Item B: City Council Goal – Update on Homeless Initiative Action Plan

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Lane County adopted the Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in November 2006. This action took place following significant community education and involvement. Project Homeless Connect, on February 8, 2007, provided direct services to 1007 homeless people, using over 350 volunteers and nearly 100 agency services. This highly successful event was acknowledged by the Mayor and City Council on April 9, 2007. Quarterly report provided separately has additional information. Phase II (2 to 5 Years) Longer-term approved priorities. These priorities will be initiated with the understanding that some go far beyond the five-year time horizon. Phase II is now underway. 1. Plan and Implement Project Homeless Connect 2008. 2. Identify a stable, sustainable funding source to address homelessness. In May 2006 Council reviewed the homeless goal and supported the Action Planning Team’s recommendation that a stable, sustainable funding source was needed in order to make significant progress on the goal. Council directed The Mayor to appoint a committee to study options and return with recommendations. The Mayor determined that it would be most effective to appoint this committee after Lane County adopted the Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and also after Project Homeless Connect. The Mayor recognized that funding is needed to implement the Ten Year “Blue Ribbon Committee to Finance Homelessness and Plan goals. The Mayor appointed the Housing Programs” in February 2007. This committee is working toward completing recommendations in December, 2007. 3. Continue and expand community education and internal City trainings related to understanding the causes and impacts of homelessness and strategies to solve the problem. Overall Progress to Date B. The following are examples of currently operational programs/actions that assist homeless/at risk community members which the City has participated in, supported or created. This list may not include programs run by the County and other organizations. 1967 City created special land use zone for the Eugene Mission to allow them to move to their current location on W. First Avenue. Current Status: Special land use zone is still in effect. th 1970 Family Shelter House opened with City assistance, on E. 11 Avenue, at the site that became the “Animal House.” The facility moved to its current location, 969 Hwy. 99 N, in 1977. Current Status: This facility is still in operation. 1990 Housing Policy Board (HPB) formed, by intergovernmental agreement, between Lane County, Eugene, Springfield, and HACSA. This public-private partnership prioritizes permanent housing over emergency housing and sets a goal of adding 100 new rental housing units per year. Current Status: As of June 2005, 1,526 subsidized rental housing units have either been added or are in the pipeline for completion. Many are rented to formerly homeless households or those at risk of homelessness. 1990 Interfaith Emergency Shelter Program began when the Opportunity Shelter closed due to both funding shortfalls and recognition that this model was not successful. Following a public protest, the City provided seed money for the Interfaith Emergency Shelter Program, rather than L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070625\S070625B.DOC