HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-06-2015 CLR - AshbaughCOUNCIL MEETING: to' OLP -1 5
iTFM NO.:_ Dj91_R AUC,N OCT 06 2015
CITY OF SLQ CIS' CL
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Council Liaison Report
City of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council
DATE:
October 6, 2015
TO:
City Council
FROM:
John B. Ashbaugh
RE: Homeless Services Oversight Council — meeting of Sept 16, 2015
As the Council is aware, I'm the City's representative on the County Homeless Services Oversight
Council, a position I have held for almost all of the seven years I've served on the Council. The
full HSOC met September 16 at 1 pm in the Vet's Hall and discussed several items; the agenda
maybe downloaded at http : / /slohomeless.com/meetings/meeting- agendas- and - minutes /full -hsoc-
committee/_
One of the primary points of conversation was our local efforts to fit into the national campaign by
the Department of Housing and Community Development to end veteran homelessness. We
heard a presentation by Anna Blasco of the National Alliance to End Homelessness in Washington,
DC. The "take- away" from this discussion is that community efforts to end homelessness among
veterans are best advanced when volunteers and staff use a set of specific strategies: developing
relationships with the veterans; targeting resources to provide supportive housing to veterans
(including HUD vouchers specifically for veterans, the "VASH" program); and working with
landowners who have traditionally been unwilling to rent to those who hold Section 8 vouchers.
Another item of discussion was the release of the County's Homeless Census, originally conducted
in January of this year. While there were some minor differences in the methodologies used in
some parts of the county to obtain the homeless count, the overall results have been carefully
reviewed by a wide variety of staff and stakeholders; the Census report was officially released last
Thursday and is available at this web site:
ham:/ /www. slohomeless .com /downloadfile.12hp ?file= PUB - 2015- Point -In- Time - Count- Report.pdf
Additionally, the County issued a 2 -page news release about the Census that can be reviewed here:
htt :// www .slohomeless.com /downtoadfile. h ?file= PUB -2015- Point -In- Time - Count - Press-
Release.pdf
In general, the 2015 Census contained the following key findings:
• The number of homeless individuals counted in SLO County decreased by 31 percent
compared to 2013 (from 2,186 persons in 2013 to 1,515 persons in 2015);
• The number of homeless veterans decreased by 45 percent (from 247 in 2013 down to 130
in 2015);
• The length of time people were homeless appears to be getting longer: In 2015, 66 percent
reported having been homeless for a year or more, compared to 47 percent in 2013;
• Fewer persons are homeless for the first time: Approximately 33 percent of respondents
reported this was the first time they had been homeless, compared to 50 percent in 2013.
Council Liaison Report on homeless census 10 -6 -15
Council Liaison Report
October 6, 2015
Page 2
• 39 percent of all homeless adults surveyed reported they were experiencing a psychiatric or
emotional condition;
• 41 percent of all homeless adults surveyed reported using alcohol or drugs;
• 70 percent of homeless veterans surveyed reported one or more disabling conditions
compared to 45 percent of non - veterans;
• 63 percent of veterans surveyed reported experiencing a psychiatric or emotional condition;
• 26 percent of veterans reported experiencing a Traumatic Brain Injury versus 7 percent of
nonveterans;
• 59 percent of veterans reported using alcohol or drugs;
There are, of course, more extensive data available in the County's Homeless Census report. Many
people involved in homeless services throughout this county will be debating the significance of
these trends as we move forward. Clearly, we still have a large population of homeless persons and
homeless veterans. The trend line is headed in the right direction, however — and in my opinion,
the credit belongs to the many agencies and individuals who are working with our homeless
population in "rapid rehousing" strategies, case management, supportive services, and emergency
shelter.
In conclusion, our County (and the City of San Luis Obispo) must be doing something right in our
efforts to end homelessness. The trend is going in the right direction. Let's keep doing those things
that we know are working, and let us continue to learn about what else we can do to further reduce
our homeless population in the years ahead.
JA