HomeMy WebLinkAbout- - HTF Update Attachment A - 11/15/2011Potential Homeless Task Force Action Items
Short, Medium and Long Term Goals, Priorities and Recommendations
The Costa Mesa Homeless Task Force has identified short, medium and long term
strategies to meet community needs. Successful implementation will depend on a variety
of factors including resources available, City Council priorities and community input.
Once City Council has prioritized programs and recommendations, Staff will begin
putting together an implementation plan which will include a financing strategy as well
as resources needed.
Many of the goals and recommendations listed below will take a considerable amount of
time and resources to implement, should the City Council determine that these action
items viable. For purposes of discussion:
• Short Term is defined as Completed -6 months
• Medium Term is defined as 12 months
• Long Term is defined as 12-24 months
GOAL 1: Define who is a Costa Mesa Homeless Individual
As communities throughout the nation tackle the issues of chronic homelessness, the question of
public resource allocation inevitably becomes one of the first steps to developing a realistic and
effective strategy to address the issue. The current economic recession has added significant
pressure on local governments to identify resources to meet the basic municipal needs of
residents and businesses. This primary responsibility of local government must be balanced
against the needs of local and regional homeless; therefore, an effective homeless strategy must
first recognize it cannot solve all issues related to homelessness and that there are insufficient
resources to address the needs of those at risk of becoming homeless and those already
homeless.
In recognition of the limited availability of public resources, program priorities/preferences can be
established with the goal of targeting resources to those most in need, but that also have a direct
connection to the community. To this end, a definition of a Costa Mesa homeless individual is
considered necessary. Based on direct input of members of the Homeless Task Force and the
public, the following definition has been devised:
Residency in Costa Mesa must have been within the last 24 months and for no
less than 90 days or:
An individual must have strong ties to the community. These ties include:
• Current residency of an immediate family member (for example, mother, father,
sibling, grandparent, son or daughter)
• Proof that the individual and/or their dependent(s) attend or attended a
Costa Mesa K-12 school
• Knowledge - either first hand or recorded - by the Costa Mesa Police
Department and/or the Costa Mesa Code Enforcement Department that the
5:38:33 PM 10/04/2011 1AD- -ft,endSctd,g.,m_,\oc,ktoP\20,-, 5\CC_,_,5_I I _HTF_Upde«_A«d,h_A.d,,
individual has been living on Costa Mesa's streets for 24 months prior to
adoption of the homeless definition.
Examples of acceptable documentation to confirm residency includes:
• Copy of a previous lease
• Confirmation of previous utility service
• Written confirmation of residency from a previous landlord, or proof of residency in
transitional living facility
• Confirmation of School records confirming previous residency
• Special Circumstances - exceptions to the definition include the following:
• Homeless individuals that are "Medically Compromised"'
• Elderly homeless (65+)
Exclusions - the following individuals may be excluded from the definition:
• Residents living in a motel or recovery home
• Intentionally homeless - A person who has the means to occupy reasonable
accommodations and refuses to do so, or a person who deliberately does or
fails to do anything, which would allow them to occupy or continue to occupy
such reasonable accommodations, shall be considered intentionally
homeless
Action Item: Homeless Task Force Action
Time Frame: Short-term (Completed)
Resources: Not Applicable
Recommendations: Adopt definition as presented including reducing exception age
from 65 to 60.
Ensure park is closed at night.
GOAL 2: To Protect the Health and Safety of Costa Mesa Residents through Enforcement
of "Civility" Laws & Provision of Alternate Storage Facilities
Action Item: Ordinances
Time Frame: Short -Long Term
Resources: General Fund
Reducing homelessness in the City of Costa Mesa will require coordinated effort and action in
creating the processes and policies that will lead to its reduction and increases in the City's
quality of life. These avenues include the establishment of ordinances that create the means by
' "Medically compromised" is defined as those persons no longer able to perform "Activities of Daily Living"
(ADL). Most often the persons are diagnosed with co -morbidities that can include but are not limited to
diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension, high blood pressure, cancer, liver disease, and mental
illness. Added to this definition can be those persons who by virtue of their treatment or disease are
susceptible to infections or serious complications. Let me know if you need further clarification.
