AGENDA
CITY OF WATSONVILLE
JOINT COUNCIL, SUCCESSOR HOUSING AGENCY,
& SUCCESSOR AGENCY SPECIAL MEETING
Working with our community to create positive impact through service with heart.
Values: Teamwork, Integrity, Honesty, Service and Respect Vanessa Quiroz-Carter, Mayor, District 2
Maria Orozco, Mayor Pro Tempore, District 3
Eduardo Montesino, Council Member, District 1
Kristal Salcido, Council Member, District 4
Casey K. Clark, Council Member, District 5
Jimmy Dutra, Council Member, District 6
Ari Parker, Council Member, District 7
Tamara Vides, City Manager
Samantha W. Zutler, City Attorney
Irwin I. Ortiz, City Clerk
Location:
City of Watsonville
Community Rooms
275 Main Street, Top Floor
Watsonville, CA 95076
Anyone addressing the City Council is asked to fill out a speaker card and leave it at the podium for recording purposes
IF YOU CHALLENGE ANY ACTION APPEARING ON THIS AGENDA IN
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SOMEONE ELSE RAISED AT THE PUBLIC MEETING DESCRIBED ON THIS
AGENDA, OR IN WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE DELIVERED TO THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO, OR AT, THE PUBLIC MEETING.
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The Council Chambers is an accessible facility. If you wish to attend a meeting and you will require assistance in order to attend and/or participate, please call the City Clerk's Office at least three (3) business days in advance of the meeting to make arrangements. The City of Watsonville TDD number is (831) 763-4075.
For information regarding this agenda, please call the City Clerk's Office at (831) 768- 3040
AGENDA
CITY OF WATSONVILLE
JOINT COUNCIL, SUCCESSOR HOUSING AGENCY, &
SUCCESSOR AGENCY MEETING
City of Watsonville
City Council Chambers
275 Main Street, Top Floor
Watsonville, CA 95076
Saturday, October 5, 2024, 9:00 a.m.
Pages
1. ROLL CALL
1.a MOTION TO EXCUSE ABSENT COUNCIL MEMBER(S) (If Any)
2. NEW BUSINESS
2.a WORKSHOP TO ESTABLISH AN ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS IN WATSONVILLE
2 3. ADJOURNMENT
This agenda was posted in accordance with the California Ralph M. Brown Act. The agenda packet can be accessed on the City of Watsonville website at https://watsonville.gov/2123/City-Council-Agendas-Minutes and is available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s Office (275 Main Street, 4th Floor) during normal business hours. Any materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the Council after the distribution of the agenda packet will be made available to the public in accordance with Government Section 54957.5.
Homeless Action Plan
Special City Council Meeting
Agreements
• Be respectful
• Stay on topic
• Work together towards solutions
• Listen with curiosity & compassion
• Speak with intention, use “I” statements
Agenda
3. NEXT STEPS
1. BACKGROUND
• Our Community's Action Plan
• Data
• Legal Landscape
• Watsonville today (PW, Police,
Fire, Parks)
• March Community Workshop &
identified areas of interest
• Breakout: What does solving
this homeless problem in OUR
community mean to you?
2. UNDERSTANDING THE FOUR THEMES OF ACTION
Prevention
Housing
Management and Enforcement
Services and Resources
Meetings
March 2024 Community Workshop
September 2024 – Study Session
October 2024 – 2
nd Community Workshop
Building Our Action Plan
• Understand why each theme is important to our community • What are we currently doing that support areas in which we can support action?
• What opportunities do we have to add to our Action Plan to address a current issue?
Community Input
What can we do differently?
What can we do if we don’t have additional funding available? What can we do if we have additional funding?
Santa Cruz County - H4H
Santa Cruz County Housing For Health Principles that apply to Watsonville's Action Plan:
• No person, organization, City or County Government can do this alone. • This Homeless Action Plan will be used to align, coordinate and collaborate to accomplish the shared goals of helping those who are experiencing homelessness in the City of Watsonville to secure housing.
• We will endeavor to utilize strategies and programs that have proven success. • We need to invest in and support practices that help as many people to secure permanent housing.
County of Santa Cruz
Homelessness in Watsonville
2024 Point-In-Time Estimate (January 25, 2024)
90 sheltered
583 unsheltered
Most unsheltered in two census tracts along the Pajaro River Higher rates of family and youth homelessness; fewer in vehicles compared to other parts of County
86% last housed in Santa Cruz County (26% last housed in Watsonville)
Most enter homelessness from a doubled-up/sharing situation; 20% from institutions
1 in 4 working; >90% with “acutely low incomes”
15% fleeing domestic violence
16% with history of foster care
Point in Time Count Data
Martin v. City of Boise
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeal issued a unanimous decision in September 2018 in Martin v.
