HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/17/2010, C5 - RESPONSE TO THE GRAND JURY REPORT, ""HOMELESSNESS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY: ARE WE SOLVING THE PROB" C
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBI S PO
FROM: Katie Lichtig, City Manager
Prepared By: Michael Codron, Acting Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO THE GRAND JURY REPORT, "HOMELESSNESS IN SAN
LUIS OBISPO COUNTY: ARE WE SOLVING THE PROBLEM?"
RECOMMENDATION
Direct the City Manager to submit a response to the Grand Jury Report titled, "Homelessness in
San Luis Obispo County: Are We Solving the Problem?" to the Presiding Judge of the San Luis
Obispo Superior Court, with a copy to the Grand Jury, by September 13, 2010.
DISCUSSION
Situation
The 2009-10 Grand Jury has issued a report on homelessness in San Luis Obispo County
(Attachment 1). The report includes a total of thirteen findings and nine recommendations. The
City of San Luis Obispo is required to respond to five of the findings and four of the
recommendations. These findings and recommendations are discussed below. A draft letter has
been written in response to the. Grand Jury's report and is attached for the Council's
consideration(Attachment 2).
Grand Jury Findings: City Response
The City is required to respond to Grand Jury findings 2,3,11,12 & 13. Each finding is listed with
the recommended response, below.
2. The Maxine Lewis Homeless Shelter is not large enough to provide beds in San Luis Obispo
for all who seek them. The facility is in poor physical condition.
Recommended Response: The City Council agrees with this finding. The Maxine Lewis
Homeless Shelter is located on a 0.7-acre property on Orcutt Road in the City of San Luis
Obispo. The site is bordered by a creek and improvements include a former residence and a
series of modular buildings that together accommodate a range of homeless services,including a
meal service, overnight shelter and limited case management. The overnight shelter can
accommodate 50 people and members of the homeless population are routinely turned away
because there are not enough beds for all,who seek them.
The City of San Luis Obispo supports operations at Maxine Lewis through its Community
Development Block Grant Program and through direct financial assistance from the City's
General Fund. The existing facility provides safe and adequate shelter for 50 people, however,
the improvements on the site are nearing the end of their useful life and a larger replacement
Response to Grand Jury Report on Homelessness Page 2
facility, to be located on 3451 South Higuera Street, is in the planning stages. The planning for
this new facility has received substantial staff support from the City's Community Development
Department, and a Planning Commission Use Permit for the facility was approved on June 23,
2010.
3. The "overflow" shelter program that CAPSLO runs with the Interfaith Coalition provides
beds for homeless women and families each night of the year at local churches and
synagogues. Tyiis arrangement has logistical challenges but also provides the important
advantage of engaging many volunteers to serve as chaperones, thus giving hundreds of
citizens some awareness of what it means to have no home.
Recommended Response: The City Council agrees with this finding. The City appreciates the
work of the both CAPSLO and the Interfaith Coalition in providing essential services for the
homeless population of our county. Without the work of dedicated professionals and committed
volunteers, the level of service currently provided to the homeless population could not be
sustained.
11. The widely endorsed Path to a Home: San Luis Obispo Countywide 10-Year Plan to End
Chronic Homelessness has been accepted, but not "adopted," by cities and the county.
Recommended Response: The City Council agrees with this finding and works to implement the
10-Year Plan through its participation on the Homeless Services Oversight Council,
implementation of its CDBG program, implementation of its Grants-In-Aid program and through
other efforts, including direct subsidies from the City's General Fund to the Maxine Lewis
Homeless Shelter and the Prado Day Center. "Adoption" of the plan is not necessary for the City
to allocate available resources, as determined through the public processes associated with our
funding programs and adoption of our budget, to activities that support the homeless population,
or implement the Plan's recommendations..
12. The County, with support from cities and private groups, wants to build a homeless service
campus in San Luis Obispo.
Recommended Response: The City Council partially agrees with this finding. Although the
"builder" of the facility has not yet been confirmed, the City has provided substantial support to
the planning process for the facility and will continue to do so until a suitable replacement for the
Maxine Lewis Homeless Shelter can be provided. A Planning Commission Use Permit for the
facility was approved on June 23, 2010.
13. The need for low cost housing in the county substantially exceeds supply.
Recommended Response: The City Council agrees that the need for low cost housing
substantially exceeds supply, and the City's State-certified Housing Element addresses this issue
head on. The City of San Luis Obispo has sufficient capacity of land zoned for residential
development to meet its Regional Housing Needs Assessment requirement and provides
substantial incentives, including density bonuses and fee waivers, to facilitate the development of
housing for extremely-low, very-low, low and moderate income households.
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Response to Grand Jury Report on Homelessness Page 3
Grand Jury Recommendations: City Response
The City is required to respond to Grand Jury recommendation 1, 2, 3, & 5. Each Grand Jury
recommendation is listed with the City response, as recommended, below.
1. The county and all the county's incorporated cities should "adopt" and begin to implement
the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness.
Recommended Response: The City of San Luis Obispo has accepted the 10-Year Plan and has
begun to work cooperatively with the County and other cities to implement its recommendations
and strategies, therefore, this recommendation will not be implemented at this time. "Adoption"
of the 10-Year Plan is not necessary and would not, on its own, result in better implementation or
the availability of more resources to fight homelessness. As mentioned in the Grand Jury report,
the City of San Luis Obispo traditionally allocates 15% of its CDBG funding annually for direct
services to the homeless population. The City.also provides General Fund support for the Maxine
Lewis Homeless Shelter and the Prado Day Center. The City participates on the Homeless
Services Oversight Council (HSOC) —the Vice Chairperson is Deborah Linden, the City's Chief
of Police, and Council Member John Ashbaugh is an HSOC member. The City's participation in
this process is intended to ensure that the City is not providing duplicative or competing services
and that our resources are being allocated in a manner consistent with the 10-Year Plan.
