11-16-16 Council Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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units in various configurations and with appropriate support services and 100 units of housing and rental assistance for veterans. In addition, the PHB will create a long-term plan to identify targeted needs and funding sources to develop an additional 300 units of supportive housing. The temporary emergency housing needs of those who are homeless are ever-present and require different solutions based on unique needs. During the next five years, the PHB will work to create 300 emergency shelter beds for homeless singles, both seasonal and year- around; 30 emergency shelter units designed specifically for homeless families with children; 40 safe parking spaces for homeless people who live in their vehicles; an emergency medical care shelter; and a shelter dedicated to homeless individuals experiencing acute mental illness. Prevent Homelessness and Poverty Prevention is at the center of all long-term strategies to eliminate homelessness and poverty. The PHB’s goals include increasing the stability of low-income families with children in the seven Lane County neighborhoods with the highest concentration of poverty. Efforts will focus on ensuring those families live in safe, reliable housing and have opportunities for adequate employment income to meet their basic needs. To help prevent new generations from entering a life of poverty and homelessness, particular efforts will be made to reduce first-time homelessness among low-income families with children and school-aged youth by 30 percent by 2021. Inform and Enhanceand Public Awarenessand Advocacy Efforts Most residents of Lane County encounter someone nearly every day that lives in homelessness and poverty. Some aspects of homelessness and poverty are highly visible while others are largely hidden from public view. Because the problems are extremely complex and interconnected, however, it is easy to form misunderstandings and misconceptions. The PHB believes that successful long-term efforts to reduce and eliminate poverty and homelessness in Lane County will require heightened public awareness, a well-informed understanding, and broad community support. The PHB will focus concentrated efforts to dispel myths and broaden community understanding of the multiple issues related to homelessness and poverty. In addition, the PHB will advocate for changes to state and federal policies and procedures that will remove barriers to service delivery and support more collaborative efforts. To turn advocacy into action the PHB will use a collective impact approach bringing volunteers, nonprofits, faith, businesses and government together around shared goals and strategies. Page 3 of 9