Ventura County Continuum of Care Housing and Services committee Resolution for Declaring a Homeless and Housing Crisis in Ventura County

What Successes Have been Achieved in our Homeless Continuum of Care System? The VC CoC System has been transformed by implementing Evidenced-Based Best Practices for serving homeless persons. By Focusing Resources, the number of unsheltered families and children were reduced by 73.8 % With additional VASH vouchers, the number of unsheltered veterans were reduced by 42.5%

Despite these successes there is evidence of a Homeless and Housing Crisis in Ventura County It is important to point out that these findings are in no way a reflection on the quality of services, the great work being done by staff and the outcomes of current homeless programs. Evidence #1 While the VC CoC System housed 1,284 (38%)homeless persons in 2016, 2,082 (62%)remained unsheltered due to lack of income, shelter and permanent housing

Evidence of Homeless & Housing Crisis Number of Chronically Homeless persons is rapidly increasing. These persons require more staff intensive services over a longer time period time. Evidence #3 The VCCoC has only 120 year round shelter beds located in West Ventura County to temporarily house unsheltered persons until permanent housing can be found.

Evidence of Homeless & Housing Crisis The VCCoC has 386 units of permanent supportive housing (PSH) for chronically homeless persons with a 10% turnover annually. VCCoC needs 459 new PSH units in 2017 to meet current need. Evidence #5 Ventura County needs 26,492 more affordable rental homes to meet the needs of its lowest income renters including homeless persons. Rental housing requires 3.5 times minimum wage for average rent of $1,817.

Evidence of Homeless & Housing Crisis The VC COC Street Outreach case management capacity is 319 persons. Evidence #7 The VC COC Rapid Re-Housing programs case management capacity is 322 households. It is important to point out that many case managers in the above programs serve multiple roles including outreach, coordinated entry assessments, housing navigation and case management.

Evidence of Homeless & Housing Crisis 41% of unsheltered homeless persons have no income and only 10.2% have less than $500 per mo. Access to training and higher paying jobs for those who can work and disability benefits for those who cannot work is badly needed. Evidence #9 Federal, state, city and private funding has remained static and does not meet the current need. Also federal funding is being threatened by proposed budget cuts.

Evidence of Homeless and Housing Crisis Multiple studies have shown that on average a chronically homeless person costs $35,578 per year from the use of publicly funded crisis services. By investing $12,800 in supportive housing per person we could see a significant reduction in the number of chronically homeless persons and a reduction in the cost and use of these crisis services, freeing them up for those who truly need them.

Why Declare a Homeless and Housing Crisis or State of Emergency The State of Hawaii and several cities in the Western States have declared a Homeless State of Emergency which: Raised community awareness. Resulted in significant increases in funding, shelter beds, permanent supportive and very affordable housing and outreach and supportive services. Modified government regulations and zoning codes Significantly increased the number of homeless persons sheltered and permanently housed.

The CoC Housing and Services Committee urges the CoC Board to Declare a Homeless and Housing Crisis in Ventura County and Adopt the following recommendations: Recommendation #1. Urge the Ventura County Interagency Council on Homelessness (VCOG) to acknowledge the homeless and housing crisis in Ventura County and request that local governments declare a homeless and housing crisis and join a county-wide effort to end homelessness.

Homeless and Housing Crisis Resolution Recommendations Lead the formation of a coalition of stakeholders to explore creative solutions and support funding initiatives to address the homeless and housing crisis. Recommendation #3 Take short term immediate actions to identify available housing units, and facilitate the development of crisis housing, alternative housing models, and permanent supportive housing and case management services.

Homeless and Housing Crisis Resolution Recommendations Urge that an emergency homeless crisis fund be created to support the short term immediate actions to develop shelter, alternative housing models, permanent supportive housing and case management services. Recommendation #5 Take long term actions to create the dedicated sources of funding needed to build shelters, permanent supportive housing and very affordable housing and provide the necessary case management services

Homeless and Housing Crisis Resolution Recommendations Direct the CoC Public Information and Outreach committee (PIO) to generate a publicity/education campaign on the crisis of homelessness and housing for the purpose generating public involvement, political support, private partnerships and funding.

We need Bold Action to solve the Homeless and Housing Crisis in Ventura County The example of the City of Portland Oregon https://vimeo.com/212518078