"Activities of daily living" as used in elder law refer to the activities usually performed for oneself in the
course of a normal day. Examples include bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, toileting and the like.
People may need assistance with ADLs regardless of their living arrangements. Such assistance may
usually be performed by a family member, a home health aide or attendant, or a nurse's aide in a nursing
facility. Inability to perform a certain number of ADLs is a criterion used by many insurance companies to
determine eligibility for benefits.
5:38:33 PM 10/04/2011 2 vD frs-d s�m.g.,,].,,_c\Dc,kt,,p'2011-1s\CC_I 1_,5_I I_HTF_Updutc_AaecF_A.dac
which the city can enforce desired outcomes, the personnel and standard operating procedure of
law enforcement to manage infractions and the political buy -in from parties involved in the
process to reach an acceptable outcome for the community. It is recommended that any action
be taken with a mentality of having a "carrot -and -stick" approach, whereby any ordinance enacted
or adopted have an appropriate alternate provision in the existing strategy that alleviates
opposition by providing a certain measure of relief to those impacted.
2a. Parking (New)
The issue of parking stems from the discovery of vehicles known to park for long periods
of time, allowing the owner/occupant to use the space for lodging purposes as well as
prevent the usage of space for those citizens using the park for recreation. A few of the
options discussed for meeting this problem are:
• Red -curbing
• Meters
• Permit Parking
• Gated Parking
• Limited Nighttime Parking
Recommendations: Overnight parking in parks by permit only.
2b. Sleeping (Existing)
Anti-camping/lodging ordinances on their face are not necessarily unlawful, but in order
to avoid violating the civil rights of the homeless, their ability to sleep at some location
must be unabridged. This means that an approach of providing the ability to sleep
somewhere within the city could create feasibility for the enforcement of an anti-
camping/lodging ordinance problem.
Recommendations: Enforce anti -camping & lodging ordinances as part of a legal
strategy connected to actions that link homeless housing.
Ensure the park is closed at night.
2c. Storage Ordinance and Alternative Storage Site (Revision)
Implementation of an anti -storage ordinance has been explained as a problem of
language. Legal counsel has shown that the term "storage" is unlikely to be defined
effectively. It has been recommended that any language pertaining to the confiscation of
personal property belonging to the homeless include language based on the phrase
"unattended" which has a much more defensible connotation in regards to grounds upon
which enforcement action may be taken. The finding so far is that confiscated goods
must be held for 90 days.
In addition to enacting an effective storage ordinance, the City should consider providing
an alternative storage site for the homeless population so that the costly citation and
confiscation process can be viewed as a last resort. HCD staff has begun a dialogue
with the Church Consortium regarding utilizing church property for this purpose. Church
leaders are currently discussing different alternatives regarding provision of a storage site
for Costa Mesa homeless. If this option fails, the City will need to consider alternate
storage space.
Recommendations: Update and enforce existing personal property storage
ordinances and (if possible) partner with faith=based/nonprofit
organizations to provide accessible and secure locations for
homeless to store and retrieve personal property. Provide grace
period (e.g., one month) before implementing.
2d.Food Sharing (New)
5:38:33 PM 10/04/2011 3 vD frs-d s�m.g.,,].,,_c\Dc,kt,,p12011-1s\CC_I 1_,5_I I_HTF_Updutc_AaecF_A.dac
The practice of feeding the homeless is an activity that has proven to be the subject of
many lawsuits and creates the environment for further difficulty in tackling the root of the
issue. While providing a meal, the active and regular feeding of homeless populations
provides incentive for them to congregate in the area where these events take place.
Legal counsel is reviewing food sharing ordinances in place in different cities which will
eventually be presented to the Task Force.
Recommendations: Research ordinance(s) limiting food sharing programs in City
parks and other public locations with permits issued only for
advocates who have been through outreach training.
2e.Prohibition on Smoking
Currently, the City's Municipal Code prohibits smoking in City -owned public facilities such
as a building, structure or room within a building. This code section does not provide for
a smoking ban for outdoor facilities. California Health and Safety Code Section
104495(6b) prohibits smoking within 25 feet of a playground or tot lot sandbox area.