2. The county and all the incorporated cities should establish and fund a line item in their
budgets specifically for supporting services, including more housing for homeless persons.
Recommended Response: This recommendation is already implemented in the City of San Luis
Obispo. The City currently has line items in its budget that specifically support homeless
services, and an Affordable Housing Fund that is used to increase the City's stock of affordable
housing for all income levels, including the extremely-low income category. In fiscal year 2010-
11, the City will spend $53,700 and $33,302 from the General Fund to support operations of the
Prado Day Center and Maxine Lewis Homeless Shelter; respectively. This is in addition to
$102,239 in CDBG funding allocated for operations at Maxine Lewis. The City of San Luis
Obispo has also recently provided funding for an affordable housing component within the
Village at Broad Street mixed-use project. Over$1 million in funding from the City's Affordable
Housing Fund will support the development of 42 affordable housing units, all serving
households that earn below 80% of Area Median Income.
3. A full-time (Homeless) Services Coordinator (a senior official who is more than the currently
contemplated HSOC "Executive Director") should oversee the implementation of the ten year
plan. This person should be supplied with a staff, including a grant writer.
Recommended-Response- This recommendation will not be implemented by the City of San Luis
Obispo because the City has just authorized funding in support of the HSOC Executive Director
position, whose task is to oversee implementation of the 10-Year Plan, and otherwise support the
work of the HSOC. This work is just beginning and it is not clear how a second, full-time
Services Coordinator would complement HSOC's efforts. The City's first priority in this regard
should be to ensure the success of the HSOC Executive Director, rather than create a new layer
of authority and responsibility for Plan implementation.
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Response to Grand Jury Report on.Homelessness Pape 4
5. The Homeless Services Campus should be built as soon as possible. The coordinator and
appropriate staff from DSS, County Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol should also,be
stationed there. These professionals need to meet with the homeless where they eat and sleep.
Each department should have one or more staff assigned to the Prado Day Center on a regular
basis until the campus is occupied. Appropriate arrangements should be made to address issues
of client privacy and confidentiality as required by law, but such requirements should not
provide a (rationale)for not delivering services.
Recommended Response: The City of San Luis Obispo agrees with the recommendation that the
Homeless Services Center (HSC) should be built as soon as possible. A Planning Commission
Use Permit for the facility was approved on June 23, 2010. This permit approval was not
appealed, therefore, the HSC may be established on the County-owned, South Higuera Street
location pending design review of the facility and approval of construction permits. The City
intends to facilitate this process by making regular presentations to its Architectural Review
Commission regarding the design of the facility. City staff members participate on the HSOC
sub-committee that is working to facilitate development of the HSC. The City believes that the
process currently underway will lead towards the successful development and implementation of
the HSC as a one-stop location for integrated homeless services. The City of San Luis Obispo
owns the Prado Day Center property and provides the land to CAPSLO for its use, in addition to
water, sewer and garbage services provided at no cost. The City of San Luis Obispo has no
authority with respect to the activities of staff from Department of Social Services, or any other
County agency, assigned to the facility, therefore, this portion of the recommendation cannot be
implemented by the City.
FISCAL IMPACTS
The City of San Luis Obispo agrees with the recommendation that a Homeless Services Center
should be built as soon as possible. The City currently provides General Fund support for the
operation of the Maxine Lewis Homeless Shelter and the Prado Day Center. The City also
allocates CDBG funds to the Homeless Shelter, and recently used CDBG funds to make
improvements to the Day Center facility. Once the HSC is constructed, it is expected to provide a
wider range of services to a larger portion of the County's homeless population, such as
increasing from 50 to 200 bed capacity in the overnight shelter. These expanded services may
result in additional costs, which are currently unknown, and the City of San Luis Obispo, along
with other agencies, may be asked to provide financial support above current levels. Funding for
Homeless Services, in general, is determined through the budget process and the CDBG funding
allocation process. Both of these processes provide for public input into the decisions that the
City Council will make regarding funding. While the future funding requests for the HSC are
currently unknown, requests for funding generally exceed the amount of funding available, and
the City Council will need to balance competing priorities when determining funding levels for
the proposed HSC.
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Response to Grand Jury Report on Homelessness Paae 5
ALTERNATIVES
1. The Council may modify the attached response letter to the Grand Jury and presiding
judge.
2. The Council may continue consideration of the item until September 7, 2010, if more
information is needed. However, the response to the Grand Jury must be provided by
September 13, 2010.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Grand Jury Report — "Homelessness in San Luis Obispo County: Are We Solving the
Problem?"
2. City Council response to the Grand Jury's report
L:\Housing\CDBaCARS\grandjuryreport(hometess).DOC
ATTACHMENT 1
HOMELESSNESS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY:
ARE WE SOLVING THE PROBLEM?
SUMMARY
On any given day nearly four thousand persons in San Luis Obispo County are homeless. Some
sleep under bridges or along the creeks, some live in their cars, many"couch surf," (spending a
few nights with an acquaintance and moving elsewhere). A hundred may find a bed at a shelter
in Atascadero or San Luis Obispo. The Grand Jury examined how they live and what public and
private agencies and individuals are doing: (1)to help them survive in the short run and (2) to
assist them in finding stable housing for the long term.
