Title
Approval of a Recommendation to Create a Homeless Response Coordinator Position
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the addition of a Homeless Response Coordinator to the City Workforce.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the addition of a Homeless Response Coordinator to the City Workforce.
Staff Contact:
Steve Hall, City Manager, 360.753.8244
Keith Stahley, Community Planning & Development Director, 360.753.8227
Presenter(s):
Steve Hall, City Manager
Keith Stahley, Community Planning & Development Director
Background and Analysis:
Homelessness and associated issues have emerged as major challenges nationally, statewide, throughout Thurston County and in Olympia.
Unhoused people are subject to weather, crime and other associated public health and safety threats. Neighbors, businesses and property owners have asked the City for relief from the impacts of some unhoused individuals including trespass, garbage, human waste and sometimes threatening behaviors. Underlying some of these behaviors are mental health and significant substance abuse issues.
As the complexity and volume of these issues have grown, the City has tried to respond as best it can with very limited appropriated funds. Partnering with Thurston County, non-profit organizations and faith based groups, the City has made some good investments in this area (see attachment 1).
In addition, Councilmembers, the Mayor and City staff have participated or spearheaded a number of added efforts ranging from participation in the Thurston County Cold Weather Taskforce to passage of the successful HOME Fund ballot measure (see attachment 2).
The largest obstacle to the City doing more and being more strategic is staff support to focus on these issues. Much of the effort to date has been done by busy staff and elected officials with many other responsibilities.
To develop a more concerted effort, the City Manager is recommending the addition of a full time employee to coordinate the City’s homeless response efforts. This would include the priority efforts listed in attachment 3.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The past few years growing phone calls, emails, public comment and survey results have demonstrated the public’s overwhelming interest and demands that the City do more to address homelessness.
Options:
1. Add the Homeless Response Coordinator position to the City workforce
2. Do not add the Homeless Response Coordinator to the City workforce
3. Direct staff to explore other options.
Financial Impact:
The cost for the positon, including salary and benefits is about $100,000 per year. IN addition, staff is proposing that $50,000 be set aside in the 2018 budget for cold weather services being dedicated for the use by this position.
(Previously Thurston County had expanded its cold weather shelter contracts and made other improvements to cold weather response. The City anticipated it might be asked for participation; recently Thurston County pledged other funds to cover these costs.)
For the purposes of funding this position, the City would rely on a recent pledge from the Evergreen Christian Church of $100,000 per year to fund the position. After three years the City would need to consider other funding sources to continue this work.
Attachments:
Actions to Support Affordable & Homeless Housing
Homeless Response and Affordable Housing Initiatives
Homeless Response Coordinator Job Description