The Youth Sports Council proposed a smoking ban ordinance for City -owned athletic
facilities. The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended expanding the proposed
smoking ban:
• Within all City -owned buildings, facilities and motor vehicles
• Within the fenced areas, including parking lots if not within the fenced areas, of City
owned sports fields
• Within the fenced areas of the City owned Community Gardens
• Within fifty (50) feet of any City park. Parking lots are included in the park boundaries
The item is scheduled to go before the City Council on November 1, 2011.
Recommendations: Reaffirm support of the Parks and Recreation Commission's
recommendation to expand current smoking ban ordinance to
parks, sports fields, parking lots, etc.
2f. Ban on Sex Offenders in Park
The City Attorney is researching the feasibility of an ordinance that would exclude
registered sex offenders from city parks and youth sports fields owned or operated by the
city. The restriction potentially implicates some constitutional rights, such as the liberty
interest of the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution and interference with
certain aspects of free speech rights. The City Attorney is preparing a legal analysis for
the City Council so they can evaluate whether they want to adopt such a restriction.
Recommendations: No further recommendations.
Goal 3: Proactive Problem Resolution with Regard to High Crime/Vice Motels which Cater
to Transient Population Enforcement of local codes and ordinances at problem Halfway
Houses
One of the root causes of crime and influx of homeless individuals is the proliferation of halfway
houses and deteriorated motels in the City. These establishments attract not only homeless
substance abusers but are also utilized/owned by people outside of the City and State as well as
law enforcement in other jurisdictions.
5:38:33 PM 10/04/2011 4 vD frs-d s,m,g.,,]e,n_c\Dc,kt,,p1201,-, s\CC_I 1_,5_I I_HTF_Updutc_AaecF_A.dac
Actions in this area should focus on better regulation of these establishments and
removal/enforcement of nuisance properties.
The following action items fall under this category:
3a.Action Item: Halfway Houses/Sober Living Homes/Planning Measures
Time Frame: Short -Long
Resources: Existing Staff
Changes in code regarding the addition of bedrooms onto a house could help to curb the
impact that commercial recovery homes are having on the community by preventing them
from building a larger facility and impacting the financial motive for becoming involved in
the business. The previous effort to enact this was based on the requirement to build
additional garaged parking in order to build a fifth room onto any residence. The thought
is that the cost of building the extra parking would be so prohibitive as to render the
motivation null. This action would require an application for variance with the Planning
Commission, requiring an appearance before the Commission and allowing them to
judge whether the project is of adequate use.
Recommendations: Staff should explore changes to current building codes that could
reduce or mitigate impacts of halfway houses/sober living homes
on residential and business neighborhoods.
31b.Action Item: Halfway Houses/Sober Living Homes/Proactive Code
Enforcement/ Church Outreach
Time Frame: Medium -Long Term
Resources Needed: To be determined
Halfway Houses also offer opportunities for proactive code enforcement. Conversations
with County probation and parole agents have suggested that the City combine forces
with County agents to ensure the houses are operating in accordance with their C.U.P.
and that the individuals living there are not living in conditions which would be in violation
of their parole. Any future solutions will look at opportunities to combine City code
enforcement staff with county law enforcement.
Recommendations: City Staff should pursue a partnership with Probation and Parole
personnel to proactively halfway houses/sober living homes to
ensure code compliance.
3c.Action Item: Halfway Houses/Sober Living Homes Church Outreach Ministry
Time Frame: Medium Term
Resources Needed: Existing Staff, Church Driven
City staff has also asked the Church Consortium to develop a program to reach out to
individuals living in halfway houses in Costa Mesa to help support their transition into
permanent housing vs. living on the streets. The Church Consortium is currently working
on this ministry.
Recommendations: Provide support for Church Consortium halfway houses/sober
living homes outreach program.
