1. Community Input Session LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
City of El Monte
Community Input Session
Homelessness Plan
April 4, 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
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3. Why are people homeless?
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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
Answer
“Homelessness is first and foremost a housing problem and should be treated as such.”
National Alliance to End Homelessness
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6. 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.
4. Rapid Income Inequality
3. Closing Institutions
Source: USICH Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
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7. Our Response to Homelessness
Seen as natural disaster
1990s
Fix conditions of Individual
Today
Housing First
(with Services)
Source: USICH Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
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8. Can homelessness be ended?
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9. Can homelessness be ended?
Yes*
* It depends on how you define “ended.”
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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
Why should we end it?
Why?
Homelessness is unacceptable
It’s expensive and drain on resources
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12. 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
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13. Next Steps - Plan Process
Community Input Sessions and Interviews with City Staff
Drafting of Plan with City Team using County Plan Template
City Council Study Session to Review Plan Draft – Updates made
City Council Adopts Plan and Submits to County
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14. 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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15. Input– Homelessness Impact on City
What are the most significant issues/concerns related to homelessness from your perspective?
Where are the gaps in addressing homelessness?
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16. Input- Initial Considerations for Plan
Are there activities that the City is doing that you would like to see expanded/enhanced?
Are there new ideas/strategies that the City should explore?
Are there strategies that would be helpful in your organization/business/school/place of worship?
LESAR DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS