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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-06-25 - AGENDA REPORTS - COUNCIL END HOMELESSNESS (2)NEW BUSINESS DATE: SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: BACKGROUND AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval Item to be presented Jeff Kolin JUNE 25, 1991 The Business/Government Council/tq/End Homelessness Parks and Recreation Mayor Tom Bradley of the City of Los Angeles recently authored a letter requesting all California cities to consider joining the Business/Government Council to End Homelessness. The organization's objective is to develop a statewide policy that will address the homeless situation. The homeless population in California is on the increase. The current recession has only served to exacerbate the problem. Cities all over -the state are trying to find solutions to a problem that is not going away. The Business/Government Council to End Homelessness was created specifically to organize cities into an ongoing, credible, and forceful advocacy campaign to advance legislation and public policy to alleviate homelessness throughout the state. The council brings together business leaders, business associations and service providers, as well as cities, .to apply pressure in Sacramento and advocate solutions to the homeless crisis. The council is a vehicle on which to build a cooperative effort among cities, business, and the government. The council is actively seeking cities to join the coalition. When a city becomes a member of the council it can look forward to receiving the.following benefits: 1. Participating in a statewide coalition whose goal is to establish a comprehensive policy to end homelessness in California. 2. Having access to a statewide network of support to assist each other's municipalities. 3. A full-time lobbyist in Sacramento who looks after each city's needs. 4. An experienced and sophisticated staff working full-time on behalf of the member cities. APPROVE1 �w��eau� ifi�m: Nineteen cities are currently members of the organization: Long Beach Sacramento Santa Barbara Vallejo Berkeley San Bernardino Oakland Los Angeles Santa Monica West Hollywood Oceanside Hayward Costa Mesa San Francisco San Jose Santa Cruz Chico Culver City San Diego Redondo Beach The council is asking all California cities to join the coalition. Membership dues are $5,000 a year, and are required to participate in the organization. This contribution to a statewide effort to address the homeless problem provides the City of Santa Clarita with an opportunity to participate in a collective effort to address a significant regional problem. Fiscal Impact Membership in the Business/Government Council. to End Homelessness would require a $5,000 annual appropriation. Funds in the City Council Contingency Fund, 01-4101-290 would be transferred to account number 01-4100-203. Staff would analyze the effectiveness of the organization during the upcoming fiscal year, and include -a request for inclusion of an additional $5,000 to fund a second year of membership in the organization if sufficient value was received by the City. It is recommended that the City Council approve membership for the City of Santa Clarita in the Business/Government Council to End Homelessness, and transfer $5,000 from the City Council contingency fund to account number 01-4100-213 to fund a one-year membership in the council. ATTACHMENTS Statements of Purpose Homelessness skh PRCOUNC.35 for the Business/Government Council to End • 0 THE BUSINESS/GOVERNMENT COUNCIL TO END HOMELESSNESS STATEMENTS OF PURPOSE Business/Government Council to End Homelessness The Business/Government Council to End Homelessness (Council) is a non- profit advocacy organization dedicated to advancing legislation and public policy that will alleviate the plight and reduce the numbers of homeless people in California. The Council will sponsor legislation supporting programs that provide emergency shelter, develop affordable housing for low income families and attend to the needs of the homeless mentally ill and/or substance abuser in our society. The Council was conceived as a tool to mobilize both the public and private sectors in counties and municipalities with significant homeless populations. The Council views homelessness as a set of related problems that society as a whole must resolve and not leave to local law enforcement agencies. Business/Government Education Fund to End Homelessness The Business/Government Education Fund to End Homelessness (Education Fund) is a companion organization to the Council. The Education Fund is a non- profit entity dedicated exclusively to promoting public discussion and awareness of homeless issues and their solutions to which contributions are tax deductible. The Education Fund achieves this by developing informational materials, such as newsletters; television and radio public service announcements; and a speakers bureau that focuses public attention on the need. for affordable housing, emergency shelters, physical and mental. health and substance'abuse programs and job training. The Education Fund will not engage in legislative advocacy but will communicate policy options and the need for our society to mobilize in support of social service programs to end homelessness in California. 16830 Ventura Boulevard • Suite Y • Encino, California 91436_ • Phone: (818) 784-4411 • Fax: (818) 784-4596 - �O 9 OBJECTIVES Business/Government Council: To accomplish its goals, the Council is building a coalition of local elected officials as well as leaders in the business and social service community. Utilizing the input from this diverse range of community leadership, the Council will develop a broad Statement of Concern and Basic Principles. The Statement will call for strong decisive action by the State Legislature to significantly increase funding for programs that assist the homeless as part of a coordinated strategy to solve the problem. The Statement will be circulated to local elected officials, business leaders and service organizations who will be asked to further contribute their ideas, endorse the Council's program and provide financial support to continue this effort. The Council will then use the information and ideas gathered from its members and other experts to develop draft legislation to be known as the Homeless Assistance Act A public opinion survey will then be conducted to test the public's attitudes toward the proposed legislation and. other issues related to the homeless.. The Council's goal is to have the Homeless Assistance Act sponsored by the bipartisan leadership of both houses. The Business/Government Education Fund: The Education Fund will help develop the Statement of Concern by creating a working paper that outlines the nature and causes of homelessness, based on information gathered from business, government and social service leaders. This paper will identify options and opportunities for the public and private sectors to participate in solving the homeless problem. The Education Fund will also develop a media and public outreach campaign to educate the public on homeless issues and opportunities to assist in their resolution. 0 L� STRATEGY The Business/Government Council and Education Fund to End Homelessness will pursue its goals through a four phase program: I. ISSUE ASSESSMENT AND COALITION BUILDING * Review literature and current information on the extent and nature of the homeless problem. * Evaluate recent government efforts and identify programmatic gaps. * Meet and confer with business, government and social service community representatives to solicit input and ideas. * Evaluate results of recent public opinion surveys on public 40 awareness and attitudes toward the homeless problem. * Meet with and build a coalition of social service agency and business community leaders and local elected officials. II. POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENT Council. * Develop draft legislation to be known as the Homeless Assistance Act. * Review provisions with coalition members and other interested parties. * Obtain bipartisan authors for the legislation. * Conduct a survey of public attitudes toward the proposed legislation and related issues. * Solicit the support of community leadership as signatories to the . Statement. n Education Fund: * Develop working papers leading to the drafting of the Statement of Concern. * Review Statement with coalition members and other interested parties. III. LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT/PUBLICITY * Obtain endorsements from government, political and business leaders, homeless organizations and related support groups. * Promote media coverage and conduct a public outreach campaign involving Council and Education Fund leadership. M. LEGISLATIVE PROCESS Council. * Introduce the Homeless Assistance Act on the opening day of the 1992-93 session (the first week of December, 1991). * Continue media events. * Participate in legislative process by involving Council leadership and coalition members in public hearings and lobbying efforts. Education Fund. * Continue to focus public attention on homelessness through public service announcements and media events. K] b� MEMBERSHIP The success of this effort requires the building of a coalition consisting of those constituent groups that are best able to focus both public and legislative attention on the problem of homelessness. Membership for both of the organizations is drawn from three primary sources: -local government, -business community, and -social service providers. These diverse groups were selected because of the differing perspectives they can provide. These perspectives include: Counties and Municipalities: Local governments often bear the responsibility of meeting the health, housing and policing needs of the homeless. . However, local government is almost entirely dependant on the State for funding essential services, such as mental health programs and emergency shelter services. Business Leaders: The business community is caught on the horns of the homeless dilemma. On one hand, business leaders view homelessness as a social problem not easily solved without a long term commitment of public sector and private philanthropic activity that will expand social services and affordable housing. On the other hand, to the extent that street people cause neighborhood decline and drive away customers and tenants, immediate law enforcement approaches are desired. Service Providers: Service providers, including religious leaders who serve on the front lines helping the homeless, will play an important role helping to set the policy direction and contributing experience regarding effective programs. They will also assist in coordinating with existing provider networks. 0 Those who join either the Council or the Education Fund will be invited to participate in the full range of organizational activities, including developing the Statement of -Concern and the Homeless Assistance Act. Members are not expected to attend numerous meetings. Members will be called upon to support legislative efforts by: A. endorsing the Statement of Concern, B. assisting the building and expansion of the coalition, C. supporting the organization's objectives, D. assisting in the effort to pass the Homeless Assistance Act, and E. paying membership dues to help defray operational expenses. Both the Business/Government Education Fund and the Business/Government Council to End Homeless are overseen by a Board of Directors. Directors and members are drawn from the public and private sectors. 