City of Boise, finding that the City’s prohibition against sleeping in public violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment when homeless individuals have no access to alternative shelter.
The Court held that the Eighth Amendment prohibits ordinance enforcement if such ordinances criminalize homeless individuals for sleeping outside when they have no access to alternative shelter.
Legal Landscape
Grants Pass v. Johnson
US Supreme Court overruled Martin with its 6-3 decision in Grants Pass Holding: criminal enforcement of anti-camping ordinances does not violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on Cruel and Unusual Punishment Legal Landscape
Grants Pass – Analysis
Overruling Martin, the Court reasoned that the Eighth Amendment allows the government to criminalize conduct that flows from a condition that a defendant might be powerless to change.
The punishments for violation of the Grants Pass ordinances were neither cruel nor unusual under a historical analysis of the 8th Amendment
Legal Landscape
Executive Order N-1-24
Issued July 25, 2024
“June 2024 the Supreme Court overturned Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals precedent that restricted the government’s authority to enforce laws regulating encampments, recognizing that jurisdictions may tailor their enforcement practices to reflect policy-driven approaches to addressing homelessness”
Legal Landscape
Executive Order N-1-24
State agencies shall adopt policies, generally consistent with California Department of Transportation’s Maintenance Policy Directive 1001-R1, to address encampments on state property, including through partnerships with other state and local agencies, and shall prioritize efforts to address encampments consistent with such policy Local governments are encouraged to adopt policies consistent with this Order and to use all available resources and infrastructure, including resources provided by the State’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs where appropriate and available, to take action with the urgency this crisis demands to humanely remove encampments from public spaces, prioritizing those encampments that most threaten the life, health, and safety of those in and around them.
Legal Landscape
Watsonville Today – Conditions & Impact
Public Works
Police Department
Fire Department
Parks
Library
Damages to fencing & property
Watsonville Today – Public Works
Partnerships - Watsonville Works, Hope Services, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Pitch in Santa Cruz, Community Tree Watsonville Today – Public Works
Working with Fish & Wildlife
Watsonville Works, Hope Services, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Pitch in Santa Cruz, Community Tree Watsonville Today – Public Works
Levee Cleanup
Watsonville Today – Public Works
Levee before & after
Watsonville Today – Public Works
Levee clean-up cost - July
Levee clean-up and vegetation clearing efforts in
preparation for repairs before the rain starts.
o Community Tree - $90K
o Additional employees – across PW, Parks, & PD
o PRFMA – Koala Tree
o ConEx purchases - $24K
o Storage needs for belongings
o Trash disposal fees - $33K
PD overtime costs for 10-day levee clean-up $19,356
Unbudgeted spending for needed scene security, for the
safety of city and contractor work crews.
Levee Today – Public Works & Police
• Public Safety Concerns
• Nuisances – Quality of Life
• Crimes in Progress
• Need for Improved Data
Tracking
• Limited Response Capabilities:
• Patrol Enforcement
• CARE – MHL Program
• New PSS Pilot Program -
Homeless Navigator
collaborative with
Community Action Board
Watsonville Today - Police
Watsonville Today - Police
My90 Post-Contact Community Survey Data
April 1 to Sep 30, 2024 – What is your top safety concern in your community?
Watsonville Today - Police
My90 Post-Contact Community Survey Data
April 1 to Sep 30, 2024 – Community Concerns Monthly Breakdown
Watsonville Today - Police
o Partnered with Pajaro Valley Shelter Services during recent levee encampment clean-up. o Shelter space was available for up to 9 women.
o No women accepted the offer; one had already secured housing.
Watsonville Today - Police
"The officers treated the homeless person who was trespassing with dignity and respect. I was nervous to call because I didn't want this person to be harassed, I just needed them to move off of my property. I am grateful for the professionalism of the police officers." -My90 respondent, June 2024
• In 2023, $47,568 in overtime was paid
to sworn personnel who staffed
normally scheduled campsite clean-ups
with our Public Works Utility Crew.
• YTD in 2024, $61,696.29 in overtime
has been paid
o That number includes the $19,356
in overtime from July 22 – August 2
levee clean-up efforts.
