Item B: Council Priority Issue - Homeless Strategy

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ATTACHMENT D Strategic Priority Issue #8 Develop a Strategy to Help the Homeless in Eugene Continuum of Care and Other Stakeholder Gap Issues Action Plan Step 23 - Federal and State decisions impact the community's ability to respond to Homeless issues. City needs to advocate positions at state legislature re: service delivery priorities o A commitment from the City to create awareness of homelessness in Eugene - who is o impacted, which programs offer services, and encouraging citizen involvement Support a campaign to encourage voter participation among the homeless population o Local elected officials need to strongly support Lane County’s efforts on their “Plan to End o Homelessness is 10 Years” which is a Federally supported program being developed by many cities nationwide Action Plan Step 24 – City policies, ordinances, rules, etc. might contain barriers that impact the Homeless. Review existing ordinances to see how better to allow homeless community members to o camp in appropriate location Review existing City department policies and procedures to see which have the greatest o impact and barriers to homeless community members Action Plan Step 25 - We must deal with constantly fluctuating needs for services and appropriate funding methods. Bathrooms and showers for public use, especially those that are currently not open 24/7 o Cost of Living adjustment (COLA) for the Human Services Commission and agencies it o serves Encourage the low-income and homeless population to weigh in on community issues and o decisions by regularly holding forums or outreach, bring information to the people, conduct surveys, etc. In the shelters and other locations that homeless people gather host informal mini-workshops o on how to have a political voice-or even set up a table with one person teaching this. Provide concrete examples of times when citizens have impacted policy. All services for homeless and at-risk persons with limited English skills o Childcare is a huge issue that needs to be addressed for folks who are homeless and at-risk of o becoming homeless. After-school programs are also a huge need. Action Plan Step 26 - The community needs more permanent and transitional housing. Follow-up support to stabilize people in Transitional Housing ($50,000 for 15 households) o Need more transitional housing units for individuals with disabilities (mental and/or physical) o University of Oregon housing (low income Westmoreland); could be option for low income o housing for general population Need to have housing options other than the Mission to house homeless singles o Support while on waiting list for an emergency shelter o Single women who use domestic violence services can’t find housing by the time their o emergency stay is up and return to abusive situation (need help with move in costs and affordable housing availability) Housing for families, singles and youth with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) o Housing for sexual offenders is and will continue to be a problem as their living situation are o known publicly Page 3 of 4 11/21/2005