.
D. These individuals lack adequate sanitary facilities and are vulnerable to theft, crime, and extreme weather. These conditions threaten the physical and mental health of those experiencing homelessness. They also present a threat to the public health and well-being of the community.
E. The City Council is working hard to address this crisis. In June of 2022, the City Council approved the Sacramento Local Homeless Action Plan—a regional plan that coordinates the local response to homelessness. (Reso. No. 2022-0211.) In December of 2022, the City also entered into a partnership agreement with the County of Sacramento to increase efficiency by sharing information and training, to establish joint encampment engagement teams, to increase the number of shelter spaces, and to coordinate the delivery of services directly to where individuals are currently residing. The City is currently working in partnership with the County of
«{select('select RTF from Events where Events = ^'+EventsQuery.Events+'^ ')}» Sacramento and the Sacramento City and County Continuum of Care on the next iteration of a regional homelessness plan.
F. In 2023, the City created the Incident Management Team which focuses inter- departmental resources to address encampments. The team includes representatives from the Department of Community Response, the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento Fire Department, Code Enforcement, Public Works, and Animal Care.
G. The City also funds and operates more than 1,250 shelter spaces every night for people experiencing homelessness. This includes the Meadowview Navigation Center, the X Street Navigation Center, the North 5th Street Navigation Center, the City Motel Program, several transitional-aged youth specific shelters and programs, safe ground sites, and more.
H. Despite the City’s progress, strict compliance with the provisions of state and local regulatory statutes, regulations, and ordinances prescribing standards of housing, health, safety, and environmental impact assessment may prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of the shelter crisis.
I. When a significant number of persons within the city of Sacramento are without the ability to obtain shelter and the situation has resulted in a threat to the health and safety of those persons, the City Council is authorized to declare a shelter crisis. (Cal.
Gov. Code § 8698.2.)
J. Upon the declaration of a shelter crisis, State law protects the city with statutory immunities in the provision of emergency housing, provides regulatory flexibility to expedite the construction of homeless shelters, including safe parking lots, and enables the city to allow persons unable to obtain housing to occupy designated public facilities. (Cal. Gov. Code §§ 8698.1-8698.4.)
K. If the city declares a shelter crisis, the city is required to submit an annual report to the Senate Committee on Housing and the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development by January 1 of each year. (Cal. Gov. Code § 8698.4.)
L. The City Council first adopted a resolution declaring a shelter crisis in the City of Sacramento on November 8, 2018. (Resolution No. 2018-0436.) That resolution declared a shelter crisis for the period between December 1, 2018 and March 1, 2019.
Since then, the City has declared a shelter crisis four more times. The last time, on January 24, 2023, the City Council declared a shelter crisis that is currently in effect and expires on February 1, 2024. (Resolution No. 2022-0017.)
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BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council finds that paragraphs A through L, above, are true.
Section 2. The City Council finds that thousands of persons within the City are without the ability to obtain shelter and this situation has threatened their health and safety.
Section 3. The City Council, pursuant to California Government Code sections 8698 et seq., declares a shelter crisis persists in the City of Sacramento and will continue to exist through February 1, 2025.
Section 4. The City Manager is directed to submit the annual report required by California Government Code section 8698.4 to the Senate Committee on Housing and the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development by January 1, 2025.