Watsonville Today – Police Costs
Enforcement Capabilities/Law
• WMC 5-36.01(c) – Prohibits Campsites in the
City
• WMC 10-2.11 – Prohibits Campsites within City
Parks unless Permitted (Pinto Lake City Park)
• PC 647(e) – Prohibits lodging without consent on
public or private property
• PC 602(m) - Trespassing – Entering/occupying
property without consent
• PC 602.1(a) - Interfering with a lawful business /
refusing to leave
• Other law violations that are reported or
encountered
Watsonville Today - Police
Total Incidents: 776
Total Call Volume: 4,543
Watsonville Today – Fire
January 1 to September 30, 2024
Watsonville Today – Fire
Community
• Life, Property, Environment
• Impact on County EMS System – Fire & Ambulance
limited resources
• Extended Fire on-scene times
• Extended response times from other fire agencies
• Air Quality – Smoke; Impact on protected slough areas Fire Personnel
• Physical violence/assault, weapons
• Exposure to Biohazards, Drug needles, Smoke
• Injuries: Collapse, false floors, unknown fuels
Fire Safety Concerns
Prevention
o Positive programs
o Safe places
Impacts
o Community
o Sense of safety
o Cleanliness
Staff – 2,000+ annual hours
Costs - $100,000+ (does not account for
accelerated wear and tear)
Watsonville Today - Parks
Prevention
• Create a Safe & Welcoming Space for All
• Community engagement
Impacts
• Building/Maintenance
o Costs for upkeep and cleaning - $50,000 annually
• Staff
o Ongoing de-escalation training to ensure safety
of staff and apply best practices to address
patrons suffering from mental health issues
o Collaborate w/Police Department's C.A.R.E. Team
for emergency and non-emergency calls
Watsonville Today - Library
March 2024 Meeting
What does solving this homeless problem
in OUR community mean to you?
• Why?
• What are we currently doing?
• Opportunities (Staff presentation & Public Input)
Prevention
Prevention is crucial in addressing homelessness
because it intervenes early to stop housing loss,
significantly reducing the need for shelters and longterm support.
Studies show that prevention costs up to $1,634 per
person annually, compared to $31,065 for emergency
services (National Alliance to End Homelessness).
Additionally, communities focusing on prevention have
seen shelter demand decrease by up to 20% (U.S.
Department of Housing & Urban Development Data),
saving both individuals and communities from the
broader impacts of homelessness.
Current Efforts
Financial Assistance, Management,
Education, Advocacy, Counseling:
Support for families and individuals at risk of homelessness o Pajaro Valley Shelter Services
o Monarch Services
o Families in Transition
o Community Bridges
o Community Action Board
o Catholic Charities
o Housing Authority
Legal Assistance/Mediation
Provide legal/mediation services to keep people housed
o California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA)
o Watsonville Law Center
o Senior Legal Services
o Community Bridges Page 39 of 85
Current Efforts
Financial Assistance Programs
Landlord Incentive Program (Housing Authority):
Provides up to $5,000 for any damages that a tenant may cause to an affordable unit
Security Deposit/Last Month's Rent Program (Housing Authority):
Provides qualified renters with assistance in paying first/last month's rent
Tenant Based Rental Assistance (Housing Authority & Families in Transition): Provides up to 12 months rental assistance for qualified renters
Financial Assistance to Qualified Homebuyers (City) (up to 25% of purchase price):
503 loans issued since program inception
• Down Payment Assistance
• First Time Home Buyer Programs
Current Efforts to Support Prevention
Opportunity to Work Program:
6-month training program that offers various job opportunities with the City
Summer in the City Program:
5-week summer program exposing high school students to local government and future opportunities
Police and Fire Cadet Programs & Youth Academies:
Year-around and summer programs for high school students to work with and explore the Police and Fire Departments
Digital Nest:
Technical and soft skills to prepare youth for gainful employment El Pajaro CDC:
Training, consulting and coaching services
Local Businesses:
Summer/After school employment to high school and Cabrillo college students
Opportunities to Enhance Prevention
• Explore opportunities for the City to partner with
nonprofits to offer free financial workshops to the
community
• Ensure prevention support is provided in residents’
primary language
• Ensure people that live/work in the City have priority to secure new housing and housing programs
• Explore additional funding to expand existing prevention programs
Breakout Groups
Opportunities to Enhance Prevention
• Why?
• What are we currently doing?
