TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND FROM: Mayor Matt Mahan
CITY COUNCIL Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei
Councilmember David Cohen
Councilmember Dev Davis
Councilmember Pam Foley
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: November 5, 2024
Approved Date: 11/1/2024
SUBJECT: CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL HOMELESSNESS REPORT AND
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN UPDATE
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Accept the Consolidated Annual Homelessness Report and Implementation Plan Update
2. Publish and disseminate the updated Code of Conduct to encampments in December 2024 and include the following considerations that could trigger an escalated cleanup or abatement:
a. Fire risk or damage, as assessed by the Fire Department; b. Damage to public infrastructure, utilities, and vegetation; c. Accumulation and use of building materials; and
d. Extended length of stay at a single location.
3. Direct staff to produce an Information Memo by February 2025 assessing:
a. The impact of increased abatement capacity and Code of Conduct enforcement, such as
i. The reduction or increase in the number of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 encampments
ii. The number of encampments where Code of Conduct enforcement led to an escalated clean-up, abatement, or cooperative behavior change iii. Average response times for reviewing, responding to, and resolving Code of Conduct violations
b. Initial outcomes and metrics associated with the Oversized Vehicle Regulation Pilot Program, such as
i. Number of tows conducted during the pilot
ii. Locations designated as permanent tow away zones
iii. Criteria for selecting enhanced street sweeping locations c. Progress towards implementing the Homeward Bound program d. Progress on the Homelessness Data Consolidation Project and the development of a Public Data Dashboard
COUNCIL AGENDA: 11/5/2024
FILE: 24-2155
ITEM: 7.1
BACKGROUND
This year, we will invest a historic $220.4 million to address homelessness, with the bulk of funding dedicated towards shelter and rehousing efforts, and over $32 million for managing and resolving encampments. We commend staff for developing and deploying the comprehensive strategies outlined in the Annual Report and Implementation Plan to address the root causes of homelessness, expand prevention and housing programs, improve the quality of life for unsheltered residents, and create healthy neighborhoods for all.
As we add significant capacity within our shelter and housing system this year, paired with an increase in encampment management capacity, we should hold ourselves accountable for delivering and reporting measurable results associated with these increased resources. Our recommendations aim to add elements to the Code of Conduct that will help us address safety and quality of life concerns that often arise from encampments. When further refining the Code of Conduct, staff should incorporate elements such as fire damage to public spaces or the risk of dangerous fires posed by the accumulation of flammable materials; damage to public infrastructure, such as tapping into electrical poles or destroying trees; accumulation of building materials, such as plywood and pallets; and extended lengths of stay from the time an encampment is reported by the community or assed by staff.
As staff begins to implement the Code of Conduct and Oversized Vehicle Regulation Pilot Program over the coming months, they should report back on associated outcomes that foster transparency and reinforce the trust of our community as they see progress unfold. Further, staff should report back on plans to launch the Homeward Bound program as specific goals and expected outcomes were not included in the Implementation Plan Update. Finally, as we work towards providing better customer service and transparency, staff should continue to keep the Council updated on the Homelessness Data Consolidation project and development of a Public Data Dashboard to help inform future iterations.
The signers of this memorandum have not had, and will not have, any private conversation with any other member of the City Council, or that member’s staff, concerning any action discussed in the memorandum, and that each signer’s staff members have not had, and have been instructed not to have, any such conversation with any other member of the City Council or that member's staff.