METHOD/PROCEDURE
To complete this inquiry, Grand Jurors:
• interviewed county officials
• interviewed staff members of non-profit corporations working with the homeless
• interviewed volunteers, who give their time and effort to try to help this population
• visited facilities that serve the homeless in Santa Maria, our south county, Atascadero and
San Luis Obispo
• reviewed both national and local reports on homelessness
• talked with homeless men and women in our community
2009-2010 San Luis Obispo Grand Jury
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ATTACHMENT 1
NARRATIVE
Approximately 260,000 persons reside in San Luis Obispo County. In late January 2009 some
3,829 people in the county(nearly 1.5%) were homeless. Of those 1,372 were children or teens
under the age of 18.1 Interviews with 342 (14% of the adults) provided a profile of our homeless
population at that time.
Where they slept:
That January night 25%of the interviewees slept outdoors (in a tent, under a bush, etc.); 21%
were in a car, camper or other vehicle; 18% were guests of family or friends; 12%were in a
shelter, about 11% were in housing provided by a transitional housing program; and 10% spent
the night in a motel.Z The remaining 3%did not respond.
Where they resided:
Of the 3,829 persons counted in the enumeration; 1,025 (88 under the age of 18, hereafter
children) were in the City of San Luis Obispo; 572 (144 children) in Paso Robles; the
unincorporated areas of the county registered 501 (64 children); Grover Beach counted 275 (38
children); Atascadero 209 (27 children); Arroyo Grande 118 (14 children); Morro Bay 66 (5
children); Pismo Beach 48 (3 children). In addition 988 homeless children were counted in
public schools; their places of residence were not available to the enumerators. The home city of
27 persons was not recorded in the report.
Homeless Services Coordinating Council,San Luis Obispo County HOMELESS ENUMERATION REPORT, 2009,
(http://www.unitedwayslo.org/News/09/Enumeration_9-01-09.pdf). Most of the statistics in this report are based on
that document.
z Of the 342 interviewed, 12%(4 1)had spent the night in a shelter, but with just over 100 beds,county shelters can
accommodate only about 3%of the 3,827 homeless people counted in January 2009. Similarly 10%(34)of the
interviewed had spent the night in a motel; it seems unlikely,however,that 10%(383)of the entire homeless were
in motels that night.
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Local or Transient:
Last year 342 homeless persons were interviewed in some detail. Of those 56% reported they
had resided in the county more than five years and an additional 24%had resided here from one
to five years. Eight percent had been in the county less than four months and ten percent had
lived here four months to a year.
Time homeless:
Of 342 interviewees, 188 (55%) reported that more than a year had passed since having their
own apartment or house. Of the remainder; one-third had been homeless 3 months or less; one-
third 4 to 6 months;and one-third for 7 to 12 months. In addition, 144 (42%) said this was not
the first time they had been without a home.
Why homeless:
When asked why they had no home, about 35% of the respondents said they were unable to pay
rent and 20% believed unemployment to be the cause. Substance abuse, divorce and low wages
were each cited by about 15%as the culprit.
Associated challenges:
About 30% of the interviewees reported a physical disability, 25%a mental one and 9%
substance abuse. Respondents noted various health issues including dental problems, vision,
joint injuries and most often depression or similar ailments.
THOSE WHO HELP AND HOW
Depending upon their specific needs and details of their individual circumstances, the homeless
of San Luis Obispo County can and often do find support from a wide variety of public, non-
profit and even individual sources. The most important of these include:
Community Action Partnership(Formerly EOC)
A large non-profit organization with a substantial staff, CAPSLO (as it is known) operates Head
Start programs in various counties and provides numerous other direct service programs for
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disadvantaged persons. Since 1989 it has operated a shelter for the homeless, first located on
Kansas Avenue north of San Luis Obispo but soon moved to the current site on Orcutt Road in
the city. That facility, called the Maxine Lewis Memorial Shelter, has beds for 49 homeless
persons. In addition, CAPSLO manages an"overflow" shelter for women and families, the
location of which rotates monthly among a dozen churches and synagogues via the"Interfaith
Coalition for the Homeless." Each night of the year volunteers from those religious
organizations serve as chaperones at those"overflow"facilities. To be admitted to theovernight
shelter(s) individuals go through an"in-take"process and may be asked to pass a breathalyzer
test. Friday through Sunday evenings, volunteers donate, prepare and serve supper to homeless
persons at the shelters. Monday through Thursday evenings, CAPSLO serves meals prepared at
their Head Start Kitchen in Shell Beach. Friday, Saturday and Sunday scheduled volunteers
from churches and similar groups donate, bring and serve those meals.
CAPSLO also runs the Prado Day Center that provides showers, a noon meal, mail, laundry and
other services for homeless persons. Both Prado and the Maxine Lewis receive financial,
volunteer and moral support from volunteer organizations that were established to serve the
homeless in the county. Both facilities also get financial support from the city and county.
Financial records indicate that the combined average per bed night costs for the Maxine Lewis
and overflow shelters is about $17.
Finally, CAPSLO provides case-management services for homeless persons in the south and
north areas of the county as well as in San Luis Obispo. The programs that CAPSLO operates
are funded from multiple sources including county and city grants (much of the money coming
from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development). In 2009, CAPSLO
spent $878,088 to operate the Maxine Lewis Shelter and Prado Day Center and another$244,895
for case management.
In the course of our inquiry the Grand Jury obtained a copy of a written assessment.(2008) of
homeless services that CAPSLO had commissioned. The document described serious
deficiencies in each of three homeless service programs: case management, the Prado Day
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Center and the Maxine Lewis Shelter. The report then outlined recommendations for improving
service in those programs. It was not distributed to CAPSLO's governing board or to the county
or city governments that provide CAPSLO with substantial grants for homeless services. The
Grand Jury learned that many recommendations in the report have since been implemented and
that consequently CAPSLO's direct services to the homeless have improved.
EI Camino Homeless Organization(ECHO)
Located in Atascadero, ECHO is essentially an all-volunteer non-profit organization. Since
opening in December 2001, ECHO has provided meals and overnight shelter for homeless
clients. At first it moved month to month from one local church to another. Since 2006 it has
operated all year in space provided by the First Baptist Church where they have 31 beds. They
fund motel rooms for families when the shelter is filled to capacity. In over eight plus years of
operation ECHO has provided 62,000 bed nights for homeless persons. They also provide
supper for about 45 persons each evening. Recently, perhaps due to the recession, that number
has averaged above 60 persons. The meals are prepared, delivered and served by volunteers
from a wide variety of churches and other groups. In 2008, a total of 639 persons volunteered as
overnight ECHO chaperones. Other citizens support the program by providing laundry services,
registering clients each night, etc. ECHO gets financial support from local governments and a
variety of donors. Because (1) labor is donated, (2) the First Baptist Church furnishes space at a
very modest fee and(3) local organizations make other in-kind donations, ECHO's per bed night
cost is about $6.
South County Programs
Since 1991 the "South County People's Kitchen" has served lunch every day in Grover Beach.
It is staffed by volunteers from churches and other non-profits. The region is without an
overnight shelter or a warming station where homeless people can escape the rain and the cold.
Recently the "San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation" received about $1.5 million
from a couple who directed that their gift be used to assist homeless people in the south county
area. The foundation is working with public and private groups to put that gift to work. The
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"Five Cities Homeless Coalition"has organized as a non-profit that hopes to build a day center.
Besides serving lunch the coalition hopes such a facility will have a health clinic and space for
social service providers. It would also give clients access to showers, a laundry, computers,etc.
Regrettably, as presently envisioned the facility does not include a place for the homeless to
sleep, although the Five Cities Homeless Coalition claims that is a"#I priority." Assemblyman
Sam Blakeslee is authoring legislation to allow the Cities of Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach to
forge a partnership and use housing funds to construct a local homeless facility. Last fall the
County Board of Supervisors endorsed the concept as did the city councils in Grover Beach and
Pismo Beach. On January 12, 2010 the Arroyo Grande City Council passed a resolution
"supporting the efforts of the Five Cities Homeless Coalition in locating a homeless services
center within the south county."
Services for the Homeless Elsewhere
If there are substantial programs to serve the homeless in Morro Bay, Los Osos,Nipomo or Paso
Robles they have not come to the attention of the Grand Jury. The 2009 Homeless Enumeration
Report found relatively few homeless persons in the first three communities,but documented
572 (including 144 children) in Paso Robles. Where they slept is not known, but the nearest
shelter is ECHO in Atascadero.
San Luis Obispo County Government
Homeless people are frequently assisted by one or more units of the county government, but
being homeless does not automatically qualify someone for a particular service. The County
Health Agency has mental health services and drug and alcohol services. The Department of
Social Services (DSS)administers a variety of programs including CALWORKS, General
Assistance and others. One day a week DSS sends a staff member to the Prado Day Center for
program outreach. While programs in DSS and the Health Agency serve homeless persons who
come to their offices, staff seldom search out the homeless where they sleep, work or gather. In
the past, a staff employee in mental health"beat the bushes and the creek sides"to get to know
the homeless, earn their trust and get them needed services. No more. State budget cuts ended
that program. Mental health has one outreach worker. How much time he or she spends with the
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homeless population is uncertain. Today, if a homeless person wants the help of these agencies,
he or she gets on a bus, drives or walks to an agency office. For our homeless population,
especially the 25% or so with mental illness, it is hard enough to find a place to sleep and eat; let
alone get to an appointment made days or even weeks previously. A few end up in jail.
Moreover, some homeless persons need the support of more than one public agency, but it seems
that coordination and integration of services by the primary providers (drug and alcohol services,
mental health, DSS) is less than ideal. In speaking with mangers, we obtained varied answers,to
the question, "How well do you integrate your services with those of other county agencies?"
One of them said, "not as well as we should." Another told us the agencies do work together and
there is no problem. One told us"There is no integration of services." Another witness
indicated that egos and turf wars were obstacles to coordination.
San Luis Obispo City Government
For 20 years, San Luis Obispo City has devoted almost all of its Community Development Block
Grant public services funds to homeless services,3 but that effort has not met the need of the
homeless population.
THOSE WHO DREAM AND HOW
The Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
With support and input from the county and city governments and a variety of non-profit
agencies, an eighty-six page document titled Path to a Home: San Luis Obispo Countywide 10-
Year Plan to End Homelessness° was published in October 2008. It was prepared by a
consultant who had drafted plans for other localities with the same framework and used data
collected locally. The Grand Jury understands that the cities and county have "accepted" the ten
year plan. However, skeptical witnesses told us that our local govemments have not"adopted"
3SLO City Housing Element 2010,p. 113.
