1. LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
City of El Monte
Input Session
Homelessness Plan
April 12,2018
Rachel Ralston, Principal
LeSar Development Consultants
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

2. LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
Agenda
Background on homelessness
Best practices
Homeless plan process
Feedback on homelessness impact in city
Discussion of potential strategies
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

3. Why are people homeless?
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

4. LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
Who are Homeless?
Transitional homeless – 76%
Those who experienced a life- altering event (e.g., job loss, medical condition, domestic violence situation, or divorce)
Individuals and families who earn barely enough to pay for their housing costs and other necessities (e.g., as food, health care, and day care).
People living on fixed incomes (e.g., elderly, persons with disabilities that are living on SSI).
Chronically homeless – 24%
Persons often experience long- term homelessness, frequently rotating through and among a community's various shelter facilities and the streets.
They typically have health or substance abuse problems in addition to extreme poverty.
This population is best served by permanent supportive housing, which combines housing with intensive rehabilitation, treatment, and other social services.
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

5. LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
Homeless History 101
Increase in homelessness since the 1980s result of several key factors:
1. Loss of Affordable Housing
2. Wages and Public Assistance
40 years ago homelessness as we know it today did not exist. Prior to 1980s there was sufficient cheap housing that even lowest of incomes could afford. Modern day homelessness was a result of major shifts starting in 1980’s.
3. Closing Institutions
4. Rapid Income Inequality
Source: USICH Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

6. Our Response to Homelessness
Seen as Natural Disaster
1990s
Fix Conditions of Individual
Today
Housing First (with Services)
The George W. Bush administration adopted the housing first approach.
Source: USICH Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

7. Solutions to Homelessness
Shelter Diversion
Supportive Services
Street
Outreach
Emergency
Shelter
Supportive Services
Rapid Re-Housing
Transitional/Bridge
Housing
Supportive Housing
Affordable Housing
PREVENT
ASSIST
SOLVE
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

8. Can homelessness be ended?
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

9. Can homelessness be ended?
Yes*
*It depends on how you define “ended.”
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

10. Rare, brief, and non-recurring LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
Ending Homelessness
Ending Homelessness =
Rare, brief, and non-recurring
Source: USICH Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

11. LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
What is needed?
1. Belief that it can be done
2. Leadership and buy in
Ending veteran homelessness: a combination of intensive street outreach, immediate housing placement (VASH vouchers and other subsidies), intensive case management including voluntary access to SUD treatment, and assistance obtaining benefits.
Same model works for other populations
Utah has reduced chronic homelessness by 90% in 10 years (they still have a large homeless population)
Helping this process:
Utah is small.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a big supporter of Housing First.
The service provider community is tight-knit and various agencies and organizations work well together because of it.
They had political will behind them for the housing first approach
3. Well oiled “system”
4. Sufficient housing and services
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

12. LA County Homeless Action Plan (2016)
LA County approved an action plan of 47 interlocking strategies to combat homelessness:
Prevention
Subsidized Housing
Increase Income
Case Management & Services
Coordinated Entry System
Affordable Housing
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

13. LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
Measure H (2017)
Authorizes a quarter-cent sales increase for 10 years
Expected to generate an estimated $355 million annually for services to combat homelessness
Cities can apply for direct funding for:
Acquisition/rehab of an existing site to create a shelter
Funding for beds in the shelter dedicated to those exiting institutions
Subsidy for creating alternate staffing opportunities through social enterprise firms
Landlord outreach subsidies/incentives but only for those with housing authorities
The county only has housing/infrastructure jurisdiction over unincorporated areas. That is why the county does not fund housing directly within cities. The HI, including Measure H, are designed to provide services if the city provides the housing piece.
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

14. LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
Measure H (2017)
Revenue from Measure H will flow from County Departments/lead agencies into communities countywide, where it will be put to work based on need.
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

15. Next Steps - Plan Process
Community Input Sessions and Interviews with City Staff
Drafting of Plan with City Team
City Council Study Session to Review Plan Draft – Updates Made
City Council Adopts Plan and Submits to County
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

16. LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
Existing City Efforts
Affordable housing (e.g., Exchange at Gateway)
Supportive housing (e.g., Veterans Village)
Outreach and engagement (El Monte Police Department, Volunteers of America, etc.)
Case management and services (Volunteers of America)
Homelessness prevention (local service providers)
OCTOBER 2015
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17. Homelessness Impact on City
What are current challenges with addressing homelessness in the city?
What are current challenges with addressing unsheltered homelessness in the city?
What are the specific challenges with permanently housing an individual or family in the city?
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

18. Initial Considerations for Plan
What can the city do better to address homelessness within its jurisdiction?
What can the city do better to be a partner and coordinate with service providers and other stakeholders?
What are potential strategies the city should consider putting in their plan?
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS