City of Santa
Maria
Update On
Homelessness
July 16, 2024
1 o Interim Housing Update
o 2024 Point in Time Count
o Encampment Resolution
Efforts
1,402 people
transitioned
out of
homelessness
in 2023
Consistent
inflow of
people
accessing
services for
the first time
Increase in
the number
of families
requiring
shelter and
housing
services
More people
living in vehicles
(including a
disproportionate
increase in
seniors and
families)
La Posada and
Hope Village
have opened
&
Over 300
permanent
housing units
under
development
More than a Point in Time
Key Trends Within the Homelessness Response System
2 Interim Housing Update
3 • 94 persons in occupancy
• 124 served since opening
• Serving persons living in nearby
encampments, recuperative care for
patients of Marian Regional
Medical Center, Transitional Age
Youth (18-24) and Veterans
Hope Village Santa Maria Emergency
Shelter
Day Habilitation Center
Transitional
Homes for
Veterans
Acquired
4 2024 Point in Time Count Trend Analysis
1,223 1,367 1,202 1,332
674
595
685
787
0 500
1000
1500
2000
2020 2022 2023 2024
Unsheltered
Sheltered
Sub-populations
increasing
❖ Persons living in
their vehicles
❖ Families with
minor children
❖ Persons newly
experiencing
homelessness
1,897 1,962 1,887
2,119
= 232
2024 Point in Time Count
Santa Maria Observations
❖ 11% increase from 2020, 10% decrease
from 2023.
❖ Fewer persons counted along the
railroad (transit/CERF 1 area).
❖ San Luis Obispo County counted 88
persons in the riverbed.
Progress Report: Year 2
Encampment
Resolution
Strategy &
Protocol
• Deploy Encampment
Response Protocol and
Team
• Increase access to shelter
• Leverage long-term rental
subsidies
• Create new permanent
housing units
• Provide robust outreach
and engagement
• Sustain adequate funding
6 Encampment Resolution Year 2 Progress Report
700 active
encampments
removed countywide
Collective efforts among:
County
Cities
Caltrans
railroad partners
321 encampments
removed by
County-led efforts
95 on the transit corridor
226 on County-controlled property
289 people
relocated to
shelter or
housing
• 143 have been permanently
housed
• 146 have relocated to interim
housing/emergency shelter
• 13% decrease in calls for
service (County Fire)
The County’s established protocol and $1.9 million investment was leveraged to acquire $16.52 million in competitive funding Sanitation services include
debris removal, biohazard
disposal, and site
rehabilitation.
7 Transit Corridor | Encampment Resolution Funds Round 1 8 Countywide
277 persons served
73 persons housed
72 persons entered
shelter or interim
housing
Santa Maria
89 persons served
31 persons housed
21 persons entered
shelter or interim
housing White dots represent resolved encampments, other colors represent camps not yet resolved.
Waterways | Encampment Resolution Funds Round 2
9 Seaward area: removed 21 encampment
sites in April 2024 in partnership with
the City of Santa Maria.
Focus is encampments in the Santa Maria Riverbed,
including San Luis Obispo County:
County awarded $6M to address
encampments in waterways.
North County Specific Goals:
• serve 125 people
• 50 to enter shelter/interim housing
• 50 transition to permanent housing
Santa Maria Riverbed Project Metrics as of June 30, 2024 • 81 persons served
• 19 persons entered shelter/interim housing
• 3 persons housed
Waterways | Encampment Resolution Funds Round 2
10 • 100 – 125 persons encamped throughout SMRB area
• Enrolled 81 in HMIS since Oct 2023
• 12 are now clients at Hope Village
• Complex jurisdictional issues are being overcome
to promote more effective encampment resolution
• We will see progress over next 12 months
Santa Maria Riverbed Area Encampments
Vehicles |
California
Encampment
Resolution Funds
(CERF) Round 3
• Awarded nearly $8 million to address vehicular
encampments.
• New Beginnings will be the contracted service provider. • Expansion of NB staff for comprehensive housing-
focused services for all persons currently living in
vehicles.
• Expansion of Safe Parking lots and hoteling as
necessary for interim sheltering options. Safe Parking
for RVs is a focus of expansion.
• Funding includes $3 million to move persons in specific vehicular encampments into permanent housing
through rental assistance in a rapid rehousing model.
In Santa Maria:
53 Vehicles in 4 Areas
❖ Sunset Ridge – Airport
❖ Depot St/Fairgrounds
❖ Nicholson- Betteravia
❖ Preisker - Roemer
Very simply stated…
How do we end homelessness? How can we support our system of care right now? 12