Item A: Opportunity Eugene Task Force Update

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Opportunity Eugene Task Force Update Meeting Date: July 18, 2012 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Planning & Development Staff Contact: Michael Wisth www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541- 682-5540 ISSUE STATEMENT On April 11, 2012, staff presented the City Council with the recommendations of the Opportunity Eugene Task Force (see attachment). During this work session, staff will present an update on efforts to help the homelessness, present a draft policy framework to use when evaluating proposals, and discuss the recommendations of the Opportunity Eugene Task Force. BACKGROUND On April 11, 2012, City staff presented recommendations from the Opportunity Eugene Task Force for addressing issues related to homelessness throughout the community. In the time since the last work session, a number of developments related to the recommendations have taken place. A copy of the original Opportunity Eugene Task Force Report and an update related to recent actions taken to address homelessness in Eugene is included in this packet. The task force was established on December 14, 2011, in response to the Occupy Eugene encampment and issues surrounding homelessness. This group was tasked to develop recommendations to present to the council within 90 days for addressing the needs and impacts for the unhoused in the community. Members of the task force were appointed by the Mayor and included City Councilors, community members, representatives from Occupy Eugene, non-profit human services agencies, neighborhood associations, businesses, the health care community and the Human Rights Commission. All task force meetings and committee meetings were open to the public. Though consensus was difficult to reach on many specific actions, the task force did reach consensus on six (6) recommendations for City Council consideration. The recommendations are as follows: 1.Identify and establish potential sites (for a safe and secure place to be) 2.Create and support day use community centers 3.Improve traditional and non-traditional health care access 4.Continue and expand existing services to the homeless 5.Improve laws and ordinances that criminalize and block homeless individuals 6.Create a commission to continue to explore homelessness solutions More detail regarding the process and recommendations are available in Attachment A, the Opportunity Eugene Task Force on Homelessness Solutions Report and Recommendations. S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120718\S120718A.doc