Item B: Update on Homeless Initiative Action Plan

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CHALLENGES Homelessness impacts the community in numerous ways and the homeless population is as diverse as the city itself. There are many approaches to addressing the problem. Among these are prevention, affordable housing, and services for homeless people of all ages and conditions. The homeless problem has increased over the last 25 years. This can be attributed to severe reductions in funding of various programs and to wages failing to keep up with housing prices. A close-to-home example of program cuts includes the City’s Community Development Block Grant which has experienced a 20 percent reduction over the last six years (a number that would be even greater if inflation was factored in). Solving the homeless problem requires a combination of creativity, discipline and funding. The Federal Government is focusing much of their funding on the ten percent of people nationally who meet HUD’s narrow definition of “chronically homeless” (chronically homeless is actually 16 percent of Lane County’s homeless population). While this 16 percent typically costs the various systems significant resources, the ability to help the 84 percent of local situationally homeless people remains a crisis. If left unassisted, many are likely to become chronically homeless. Lane County’s budget crisis is not solved and is expected to result in significant impacts during the coming years. The long term result is likely to be widespread and significant budget cuts to service providers. Public Health, Veterans assistance, day and night shelters, sobering and detox, and other critical treatment programs could either close or be curtailed. The results will negatively impact public health and safety in Eugene. In addition, a federal law now limits households to five years of benefits under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. [This program used to be known as “welfare”.] For the first time, the five-year window is closing for many households. This will have serious repercussions. The recession has lead to lay-offs and a general belt-tightening in the community. Every social service provider is finding that their donations are down while their demand for services is increasing. Some report that the lay-offs are a “ticking time bomb” because when a person’s unemployment compensation runs out their housing is at risk. INTERMEDIATE MEASURES Identify and Track: ? The number of meetings with homeless community members, service providers, homeless advocates, City and County commissions and other key stakeholders to determine and prioritize gaps and needs. ? The amount of City budgets allocated to programs that directly help the homeless. Page 5 of 8