• Opportunities (Staff presentation & Public Input)
Why Housing
Housing is essential for breaking the cycle of
homelessness because it provides stability and
support for individuals at different stages of need
The 2022 California Homelessness Report shows that
more than 160,000 people are homeless due to
housing shortages
The HUD Report found homelessness dropped by 30%
in areas that expanded housing options, and Housing
First programs have an 85% success rate in maintaining
long-term housing
Housing enables individuals to rebuild their lives and
regain independence
221 Airport
48 units
Pippin II
80 units
1482 Freedom
53 units
Marin St. Townhomes
16 units
558 Main St.
Hillcrest Estates 50 units
144 units
Sunshine Gardens
87 units
Miles Lane
72 units
547 Airport
21 units
Residential Units
Issues
Regional Housing Needs Allocation
City of Watsonville 6th RHNA by Income Category
Income Category Percent of Area Median Income
(AMI) RHNA
Very Low-Income 0-50% AMI 283
Low-Income 51-80% AMI 186
Moderate-Income 81-120% AMI 521
Above ModerateIncome >120% AMI 1,063
TOTAL RHNA 2,053
Source: AMBAG Final 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation Plan 2023-2031
Current Efforts
Affordable Housing
261 Affordable for sale homes built
Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program (City):
68 families assisted in home rehabilitation since program inception Loans for housing construction (City):
Loans provided to nonprofit housing developers to assist in the construction of affordable housing
Tabasa Gardens: $2 million
Sparrow Terrace: $2.35 million
Habitat for Humanity: Donation of land, financial assistance Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s)
Streamlined permit processing, reduced fees
○ Collaborate with non-profit and for-profit developers, as well as singlefamily property owners, to expand the availability of housing options ○ Support PVUSD and Cabrillo College in their efforts to build workforce housing for teachers and affordable housing for students ○ Develop an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program to support the construction of ADUs
○ Explore ways to incentivize the construction of for-sale housing by offering increased density allowances, reduced fees, and priority processing for projects that meet community needs
○ Prioritize housing initiatives for Watsonville residents ○ Prioritize the development of supportive housing for extremely-lowincome residents ○ Partner with the County to leverage funds to build workforce housing Opportunities to Enhance Housing
Breakout Groups
Opportunities to Enhance Housing
• Why?
• What are we currently doing?
• Opportunities (Staff presentation & Public Input)
Why Management & Enforcement?
• Active and regular enforcement helps maintain public and open space safety, public health, environmental degradation • Protection of critical city infrastructure and environmentally protected zones
• Residents can trust that the City of Watsonville is proactively managing this growing issue
Current Efforts- Public Works
Environmentally Protected/Sensitive Areas
○ Ensure no public camping or encampments are
occurring in environmentally protected/sensitive areas
such as the levee, the sloughs, or any other watershed
area in the city
Encampment Cleanups
○ Continue to support regular homeless encampment
cleanups throughout the City, especially on or near the levee, the sloughs, or other watershed areas in the city.
These encampments pose significant threats to these
habitats and the integrity of critical flood protection infrastructure for our residents.
Current Efforts- Police
Overview of where PD can help
• Recently updated Homeless Resource List
for Officers and PSS's to hand out during
daily encounters
• Focus on dealing with our problematic
homeless population, which is less than
5% of Watsonville's PIT count number of
673
o Many of them are suffering from
mental illness, substance
abuse/addiction, or both
o Increase qualifying referrals to Sheriff's
Office Focused Intervention Team (FIT)
Current Efforts
Business Tool Kit
○ The City has created a guide to assist business
owners directly affected by homelessness,
providing information on how to address their
concerns and outlining their legal rights regarding
trespassing.
Opportunities to Enhance
Management & Enforcement
○ Create a streamlined, PD in-house process for issuing and renewing trespass letters, making it easier for businesses & property owners to address trespassing concerns.
○ Explore funding opportunities with local partners, such as: Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, Department of Fish & Wildlife, Wetlands Watch. ○ Create a proactive, community-based Homeless Task Force (comprised of city staff, city council members, and residents). ○ Explore additional ordinances, such as:
○ Oversized vehicle parking
○ Revamping illegal camping
○ Establish distance parameters from waterways
Breakout Groups
Opportunities for Management & Enforcement
• Why?
• What are we currently doing?