°Available on line at http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/14SCC/Documents/Ten+Year+Ptan.pdf,Path to a Home
outlines"what needs to be done to help people who are homeless or at-risk arrive `home' to stable housing..."and
lists the"system,policy and program changes necessary for the Cities,Communities and County to arrive at their
goal of ending homelessness in ten years."Quoted from page 6.
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it, because "adoption"would obligate them to actually implement the plan's objectives. We
were informed that the plan was written at least in part because it is an eligibility requirement for
federal grants.
Path to Home includes a"housing first model" for helping the homeless. The theory is that the
best way to assist the homeless population is to first put the people in stable housing and then
provide supportive services to help them remain housed while addressing the problems that led
to their homelessness. This approach, we were told, has worked well in large urban areas that.
have old or empty buildings that can be converted to low cost housing. Whether"housing first"
will work as well in San Luis Obispo County is problematic, because housing here is scarce and
expensive.
The Proposed Homeless Services Campus
The county wants to build a"homeless campus"that will combine services now provided at the
Prado Day Center and the Maxine Lewis Shelter. It would also have offices where county
agency staff(e.g. from DSS and the Health Agency) would serve homeless clients, who would
then no longer need to travel around the county seeking services. Plans call for it to be located
on county land on lower Higuera Street adjacent to the building that houses the Department of
Social Services. The County Board of Supervisors is firmly behind this plan and individual
supervisors are working to see that it becomes a reality.
Homeless Services Oversight Council(HSOC)
To move forward with the campus and the ten year plan, city and county officials as well as
members of the county's many non-profit homeless organizations have formed HSOC, a
committee which meets monthly to work to implement the Ten Year Plan and end or, at least
mitigate, the homeless situation in the county. HSOC is large and widely representative of
constituencies serving the homeless population. While having all the players at this table is
valuable, HSOC is probably too large to be an effective governing body. HSOC's first major
goal was obtaining funds to hire a part time "executive director," a move not without
controversy. As this Grand Jury report was being prepared recruitment to fill the job was
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completed. Whether the person selected will have the skill, resources and clout to really
coordinate and otherwise improve local support for our homeless citizens remains to be seen.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING: A CONTINUING NEED
In San Luis Obispo County affordable housing is hard to come by. Although housing
authorities, Peoples' Self-Help Housing, and other groups have hundreds of units for low-income
residents, demand outstrips supply. Obstacles to increasing the inventory of housing that low-
income people can actually afford are many. They include zoning regulations on where such
units can be built, restrictions on the number of units per acre that get approved, building codes
that promote safety but inflate costs and political resistance from neighbors who fear for their
property values.
Specialized Housing and Shelter
In San Luis Obispo, the Women's Shelter has about 40 beds for women and children who are
homeless, displaced or abused. There is also a Women's Shelter in the north county. Transitions
Mental Health, a private non-profit agency, has housing for about 70 single adults who are
dealing with mental health issues. These facilities, in various parts of the county, frequently
house at risk persons who might otherwise be, or become, homeless.
HSOC's Housing Subcommittee is developing recommendations to address the need for more
affordable housing. HSOC supports permanent housing for the long-term solution, supportive
housing for people who need assistance and interim housing(a.k.a. homeless shelter facilities)
for temporary housing for the homeless. All three types of housing are needed and are consistent
with the ten year plan.
CONCLUSION
At last count (January 2009) more than 3,800 people in San Luis Obispo County were homeless.
That number included 1,300 under the age of 18. Most sleep on other people's couches, in cars
or outside. About a hundred find beds in.shelter in Atascadero (ECHO) or San Luis Obispo
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(CAPSLO and the Interfaith Coalition). The volunteer "peoples kitchens" provide meals in
various locations. The Prado Day Center offers laundry and other services in San Luis Obispo.
The county and most city governments help fund these programs. All of these efforts are
commendable but insufficient. No one is in charge; no government takes more than partial
responsibility.
Based on its investigation, the Grand Jury concludes that-for the situation to truly improve, the
responsibility and authority for coordinating and managing all the various available resources
needs to reside with one person, independent of city or county control, but funded by them.
Unless local governments and private organizations join together and expand available resources,
the homeless adults and children of San Luis Obispo County will continue to struggle and far too
many including hundreds of our children will remain.homeless.
FINDINGS
1. With public and private funding, CAPSLO (by far the largest non-profit serving the
homeless)operates the Prado Day Center and the Maxine Lewis Shelter. CAPSLO
provides case management for homeless clients in the north and south county and the
City of San Luis Obispo.
2. The Maxine Lewis Homeless Shelter is not large enough to provide beds in San Luis
Obispo for all who seek them. The facility is in poor physical condition.
3. The"overflow" shelter program that CAPSLO runs with the Interfaith Coalition provides
beds for homeless women and families each night of the year at local churches and
synagogues. This arrangement has logistical challenges but also provides the important
advantage of engaging many volunteers to serve as chaperones, thus giving hundreds of
citizens some awareness of what it means to have no home.
4. Among private non-profit groups serving the homeless, ECHO, in Atascadero, is
exemplary.
5. In Paso Robles, which has a large homeless population, there is no shelter.
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6. The South County People's Kitchen, in Grover Beach, serves lunch daily and the recently
created Five Cities Homeless Coalition wants to have a comprehensive day center for the
population they serve. As presently contemplated, the vision for that facility does not
include overnight sleeping accommodations.