3d.Action Item: Reactivation of the Motel Task Force
Time Frame: Medium -Long
Resources Needed: To be determined
5:38:33 PM 10/04/2011 5 ADft,-dSctd,gF m_,\oc,ktoP\201-15\CC_,_,5_I I _HTF_Upde«_A«d,h_A.da,
The Motel Task Force was created in 1997 to focus on the collective efforts of several
departments to resolve problems at motels and was successful in fostering clean up of
the worst properties and achieved significant improvement in property appearances and
reduction in criminal activity. The Motel Task Force was renamed the Code Enforcement
Task Force in 2002. It was restructured with a CMPD special enforcement detail, county
health, code enforcement and other departments as needed. It was extremely successful
in citing and inspecting these problem motels and noted a drop in calls for service during
its operation.
HCD and CMPD believe that a proactive effort is needed to address criminal and code
enforcement issues associated with many of Costa Mesa's motels and that these motels
directly contribute to the vagrancy issues plaguing the City. HCD, Development Services
and CMPD are currently reviewing the structure for a future multi -departmental task force
to address ongoing motel issues in the city.
Recommendations: Reactivate the Motel Task Force.
Goal 4: Centralized In -House Homeless Services Coordination
Because homeless services affect so many governmental jurisdictions and outside entities, it is
suggested that one department in the City be responsible for overall coordination of homeless
services and complaints. This department will lead both an in-house and outside task force and
be responsible for implementing a long term homeless strategy and taking all calls and
complaints regarding the homeless, with a particular emphasis on coordinating homeless issues
and responses with CMPD and the City Attorney's office. Tasks will include assessing a problem
situation and working with City and County staff and outside entities to resolve these issues,
community outreach, following up with residents/businesses originating complaints, evaluating
new techniques for addressing problems due to vagrancy and implementing Homeless Task
Force short term and long term strategies.
4a.Action Item: Centralize Homeless Services Coordination within City
Time Frame: Completed - Ongoing
Resources Needed: Existing Staff and PT Analyst
Homeless services and coordination are currently being managed by City Manager's
office in conjunction with CMPD, Recreation and other relevant City departments as
needed. It is suggested that centralized coordination continue due to the plethora of both
in-house and outside providers, interest groups, governmental jurisdictions and citizens
partnering in this program.
Recommendations: Continue centralized homeless service coordination through the
Housing and Community Development Division.
4b.Action Item: Create Smaller HTF to Monitor HTF Implementation Plan
Time Frame: After CC Adoption of HTF Plan - Short Term
Resources Needed: Existing Staff and PT Analyst
The HTF has developed a very sophisticated and intricate implementation plan which will
involve coordinating services as well as researching funding sources, developing
programs, etc. It is suggested that a smaller HTF continue to operate to monitor this
program and report back to the City Council.
Recommendations: Create a smaller HTF to monitor implementation of HTF priorities
and action plan.
5:38:33 PM 10/04/2011 6 ADft,-dSctd,gF m_,\oc,ktoP\201-15\CC_,_,5_I I _HTF_Upde«_A«d,h_A.da,
Goal 5: Integrating law enforcement, mental health and legal strategy as a Three Pronged
Approach to Homelessness
Beyond the inclusion of ordinances in the effort to meet this problem, the enforcement of code
and policy requires that a new approach must be created in order to leverage the available
resources in the most suitable way. This effort will include a more "homeless -specific
enforcement" policy/legal strategy for a more "homeless -specific" solution. The best practices
have shown that because the motivations of homeless individuals differ from the motivation of
average citizens, enforcement response needs to be tailored to the situation at hand. The City
needs to consider adopting a three -pronged approach to law enforcement which involves
arresting chronic offenders and criminals while working alongside the City Attorney, Police
Department and mental health outreach workers to help move the homeless off the streets.
The following items fall under this category:
5a.Action Item: Homeless Enforcement Team
Time Frame: Short -Medium Term
Resources: To be determined
It is suggested that the City explore the implementation of a "Homeless Outreach
Officer" who has overall responsibility for homeless enforcement throughout the City.
Even though Lions Park is currently the hub of activity, this officer would work closely with
both the police department, the City Manager's office and mental health providers to
adopt a two pronged approach to law enforcement. As with other cities which have had
levels of success with this issue, this officer would be trained in "homeless specific"
solutions to law enforcement and be trained in defusing potentially volatile situations and
assist patrol officers in assessing a person's need for mental health services as an
alternative to incarceration. Hopefully they would be the first responders to any homeless
or mental health related call for service which would free up patrol officers and avoid
unnecessary incarcerations. This allows the team to build rapport to work towards long
term solutions with the transient population. However, it is important to note that public
safety is CMPD's first responsibility and arrest is not ruled out when warranted.
Recommendations: The City should explore the deployment of a "Homeless Police
Officer"
5b.Action Item: Park Ranger
Time Frame: Short Term - Completed
Two park rangers will be posted on-site at Lion's Park. Staff feels that the future Lions
Park ranger position must fall under a more specific homeless enforcement strategy
under the supervision of a Homeless Enforcement Team as described below.
Recommendations: Hire 4 Park Rangers to be posted on-site at various Costa Mesa
parks including Lions, Wilson and Canyon (This number includes
the 2 already placed at Lions Park).
5c.Action Item: Coordinated Mental Health/Street Outreach
Time Frame: Short Term
Resources: $25,000-$50,000 per Year
CDBG/RDA/County
Local service providers visit libraries and parks on a weekly basis. CMPD calls them for
assistance when needed. However, removing people off the street oftentimes takes
multiple encounters in order to build trust and enlist cooperation of business owners and
5:38:33 PM 10/04/2011 7 vD - ft, -d s�m.g.,,].,,_c\Dc,kt,,p'2011-1s\CC_I 1_,5_I I_HTF_Updutc_AaecF_A.dac
residents which detract from time a police officer can spend focusing on more urgent
crime fighting activities. As part of the homeless policing team, the City may want to look
at formalizing this relationship by funding part time street outreach team to assist the
Homeless Policing Team.
The CMPD can call on these professionals to assist them in the field. However, it is
suggested that a more formal approach be adopted with perhaps additional mental health
resources so that the Police department is freed up to do law enforcement. This street
outreach team could assist Police in moving homeless individuals off the street and thus
lessen the constant patrol checks during a police officer's shift.
Recommendations: Staff should explore contract opportunities with qualified
providers to coordinate mental health and street outreach
services.
5d. Action Item: Formalize Legal Assistance to Prosecute Chronic Homeless
Violators
Time Frame: Short Term
Resources: GF, Underway
The City needs to develop a multi -faceted legal strategy which will involve having a
stronger presence in court when these transients appear before a judge. The City
Attorney's office needs to prosecute municipal code violations for repeat offenders and
be in communication with the DA's office regarding specific cases of interest who are
prosecuted for state code violations. This approach could result in the ability to remove
people from the community who commit repeated offenses and who refuse assistance by
aggressively prosecuting problem individuals. Additionally, it provides the City with the
opportunity to work closely with the DA to track Homeless Court referrals.
Recommendations: Formalize support for this current legal strategy.
5e. Action Item: Emergency Motel Vouchers for CMPD
Time Frame: Short -Medium
Resources: General Fund/$22,000 (12 vouchers/week x $50 per voucher for
36 weeks)
The CMPD should have a supply of vouchers for emergency situations in which people,
in particular families with children, are found sleeping in the street.
Recommendations: Staff should identify resources to provide CMPD with motel
vouchers for emergency situations and help develop criteria for
the use of vouchers.
Goal 6: Create Permanent Supportive Housing and Possible Access Center
One of the common themes which have surfaced during 5 months of meetings is the lack of
supportive housing for the homeless population and day time facilities where they may
congregate.
Some members of the Homeless Task Force have suggested exploring the concept of an access
center and purchase of existing motel for use as transitional/supportive housing. These facilities
would only be accessed by Costa Mesa homeless residents based on a definition conceived by
the Homeless Task Force. Location of such a facility will be challenging to ensure that impacts to
surrounding neighborhoods are mitigated.
5:38:33 PM 10/04/2011 8 ft,-ds,m,g,,],,n_c\Dc,kt,,p1201,-11-,s\C( 11 15 11 H I P L,pda« At -h AA-
6a.Action Item: Develop Financing Strategy for Supportive Housing based on
existing HOME and RDA funds as well as HUD Continuum of
Care financing
Time Frame: Short Term
Resources: Existing staff
6b.Action Item: Supportive Housing and Access Center
Time Frame: Long Term
Resources: To be determined (combination of federal, state, county & private
resources)
Recommendations: Staff should develop a financing strategy for supportive housing
based on existing HOME, RDA and other sources such as HUD
Continuum of Care grant financing.
