Agenda Packet 10-10-18 Joint Work Session

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LEARN MORE: www.eugene-or.gov/homelessness or 541-682-5010 Poverty and Homelessness Board The Poverty and Homelessness Board (PHB) is an action oriented group of elected officials, community stakeholders, and individuals who represent low-income and homeless people’s concerns. The board developed a five-year strategic plan in 2016 that included creating 600 additional housing opportunities for chronically homeless individuals and 300 additional emergency shelter beds, as well as other strategies related to the key goals of increasing housing, shelter, and services, preventing homelessness and poverty, and enhancing public awareness and advocacy. The Mayor of Eugene sits on the PHB as a voting member, and City staff also provide support. Human Services Commission The Lane County Human Services Commission (HSC) is the lead agency for the Continuum of Care Plan, coordinating an integrated community safety net delivery system of social services, supportive housing, and healthcare services for low-income and homeless community members. In addition to providing over $800,000 in annual funding to the HSC for a variety of critical social services, the City of Eugene is represented on the commission by elected officials who join those from Lane County and the City of Springfield. Recent Council Actions and Resolutions ■In May 2016, the Eugene City Council passed Resolution No. 5153, which affirmed the City of Eugene’s support and commitment to the Housing First approach. ■In October 2015, Council approved Resolution No. 5142, acknowledging the current housing and homelessness situation as a crisis and urging state assistance to help address it. ■City Council voted unanimously on February 27, 2017, to remove the sunset dates from the Rest Stop and Dusk to Dawn programs. ■The FY18 City of Eugene budget that Council adopted in June 2017 included adjustments to allocate: o $154,655 for the Dusk to Dawn program o $1 million of one-time Comcast Settlement Funds for a shelter Challenges and Priorities 1. The number of households living in poverty is rising, and the number of affordable market rate housing units is shrinking. Over half of Eugene renters and a third of homeowners have a moderate or severe housing cost burden that places them at risk of homelessness. While Eugene continues to support development of affordable and special needs housing, development has not kept pace with the growth in need. 2. Unauthorized camping in City parks and public right-of-ways is having a taxing impact on the community, the unhoused, and the City. While interdepartmental teams continue to explore and implement strategies to increase public health and safety, and help address the needs of the unhoused, finding workable solutions that meet the magnitude and urgency of the need is a continuing challenge. 3. Education and outreach around the issue of homelessness and City and community efforts are key to increasing awareness and opportunities for partnerships and collaboration within the community. 4. Many efforts and initiatives have been implemented that are helping people meet their basic needs, find shelter, connect with services, and access housing. The City will continue to work with Lane County and other agencies, non-profit organizations, community partners and individuals to identify and support practical, humane, collaborative and sustainable solutions to homelessness. October 10, 2018, Joint City-County Work Session – Item 1