7. No single county official or agency is charged with overall responsibility for assisting the
homeless.
8. The County Departments of Social Services, Mental Health Services and Drug and
Alcohol Services assist homeless persons who are eligible for their programs, but simply
being homeless does not qualify an individual for any particular service.
9. The extent to which the key county agencies (DSS, Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol)
integrate services to the homeless is uncertain. Agency leaders offer differing
assessments.
10. Some homeless persons who are afflicted with drug and alcohol problems or mentally ill
are not well served.
11. The widely endorsed Path to a Home: San Luis Obispo Countywide 10- Year Plan to End
Homelessness has been accepted, but not"adopted, " by cities and the county.
12. The county, with support from cities and private groups, wants to build a homeless
service campus in San Luis Obispo.
13. The need for low cost housing in the county substantially exceeds supply.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The county and all the county's incorporated cities should "adopt" and begin to
implement the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness.
2. The county and all the incorporated cities should establish and fund a line item in their
budgets specifically supporting services, including more housing for homeless persons.
3. A full-time Homes Services Coordinator(a senior official who is more than the currently
contemplated HSOC "Executive Director") should oversee the implementation of the ten
year plan. This person should be supplied with a staff, including a grant writer.
2009-2010 San Luis Obispo Grand Jury
Page 11 �� /�
ATTACHMENT 1 .
4. The Homeless Services Coordinator should monitor funds directed towards helping the
homeless and make recommendations and offer guidance to all involved agencies and
groups throughout the County.
5. The Homeless Services Campus should be built as soon as possible. The coordinator and
appropriate staff from DSS, County Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol should also be
stationed there. These professionals need to meet with the homeless where they eat and
sleep. Each department should have one or more staff assigned to the Prado Day Center
on a regular basis until the campus is occupied. Appropriate arrangements should be
made to address issues of client privacy and confidentiality as required by law,but such
requirements should not provide a rational for not delivering services.
6. The county, south county incorporated cities and appropriate non-profit groups should
vigorously pursue joint efforts to build and operate a facility that provides both day
services and night time shelter for homeless persons in the five cities region.
7. Cities in south county, the county itself and The Five Cities Homeless Coalition should
begin to work with local churches and service groups to provide temporary shelter until
the facility is operative. ECHO in Atascadero provides an excellent model.
8. Non-profit organizations, including churches, and the City of Paso Robles should
establish shelter and meal serving program for people who are homeless.
9. Because ECHO has a system that works, their ideas and methods should be expanded to
other areas within the county. CAPSLO, Five Cities Homeless Coalition and other
groups now working with the homeless should meet with the staff of ECHO and be
mentored in the areas of recruiting, training and effectively utilizing volunteers.
2009-2010 San Luis Obispo Grand Jury
Page 12 ��—
r
O • ATTACHMENT 1
REQUIRED RESPONSES
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors is required to respond to Findings 2, 3, 6
through 13 and Recommendations 1 through 8. The responses shall be submitted to the
Presiding Judge of the San Luis Obispo Superior Court by September 13,2010. Please provide
a copy of all responses to the Grand Jury as well.
The San Luis Obispo County Department of Social Services is required to respond to
Findings 7 through 10 and Recommendations 1 and 3 through 7. The responses shall be
submitted to the Presiding Judge of the San Luis Obispo Superior Court by August 13,2010.
Please provide a copy of all responses to the Grand Jury as well.
The San Luis Obispo County Health Agency is required to respond to Findings 7 through 10
and Recommendations 1 and 3 through 7. The responsesshallbe submitted to the Presiding
Judge of the San Luis Obispo Superior Court by August 13,2010. Please provide a copy of all
responses to the Grand Jury as well.
The Community Action Partnership(CAPSLO)is required to respond to Findings 1, 2, 3, 10
& 12 and Recommendations 3 through 9. The responses shall be submitted to the Presiding
Judge of the San Luis Obispo Superior Court by September 13,2010. Please provide a copy of
all responses to the Grand Jury as well.
The El Camino Homeless Organization(ECHO) is required to respond to Findings 4 & 10
and Recommendations 3, 4, 7, 8 & 9. The responses shall be submitted to the Presiding Judge of
the San Luis Obispo Superior Court by September 13,2010. Please provide a copy of all
responses to the Grand Jury as well.
The Five Cities Homeless Coalition is required to respond to Findings 6 & 10 and
Recommendations 3, 4, 6, 7 & 9. The responses shall be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the
2009-2010 San Luis Obispo Grand Jury
Page 13 es /p
C ATTACHMENT 1
San Luis Obispo Superior Court by September 13,2010. Please provide a copy of all responses
to the Grand Jury as well.
The City of San Luis Obispo is required to respond to Findings 2, 3, 11, 12& 13 and
Recommendations 1, 2, 3 & 5. The responses shall be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the
San Luis Obispo Superior Court by September 13,2010. Please provide a copy of all responses
to the Grand Jury as well.
The City of Atascadero is required to respond to Findings 4, 11, 12 & 13 and
Recommendations 1, 2, 3 & 5. The responses shall be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the
San Luis Obispo Superior Court by September 13,2010. Please provide a copy of all responses
to the Grand Jury as well.
The City of Paso Robles is required to respond to Findings 5, 11, 12 & 13 and
Recommendations 1, 2, 3, 5 & 8. The responses shall be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the
San Luis Obispo Superior Court by September 13,2010. Please provide a copy of all responses
to the Grand Jury as well.