Develop supportive housing and access center.
Goal 7: Review Interim Housing Options
The armory is only open in the Winter Months (November -March) and the only other emergency
beds close by are at the Salvation Army. Options may be needed for interim housing until such
time as permanent housing is constructed. Motel vouchers to Costa Mesa Homeless residents
until such time as permanent housing is constructed.
Action Item: Explore Short Term Motel Voucher Program for Costa Mesa
Homeless Residents
Time Frame: Medium Term
Resources: General Fund and private donations
Action Item: Explore keeping either the Fullerton or Santa Ana Armory Open
Longer
Time Frame: Medium Term
Resources: CDBG or General Fund
Action Item: Explore utilizing Shelter + Care Vouchers to target Costa Mesa
Homeless
Time Frame: Short term - In progress
Resources: County Shelter + Care Vouchers
Recommendations: Explore implementation of a motel voucher program for CM
homeless.
Work with County to explore ways to keep Armories open longer.
Goal 8: Development of an Appropriate Metrics System to Monitor Reduction in
Homelessness
In order to successfully measure any reduction in homelessness due to the above-mentioned
recommendations, the City needs to develop an appropriate metrics system by which to measure
success. Although most non profits use the HUD -generated on-line Client Management
Information System to record the activities and services which serve homeless clients, there is
oftentimes no tracking of these clients on a long term basis and therefore no way to really
measure whether or not there is a true reduction in homelessness. Additionally, many service
providers in the community (such as churches and other faith based organizations) do not even
use CMIS to track those that they serve. The City hopes to develop a tracking system by which to
measure the success of its homeless reduction programs so it can be assured that the
appropriate actions are being taken to reduce homelessness.
5:38:33 PM 10/04/2011 9 ft,-ds,m,g,,],,n_c\Dc,kt,,p1201,-11-,s\CC 11 15 11 H I P L,pda« At -h AA-
Action Item: Develop Analytical Tool to Measure Homeless Reduction
Time Frame: Medium Term
Resources: CDBG
Recommendations: Develop an analytical tool to measure homeless reduction
resulting from implementation of the City's homeless strategy.
Goal 9: Promotion of Lions Park as a Local Venue for Special Events and Change in
Facilities to more Creative Usage
Lions Park is located in the center of downtown Costa Mesa. Besides being located near a major
transportation node and neighborhood shopping center, it is part of a large community center
complex bounded on two sides by residential neighborhoods. The community centers are utilized
by both adults and children taking advantage of the wide array of classes and services offered.
Additionally, it contains both passive and active recreational facilities and has the potential of
being transformed into a more vital recreational center. Part of this revitalization will be the
removal of underused facilities including the shelter and surrounding hardscape to be replaced by
a more active and engaging use.
With the new emphasis on special event promotion, it is suggested that the City explore utilization
of this park for more dynamic event programming. There is already a built-in audience comprised
of residents utilizing services at the community centers and County library. This combined with
more proactive law enforcement and effective programming could help draw even more people to
this park and transform it from a homeless encampment to an exciting recreational venue.
Action Item:
Removal of Shelter and Integration of Recreational Facilities
Time Frame:
Medium Term
Resources:
Redevelopment
Action Item:
Special Event Programming in Lions Park
Time Frame:
Long Term
Resources:
Existing Staff
Recommendations:
Remove picnic shelter and integrate new recreational
equipment/facilities.
Identify special event programming opportunities for Lions Park.
5:38:33 PM 10/04/2011 10 ADft,-dSctd.gF\em_�\oc,ktoP\2o ,-, 5\CC_ 1_15_1 I _HTF_Upde«_Aa.�h_A.da
5:38:33 PM10/04/2011 11 C:\Documents and Settings\lam_c\Desktop\2011-11-15\CC_11.15_11_HTF_ Update_AttachA.doc