0 FACT SHEET Estimated Number of Homeless: -On May 2, 1990, Shelter Partnership estimated.the homeless population of Los Angeles County at 100,000 to 160,000, or two to three times the number previously acknowledged. These numbers were based on data from the State Department of Social Services and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. -The estimated number of homeless families is 43,000-50,000, including 28,000-32,000 children. -In comparing homeless families with "stably housed" poor families, homeless families had consistently higher rates of drug abuse and domestic violence, had more children and lower education, and most dramatically, adults lacked support networks. These Numbers do not Include: -An estimated 40,000 people living in garages. -Tens of thousands of individuals sleeping on couches of friends and families. -Families that are doubling or tripling up in apartments that are designed for far fewer persons or living in substandard housing. Other Statistics: -According to a 1988 Rand Corporation study of Alameda, Orange and Yolo Counties, and Los Angeles' Skid Row, between 26 and 40 percent of homeless adults suffer from serious mental disorders. n I� • -The de -institutionalization of the mentally ill has been a major contributing factor to the number of homeless. In California, the number of hospital beds have dropped from 37,000 in 1960 to 5,000 in 1983. Half of the remaining beds are occupied by patients on penal code commitments (Vacaville). -Between 55 and 87 percent of homeless adults abuse alcohol or drugs, and between 14 and 37 percent are both drug abusers and have mental disorders. -A 1989 Assembly Office of Research report on homeless families in Los Angeles found that 67 percent of these families were residents of the County prior to becoming homeless. This is consistent with studies of skid row men. Shelter and Housing: -A homeless person averages eight nights a month sleeping on the street; • the most common sleeping area is in a shelter. -Hamilton, Rabinowitz & Alschuler, in their study for the LA. Partnership for the Homeless, estimated that shelter capacity must be expanded by 30 percent to accommodate all that want to stay there. -In 1986, there were 3,199 shelter beds in Los Angeles County. -The City of Los Angeles Blue Ribbon Task Force estimates that that is an annual shortfall of 10,000 affordable housing units per year. -According to Shelter Partnership's 1990 report, 66 percent of the emergency shelter funding mix comes from public sources, while 34 percent comes from the private sector. The 1986 United Way reported a 24 percent to 76 percent. public to private mix. -The public funds for shelters comes from the following: Federal- 35 percent State- 15 percent County- 32 percent Cities- 32 percent -The annual operating budget for a shelter is nearly $500,000, with an average cost per bed of $20. In 1987 the average bed cost $14.21. -The Shelter Partnership study found that 33 percent of the shelters surveyed were forced to cutback or close programs due to a lack of adequate funding. Twenty-seven percent are currently considering either cutting back or closing their doors due to funding problems. Homeless Assistance: -The total annual spending for homeless programs in Los Angeles County appears to.be $128-134 million in 1989, up from $116 million in.1988 and $107 million in 1987. -The largest single government program for the homeless is General Relief. -The County provided the bulk of money for homeless programs, usually in the form of pass-through from the State or Federal government. -New York has consistently received a disproportionately greater share of federal homeless assistance funds, partly because Los Angeles County has failed to apply for funds. Federal funds are primarily available under the MclQnney Act of 1987, which was Congress' attempt to provide an omnibus vehicle for homeless aid. However, since 1987, funding has dropped from $527 million to $378 million in 1989. -Half of the State's $54 million is expected to fund just two programs, one that serves the mentally ill and one designed for families. -While state funding over the past three years has increased from $34 to $54 million (nearly 30 percent), Los Angeles County has.received a steady $14 million over this period. VOTERS WANT AN END TO HOMELESSNESS IN CALIFORNIA Among the major issues that are of concern to California voters, none has emerged in recent years with more force and -political impact than homelessness. In 1990, homelessness joined drugs and crime as a top issue for California voters. Surveys conducted by the New York Times, Gallup and Harris polling organizations over the past year have confirmed the national swell of concern over the homeless. A March, 1990, survey by Fairbank, Bregman & Maullin asked 800 voters statewide for their views on major issues facing California. Among the questions asked were several on the homeless issue: Question 1: 'Would you favor or oppose your local city council or county government providing more shelters for the homeless paid by city or county funds?' STRONGLY FAVOR: 42% 76% TOTAL FAVOR SOMEWHAT FAVOR: 34% SOMEWHAT OPPOSE: 11% 19%TOTALOPPOSE • STRONGLY OPPOSE: 8% 5% Don't Know Support for shelters was consistently strong throughout the state and across parties, regions anddemographic characteristics that normally show marked differences on policy issues. Question 2: 'Would you favor or oppose your local city or county government joining with other Califomis cities and counties to secure more state funds for mental health activities, Job training and rehabilitation for the homeless?' STRONGLY FAVOR: 60% 89% TOTAL FAVOR SOMEWHAT FAVOR: 29% SOMEWHAT OPPOSE: 4% 7% TOTAL OPPOSE STRONGLY OPPOSE: 3% 5% Don't Know Even greater support was shown for a joint effort among California local governments to secure state funds to alleviate the homeless problem.. The measure had at least an 84 percent approval rating form all income groups, and that support was consistent among the employed, the retired and homemakers. 