Item Number: {{item.number}}
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: December 19, 2023
Submitted By:
Keith C. Metzler, City Manager
Subject:
Discussion and Possible Action regarding Returning to the Interagency Council on Homelessness
Recommendation:
Any action is at the discretion of the Honorable City Council.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
Background:
The Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) is the policy-making body and Governing Board for the San Bernardino County Continuum of Care (CoC), known as the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership. Following an invite from ICH to apply for a board membership position, Victorville joined the ICH as a represented city in August 2018. In September 2018, the Victorville City Council appointed City Manager Keith C.
Metzler as primary representative and Sophie Smith as an alternate to represent Victorville on the ICH.
Staff participated as a voting member in the ICH from September 2018 through April 2023.
Additionally, staff took on a leadership role in the Desert Regional Steering Committee, a joint regional subcommittee created by the ICH to combine the efforts of the members of the Homeless Provider Network (HPN) and city representatives within the region.
Victorville served as the city chair and secretary for the committee. Both the ICH and Desert Regional Steering Committee meet monthly.
At the regular City Council meeting held on May 16, 2023, the City’s proposed resignation as a member of the ICH, and its role as chair and secretary of the Desert Regional Steering Committee, was presented by staff and approved by the City Council. The subject staff report has been included as Attachment A. 3 4
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Discussion:
At the regular City Council meeting held on December 5, 2023, Council Member Irving requested, and the majority of the City Council approved, an item for discussion and possible action at the December 19, 2023, regular meeting to report on takeaways from ICH and whether or not the City should entertain returning to the ICH.
The reason for the City’s resignation as a member of the ICH, and from its role as chair and secretary of the Desert Regional Steering Committee, was due to the strain these roles were placing on the City’s limited resources and the City finding the results of its City-specific efforts more beneficial and a better use of time. This has been evidenced by progress on several items from the City’s Homelessness Solutions Strategic Action Plan including, but not limited to, the recent completion of the Wellness Center, which has now started housing clients.
The City’s experience with ICH was positive in that it was able to request and obtain the required letter of support from ICH, as the CoC, for the Homekey grant application for the Wellness Center project. The City was also successful in securing $300,000.00 in Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant funding, administered by the ICH, for the Wellness Center project. However, neither of these items were approved based on the City’s status as a represented member, but rather due to the ICH being the CoC covering Victorville’s geographical area and the City having a worthy project. Despite having resigned these roles with the ICH, the City remains eligible to request assistance from, and apply for funding facilitated through the CoC.
Following the resignation as a represented city member of ICH and chair and secretary of the Desert Regional Steering Committee, no requests have been received from ICH to have the City return as a represented city member. It should also be noted that staff have continued attending ICH and Desert Regional Steering Committee meetings to remain apprised of ICH business and funding opportunities.
At this time, staff have no changes to the reasoning presented when the decision was made to resign from the ICH and the Desert Regional Steering Committee and do not recommend pursuing a return to the former roles. However, staff is prepared to accept a change to the Council’s policy direction if so directed by the City Council.
Staff remain available for any questions or comments.
Attachments: A. May 16, 2023, ICH Resignation Staff Report