Item B: Council Priority Issue - Homeless Strategy

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: City Council Priority Issue - Update on Homeless Strategy for Eugene Meeting Date: November 30, 2005 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Library, Recreation and Cultural Services Staff Contact: Angel Jones www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-6065 ISSUE STATEMENT The purpose of this work session is to review the revised action plan for the City Council priority issue “Develop a Strategy to Help the Homeless in Eugene.” The City Council is asked to approve or modify the proposed action plan. BACKGROUND In February, the Mayor and City Council met to develop strategic priorities for the community. Out of that session emerged eight priority issues, one of which was to develop a strategy to help the homeless in Eugene. The initial action plan was reviewed by the council on July 13, 2005. After review of the proposed action plan, the City Council directed the City Manager to “bring back a refined and focused plan for addressing homelessness in Eugene based on feedback from providers and stakeholders.” Since the Mayor and City Council’s review last July, the staff team, with help from Lane County’s Human Services Commission staff, has actively engaged stakeholders. Three insightful meetings were arranged with groups of homeless community members. The team heard from homeless adults at the Eugene Service Station, homeless families at Shelter House, and homeless youth at New Roads. On three occasions the team met with a large group of professionals who are regularly providing services or advocacy for the homeless and at-risk population. The team also made presentations and heard from the Intergovernmental Housing Policy Board, the Eugene Human Rights Commission, the Lane County Commission on Children and Families and the Lane County Human Services Commission. In all, hundreds of stakeholders have been engaged to this point to identify the greatest needs and gaps in services to this homeless population. In addition, as part of the discussions, they provided feedback on the City’s role in the provision of these services. Recurring themes emerged from these stakeholders meetings and the subsequent gap analysis of existing services and needs resulted in a list of options in the revised action plan presented in Attachment A. A comprehensive history of initiatives, both ongoing and terminated, is included as Attachment B. Attachment C contains a summary of the plan’s actions steps, status, resource needs and projected time frame for completion. Attachment D provides action plan detail on the gap analysis work to-date. The staff team is in the process of working with the stakeholders to prioritize these gaps. The issues of homelessness are not isolated to Eugene, nor are they unique to the region. In order to find adequate solutions, the City will need to continue to partner significantly with homeless/at-risk L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M051130\S051130B.doc