0 RECEiVE'D r---'' � IdaY 2 j 1991 yy do,/ r�//J�'';I�-mI1r 1S) I CITv VF SA17At.AiIYA fl •Ili (��� ' i.7✓�� 31 ''qtr • s CITY MALL LOS ANGELES 90012 OFFICE OF THE MAYOR TOM BRADLEY warga May 17, 1991 Honorable Carl Boyer III City of Santa Clarita . 23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 300 Santa Clarita, California 91355 COPIES TO CITY C;!,_;aC;i, CITY MANAGER, Ci _ 'r Date Dear Mayor Boyer: Don't you think it's time California institute a statewide policy that will address the homeless situation? The homeless population in California is on the increase. The current recession has only served to exacerbate the problem. Cities all over that state are trying to find solutions to a problem that is not going away. Aren't you frustrated by the lack of local resources to confront the homeless epidemic? Like you, as Mayor of a California City, I feel the need to reach out and coalesce if we are to create a solution to this truly human tragedy. For this reason I encourage you to join the us Biness/Government Council to End Homelessness. The Business/Government Council to End Homelessness (Council) was created specifically to organize cities such as yours into an ongoing, credible and forceful advocacy campaign to advance legislation and public policy to alleviate homelessness throughout the State. The Council brings together business leaders, business associations and service providers, as well as cities, to apply pressure in Sacramento and advocate solutions to the homeless crisis. The Council is a vehicle on which to build a cooperative effort between cities, business and the government. The Council is actively seeking cities to join the coalition. When a city becomes a member of the Council it can look forward to receiving the following benefits: 1. Participating in a statewide coalition whose. goal is to establish a comprehensive policy to end homelessness in California. 2. Having access to a statewide network of support to assist each others' municipalities. 3. A full—time lobbyist in Sacramento who looks after each cities' needs. 4. An experienced and sophisticated staff working full—time on behalf of the . member cities. NOT PRINTED OR MAILED AT PUBLIC EXPENSE r 7= Page two May 17, 1991 In the short time the Council has been . in existence the following goals have been accomplished: *Establishment of a sister organization, the Business/Government Education.Fund to End Homelessness (Education Fund), that is dedicated exclusively to promoting public discussion and awareness of homeless issues and solutions. "Sponsoring and coordinating Joint Assembly Committee Hearings on homelessness. 'Extensive research into homeless issues, public opinion and current policy. Recently, the Council has brought you together Mayors from 19 cities: Long Beach Los Angeles San Jose Sacramento Santa Monica Santa.Cruz Santa Barbara West Hollywood Chico Vallejo Oceanside Culver City Berkeley Hayward San Diego San Bernardino Costa Mesa Redondo Beach Oakland San Francisco These cities joined together to show their support for the Emergency Shelter and Cold/Wet Weather Program. Current policy under the State's Emergency Shelter Program only requires the National Guard Armories to open their doors as short term emergency shelters when the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The Council's goal is to see the temperature guideline dropped and shelters remain open nightly during the coldest months of the year (November through March). Long Term Council objectives include exploring and advocating new avenues of affordable housing and restructuring the mental health system. The Council is now asking all California cities to join the coalition. Membership dues of $5,000 a year seems nominal once you look at what that money can do for your city. There is no end in sight to the growing numbers of homeless people in our state. As Mayor of one of our finest cities, take action now to end this human tragedy, join the Business/Government Council to End Homelessness. There is already a lot of excellent work being done in the area of homeless, but so much more is needed. In a state as wealthy as California it should be a commitment borne of pride, compassion and necessity for us to pledge to make homelessness a memory, not the nightmarish reality that it has become. Please join me in this coalition for the sake of all of our cities. Sincerely, TOM BRADLEY Mayor THE BUSINESS/GOVERNMENT COUNCIL TO END HOMELESSNESS CERTIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP [ ] YES, Mayor Bradley, my city agrees that homelessness is a state wide crisis and requires a comprehensive state wide policy initiative. My city is proud to join The Business/Government Council to End Homelessness. This is to certify (name (address, city, zip) (phone) (fax) wishes to become a member in the Business/Government Council to End Homelessness. Membership in this organization will consist of the following commitments: 1. endorsing the Statement of Principles; 2. assisting in the building of the coalition; 3. working to further the goals of the organization; 4. and $5,000 in financial support. This application is filed in accord with official action taken by our city on _ (Signature of authorized official) (print name) (title) The names of appointed representatives of this city qualified to attend in Advisory Committee meetings are the following. 1. (please print—principal) (phone) 2. (1st alternate) (phone) Unless otherwise indicated funds may be used for educational purposes, through the Business/Government Education Fund to End Homelessness Please FAX/mail this certification to: 16830 Ventura Blvd. Suite Y, Encino, CA 91436 FAX 818.784-4596 16830 Ventura Boulevard • Suite Y • Encino, California 91436 • Phone: (818) 784-4411 • Fax: (818) 784-4596