• Opportunities (Staff presentation & Public Input)
Why Services & Resources
Services are essential for addressing homelessness
as they provide crucial support, including mental
health care, job training, and substance abuse
treatment, which help individuals regain stability and
independence.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports
that supportive services can reduce the risk of
returning to homelessness by 80%, and communities
that implement comprehensive support services see a
30% reduction in homelessness over time.
This approach fosters better relationships within the
community and creates long-term solutions that
benefit everyone.
Current Efforts
Navigator Pilot Program:
The City of Watsonville expanded its partnership with the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County to further
develop and implement strategies for assisting the unhoused through the newly established Homeless Service Navigator Pilot Program.
The program includes a Police Service Specialist who will partner with the Homeless Service Navigator who focuses on connecting individuals already experiencing homelessness with essential resources and support services.
The team will go out on weekdays to contact people
experiencing homelessness to connect them to existing
services whenever possible, and get them entered/updated in the County's Homeless Reporting System.
Current Efforts
Crisis Assessment Response and Engagement
(CARE)
The Watsonville Police Department’s Crisis
Assessment Response and Engagement (CARE) Team
provides resources and treatment to individuals and
families affected by mental illness.
The team was established in 2016 and consists of
Watsonville Police Officers and one Santa Cruz
County Mental Health Clinician.
Current Efforts
Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)
The Watsonville Police Department’s Trauma
Informed Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) was
formed with the help of several community
partners with the goal of providing additional
resources to Watsonville residents impacted
by trauma.
Current Efforts
Social Services available at the Library
Social Service agencies at the Library every 2nd
Tuesday of the month: Wings Homeless Advocacy, SC
Behavioral Health, Community Action Board,
Veteran Services, SC Hospice and Semillitas program.
Staff refer individuals to other service providers and
offer on the library's website an extensive list of local community resources and non-profit organizations in
Santa Cruz county.
State and Federal Advocacy to strengthen the support system in our County and our City.
Connect community resources to enhance availability of housing assistance, mental health and substance abuse services, and community support, which are crucial factors in preventing homelessness.
Increase support and collaboration with nonprofits such as California Rural Legal Assistance, Watsonville Legal Center, Senior Legal, and others that provide counseling and legal representation.
Continue our partnerships with local Homeless Service Providers: Community Action Board, Pajaro Valley Shelter Services, County Mental Health (CARE Team), the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office Focused Intervention Team (FIT).
Low Barrier Navigation Center with wraparound service that keeps people housed and connected to services they need.
Explore the feasibility of a resource center at our public libraries.
Opportunities to Enhance Services & Resources
Breakout Groups
Opportunities to Enhance Services & Resources
Next Steps
What does solving this homeless problem
in OUR community mean to you?
1. Affordable and Low-Barrier Housing: Focus on creating more long-term, affordable housing options for unhoused individuals with fewer barriers to entry.
2. Dignity and Respect: Treating the unhoused with dignity and respect while providing them with opportunities to transition into stable housing.
3. Comprehensive Support Services: Offering mental health services, drug addiction treatment, and support services as a first step toward housing stability.
4. Community Well-Being: Building a healthy, inclusive, and safe environment for all, including prioritizing farmworkers and vulnerable populations.
5. Collaboration and Coordination: Encouraging more cooperation between local organizations and nonprofits to address homelessness effectively.
6. Compassionate Engagement: Fostering empathy and building systems that prioritize compassionate, long-term solutions over punitive measures.
7. Equity and Prevention: Ensuring equitable distribution of resources, focusing on prevention, and advocating for policies that reduce homelessness at the systemic level.
8. Safe, Designated Spaces: Establishing designated areas with necessary facilities (like toilets and showers) for unhoused individuals, while considering the needs of homeowners and other community members.
9. Awareness and Education: Raising public awareness through education on best practices for solving homelessness and promoting empathy.
10. Holistic Approach: Creating a safer community through a comprehensive plan addressing root causes, prevention, and recovery, while balancing the needs of all residents.
What can we do differently?
• Rent Control Ordinance (8)
• Job training - matching higher wages – attract and preserve jobs; job development; workforce development (7) • Expand the definition of unhoused to include Mckinney Vento as a high priority (Prevention starts at PVUSD (4) • Use best practices and data to ensure funding is actually preventing families becoming homeless (2) • Understand “humanely” from Governers order perspective of the unhouse - • Data Clearing house with define actuals
• Mutual aid and direct aid
• Equity in outreach/ legal assistance
• Universal based income
• City to focus on diversifying economic opportunities otherwise we will be in this situation forever • Continuum of services. No isolated solutions
• Mental health awareness
• Land Trust – Creative idea
• Change laws to build permanent ADUs
What could we do without additional funding?