The City of Arroyo Grande is required to respond to Findings 6, 11, 12 & 13 and
Recommendations 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 & 7. The responses shall be submitted to the Presiding Judge of
the San Luis Obispo Superior Court by September 13,2010. Please provide a copy of all
responses to the Grand Jury as well.
The City of Pismo Beach is required to respond to Findings 6, 11, 12 & 13 and
Recommendations 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 & 7. The responses shall be submitted to the Presiding Judge of
the San Luis Obispo Superior Court by September 13,2010. Please provide a copy of all
responses to the Grand Jury as well.
The City of Grover Beach is required to respond to Findings 6, 11, 12 & 13 and
Recommendations 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 & 7. The responses shall be submitted to the Presiding Judge of
2009-2010 San Luis Obispo Grand Jury
Page 14
C -D ATTACHMENT 1
the San Luis Obispo Superior Court by September 13,2010. Please provide a copy of all
responses to the Grand Jury as well.
The mailing addresses for delivery are:
Presiding Judge Grand Jury
Presiding Judge Charles S. Crandall San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury
Superior Court of California P.O. Box 4910
1050 Monterey Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93402
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
2009-2010 San Luis Obispo Grand Jury
Page 15 �S ��
0 ATTACHMENT2
�iili�llll I�III 11811����,������III�IIIII III IIIA I `�-
city of sAn tais oBispo
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249
August 18, 2010
Honorable Judge Charles S. Crandall
Superior Court of California
1050 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Dear Judge Crandall,
On August 17, 2010, the San Luis Obispo City Council reviewed the Grand Jury's report, titled
"Homelessness in San Luis Obispo County: Are We Solving the Problem?" The City Council
concurs, or partially concurs, with most of the findings of the report, as detailed by the staff
recommendation, enclosed. The recommendations made by the Grand Jury highlight many of the
actions that the City is already undertaking to address the homelessness problem. These actions
include implementing the Ten-Year Plan (Grand Jury Recommendation #1), providing direct
General Fund assistance for homeless services (Grand Jury Recommendation#2),and working to
facilitate the development of the Homeless Services Center as soon as possible (Grand Jury
Recommendation#5).
The San Luis Obispo City Council recognizes homelessness as a major issue and provides
financial assistance to those actively working to alleviate the problem. During the 2010-11 fiscal
year, the City will provide over $180,000 of funding, through the Community Development
Block Grant Program and the City's General Fund, for the Prado Day Center and the Maxine
Lewis Homeless Shelter alone. The City of San Luis Obispo works closely with the Homeless
Services Oversight Council and supports the San Luis Obispo Countywide Ten-Year Plan to End
Chronic Homelessness. The City also has a State-certified Housing Element that prioritizes the
development of low cost housing through subsidies, incentives and land use planning.
In addition, the City supports the construction of the Homeless Services Center - a Planning
Commission Use Permit for the facility was approved on June 23, 2010. The City Council
supports continued facilitation of the development of the Center by providing staff for the HSOC
sub-committee working on the development of this project. The Council has no jurisdiction over
staffing of the facility however, as DSS, Mental Health, and Drug & Alcohol are County
agencies.
The Council appreciates the findings made by the Grand Jury and their efforts to raise awareness
of this important issue. If there are further questions or comments regarding the City's response to
the report,please don't hesitate to contact Michael Codron, at 781-7112.
Respectfully submitted,
Katie Lichtig, City Manager
encl: August 17, 2010,Council Agenda Report
cc: San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury
�� The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to include the disabled in all of its services, programs and activities.
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf(805)781-7410.
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awascouncit nmcmoRAnoum
e�tv of san Buis oBispo
DATE: August 17, 2010
TO: City Council
FROM: Michael Codron, Acting Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Item C-5 -Response to Housing Services Report by Grand Ju y
Staff concurs with the suggestions made by Council Member Ashbaugh and modifies the
recommendation as follows:
1. On page 2, top, add to the end of that paragraph as follows: "The planning for this new
facility has received substantial staff support from the City's Community Development, and a
Planning Commission Use Permit for the facility was approved on June 23 ,2010.Additionally,
the City supported the approval of this project by the Airport Land Use Commission in February,
2010."
2. Bottom of page 2, add to the paragraph responding to the concern for "low cost housing" to
the effect that "Since 2000, approximately one-third of the residential units built within the City
of San Luis Obispo have been 'affordable'to moderate, low, or very-low income households -
and in most cases, developers for these affordable units have received direct or indirect financial
assistance from the City of San Luis Obispo."
3. On page 4, I am not satisfied with the paragraph responding to recommendation#5 about
building the Homeless Services Campus "as soon as possible." I recommend the following
addition in italics, immediately after the fourth sentence that readsas follows: "City staff
members participate on the HSOC Sub-committee that is working to facilitate development of
the HSC.Additionally, the Urban County's "Community Development Block Grant 2011-2015
Consolidated Plan" identifies the HSC as a priority project for funding. The City will consider in
its 2011-12 allocation of CDBG funds any requests that may be submitted by CAPSLO or
another qualified organization to fund architectural and engineering services for the new
Homeless Services Center. Such an allocation would likely improve the prospects of building the
Center "as soon as possible." The City believes that the..."
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: Mary Bradley, Director of Finance& Information Technology
Jennifer Thompson, Revenue Supervisor
SUBJECT: UPDATING PAYMENT DISBURSEMENT AND RECEIPT AUTHORITY
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution updating payment disbursement and receipt authority.
