COUNCIL AGENDA: 3/29/2022ITEM: 2.12
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND FROM:Councilmember Raul PeralezCITY COUNCIL SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE:March 25, 2022
Approved by: Date: 3/25/2022
SUBJECT: AGREEMENT WITH PEOPLE ASSISTING THE HOMELESSESTABLISHING A DOWNTOWN CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONAccept staff recommendation and direct staff to return to the Public Safety, Finance, andStrategicServices(PSFSS)committeeinoneyearwithanevaluationoftheDowntownCrisisResponse Program.
BACKGROUNDThere is no denying that mental health and homelessness are deeply intertwined with oneanother. For so long, our response to those suffering from mental illness have been to call lawenforcement, creating a revolving door that criminalizes our unhoused community with noactual progress. I have long been a proponent of increasing mental health services in ourcommunity, beginning with creating the city’s first suicide prevention policy, andsuccessfully advocating for the county to implement Assisted Outpatient Treatment. We as aCity are learning and have initiated successful programs, such as SJPD’s Mobile CrisisResponse Team, that recognize that the first point of contact when someone is in crisis shouldbe a mental health provider and not exclusively law enforcement. The funding for PATH tofacilitate the Downtown Crisis Response Initiative would continue the shift away fromrelying on law enforcement and move towards a more holistic and compassionate level ofcare.
I thank staff for recognizing this need in our Downtown Core and partnering with PATH onthis initiative. After one year, I request that staff return with an evaluation to the PSFSScommittee so that we can better understand the successes and address any improvements thatneed to be made. PATH has been a tremendous partner to Downtown since the opening of itsoffice in 2015. Since then, PATH has housed and served hundreds of downtown’s unhousedpopulation. I am confident that staff will properly connect those in need with the correctmental health resources and this program will not only benefit the individual themselves, butthe community as a whole.