What could we do with additional funding
• Support for medical conditions with wrap around services (2) • Universal based income efforts
• Vouchers
• Build more low income housing
• Rental assistant programs
• Cultural shift, zoning, different building models
• - Paid volunteer employment for senior citizens on fixed income • Expanded rental assistance
• Low barrier shelter housing solutions with supportive services / co-located services
What can we do differently?
• Rent Control (3)
• City to pursue State pro-housing designation(5)
• Affordable Housing - low barrier housing and promote ADU Program (2) • Cultivate a local affordable housing development agency develop strategic alliance with affordable housing developers to build affordable developments through the City (6) • Pathways for targeted unsheltered communities to get into units that are coming (3) • Advocacy for more federal housing assistance (sec 8)
• Re-evaluate income levels for affordable housing
• Increase Low-income unit percentage in all housing project to 25% • More Habitat for Humanity construction in Watsonville • Ag workers housing
• Partner with schools and Cabrillo to build tiny homes as transitional housing • More mixed zoning; build up including working PVUSD, Cabrillo, UCSC, etc.
What could we do without additional
funding?
• Support large employer housing for workforce PVUSD, City, Cabrillo (2) • ADU low barrier paths & incentives (2)
• ADU Low Barrier paths & Incentives (2)
• Promote mixed income integrated housing
• Increase very low-income housing by ordinance
• Create equity building Pilot program
• Support opening land to developers; zoning
• Encourage City to be more flexible with ADUs; streamline building process • Incentive to build up for sale/profit (condos); reduce permit fees if it is for sale and build up not out
What could we do if we have additional
funding?
• non profit
• City leases
• tent-camping
• low barrier
• More housing for Watsonville residents
• Build “No Income” Housing for people with disabilities • Build up
• Incentivize ADU construction w/funds to homeowners
What can we do differently?
• Incentives based on education
• Incentives instead of tickets
• Stationing housing Liaisons with police department offices • Develop a diversion type program
• Partner enforcement with service providers like metal health and intervention • City homeless coordinator
• Expanding partnership with local no profits (2)
• Safe parking places vs private property
• Promote places that offer showers, bed
• Signage, messaging re: protecting the environment and levee • Advocate for additional state funding to address homeless – expand low barrier shelters • Establish clearer expectations on allowed activities for those without shelter • Apply for State funding
What can we do without additional
funding?
• Update City Ordinances
• Provide more dumping sites
• Incentivize oversized - parking
• Focus on programs that are most effective
• Use existing funding to enforce existing laws
• Don't criminalize – Cite them
• Mobile medical services
• Mobile kitchens and showers
• Build relationships with unhoused folks
• Have the unhoused community create their own community rules • 5% of unsheltered population are impacting system; substance use disorder support case management critical unit • Involve current and formerly unsheltered people in developing plans to address issues • Improved tracking of actual issues; “homeless” is used as a place holder • More enforcement trainings, awareness of community resources • Re-integrate neighborhood watch programs
If we have additional funding….
• Mobile needs
• Create a managed campground
• Create a home base for outreach teams to connect people to showers, clothes, mail, etc.
What can we do differently?
• Partner with county for warming center
• Utilize community development block grants for navigation center and one stop center • Dedicate oversight by city to funding for homeless services • Ask for Unhoused what they need
• Partner with CBOs (3)
• Align Navigation Prevention
• More community home visits
• Move city budget to more services
• Education of Homeless individuals
• La Manzana as a resource
• Stop moving unhoused around – designate a place they are allowed to stay
What can we do if we don't have additional
funding available?
• Open community resource center in partnership with library. Get more $ from county • Accept program support that will help issue
• Invest city dollars
• Optimize resources for effective grant funding and metrics • Clear understanding of everyone’s services, cohesion
• Housing quarterly CBO and not profit committee
• Strengthen services and planning; lengthening time of stay at shelters • Resources for laundromats/gyms such as decreased bills for allowing people to use the facilities • Consistent coordination of organizations, City, local government to coordinate resources
What can we do if we have additional
funding?
• Restore funds to Salvation Army in Watsonville, combine County and City funds • Train or hire people with experience in workforce
• Build and fund resources with wrap around services
• Apply for real time availability
• Flexible accommodations or eligibility criteria
• Mobile response team w/ connections to housing, medical care, food, jobs, etc.
Thank You!