DISCUSSION
In 1996, Resolution 8477 was adopted by the City Council updating payment disbursement and
receipt authority. Resolution 8477 authorizes the Director of Finance and Information
Technology to act as the City Treasurer and to sign all checks, drafts, wire transfers and other
orders for and on behalf of the City for deposit, payment or investment. This resolution also
designates the Revenue Manager, City Administrative Officer, Assistant City Administrative
Officer, and other officials formally designated by the City Treasurer to serve in her or his
absence on a case-by-case basis.
The three specific positions designated to act on behalf of the City Treasurer in Resolution 8477
no longer exist. The Revenue Manager position was eliminated as part of the 2003-05 budget-
balancing strategy. The Revenue Manager's duties have since been absorbed by the Finance
Manager and the Revenue Supervisor. In November 2008 voters approved an amendment to the
Charter of the City of San Luis Obispo that replaced the term "City Administrative Officer" with
"City Manager", which is more descriptive of this position's duties under the City Charter.
It is necessary to update the resolution giving payment disbursement and receipt authority with
new titles in order to maintain current relationships with the Local Agency Investment Fund
(LAIF), banks, investment companies and other financial institutions utilized by the City. These
agencies designate authorized signers by position and require that the current resolution match
the actual position title of the signers. The updated resolution designates the City Treasurer, City
Manager, Assistant City Manager, Finance Manager and other officials formally designated by
the City Treasurer to serve in her or his absence on a case-by-case basis.
The need for change arises now due to the retirement or change of all three of the specific
positions named in the current resolution. Both the City Manager and City Treasurer have
recently retired and the Assistant City Manager has moved to the Parks and Recreation
Department. With these changes it is necessary to update authorized signers with financial
institutions the City works with. As mentioned above, most of the financial institutions utilized
by the City require that the current resolution match the actual position of the signers. Updating
the resolution now will make changes to authorized signers, when staff changes, easier in the
future.
C J
Payment Disbursement and Receipt Authority Page 2
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City.
ALTERNATIVES
The City could choose not to update payment disbursement and receipt authority. This is not
recommended as it would make updating authorized signers with financial institutions
impossible.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Current Resolution.
2. Resolution approving updating payment disbursement and receipt authority.
TACouncil Agenda Reports\Firmce&IT CARTinance\2010Tayment Disbursement and Receipt Authority.doc
c� -2
i
Attachment l
RESOLUTION NO. 8477 (1996 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
UPDATING PAYMENT DISBURSEMENT AND RECEIPT AUTHORITY
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the City of San Luis Obispo for the Director of Finance
to concurrently hold the position of City Treasurer; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 6148 designates specific positions to act on behalf of the
Director of Finance/City Treasurer that no longer exist.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as
follows:
SECTION 1. The Director of Finance is hereby appointed to concurrently hold the
position of City Treasurer.
SECTION 2. The Director of Finance/City Treasurer is hereby authorized to sign all
checks, drafts, wire transfers and other orders for and on behalf of the City for deposit,
payment or investment in accordance with Government Code Section 53601.
SECTION 3. The Director of Finance/City Treasurer is hereby authorized to designate
the following positions with signature and representation authority to act in her or his.behalf
on the matters set forth above in Section 2 of this Resolution: Revenue Manager, City
Administrative Officer; Assistant City Administrative Officer, and other officials formally
designated by the Director of Finance/City Treasurer to serve in her or his absence on a case-
by-case basis.
SECTION 4. Resolution No. 6148 (1987 Series) is hereby rescinded.
On motion of vice Mayor Williams seconded by Council Member Romero
and on the following roll call vote;
AYES: Vice Mayor Williams, Council Members Romero, Roalman,Smith, Mayor Settle
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this 4 day January, 1996.
Mayor Allen Settle
ATTES
ity, ClerL.
b Assistant City Clerk Kim Condon
APPROVED:
c � - 3
1*YO
OY
v-8477
i
� Z
RESOLUTION NO. (2010 Series) p chMent 2-
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
UPDATING PAYMENT DISBURSEMENT AND RECEIPT AUTHORITY
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the City of San Luis Obispo for the Director of Finance
and Information Technology to concurrently hold the position of City Treasurer; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 8477 designates specific positions to act on behalf of the
Director of Finance and Information Technology/City Treasurer that no longer exist or whose
titles have been formally changed,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo as follows:
SECTION 1. The Director of Finance and Information Technology is hereby appointed
to concurrently hold the position of City Treasurer.
SECTION 2. The Director of Finance and Information Technology/City Treasurer is
hereby authorized to sign all checks, drafts, wire transfers and other orders for and on behalf of
the City for deposit,payment or investment in accordance with Government Code Section 53601.
SECTION 3. The Director of Finance and Information Technology/City Treasurer is
hereby authorized to designate the following positions with signature and representation
authority to act in her or his behalf on the matters set forth above in Section 2 of this Resolution:
Finance Manager, City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and other officials formally designated
by the Director of Finance and Inforrnation Technology/City Treasurer to serve in her or his
absence on a case-by-case basis.
SECTION 4. Resolution No. 8477 (1996 Series) is hereby rescinded.
Upon motion of , seconded by
and on the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this 17 day of August 2010.
R
C�
Resolution No. (200x Series)
Page 2
Mayor David F. Romero
ATTEST:
Elaina Cano
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
stine Dietrick
City Attorney