Title
Approval of Interlocal Agreement with Thurston County to produce the County's "2015 Thurston County Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of Homeless Persons and Homeless Connect Events"
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to authorize the Mayor to sign an Interlocal Agreement with Thurston County to produce the County's "2015 Thurston County Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of Homeless Persons and Homeless Connect Events".
Body
Issue:
Should Olympia work with Thurston County to administer the "2015 Point-in-Time Count of Homeless Persons" and corresponding Homeless Connect Events.
Staff Contact:
M. Anna Schlecht, Housing Program Manager, 360.753.8183
Presenter(s):
None. Consent calendar item.
Background and Analysis:
The Thurston County Homeless Coordinator has been working with the City of Olympia and other stakeholders to develop plans for the County's "2015 Point-in-Time Count of Homeless Persons". Last year the January 2014 Homeless Census featured a "Homeless Connect Event" as the primary methodology to connect with unsheltered homeless people. This year, the Homeless Coordinator decided to separate the two events in order to maximize the effectiveness of both.
Thurston County is entering year ten (10) of a 10-Year Plan to reduce homelessness in Thurston County by half. This plan started in 2006 and will end in 2015. The Homeless Census Report provides the data that determines the level of progress made in this effort.
The goal is for the County to build upon the success of the past five years' partnerships with the City of Olympia through key direction from the Homeless Coordinator, new ideas from the community and continued administration of the work by the City's Housing Program. The Homeless Coordinator will provide overall guidance to ensure that these two events will support County goals to reduce homelessness through better coordination of resources.
1) 2015 Homeless Census
Each January, Thurston County mobilizes citizens, non-profit staffers, government staffers, elected officials and others to help count homeless citizens. The results of this census are compiled into the County's annual "Point-in-Time Count of Homeless Persons Report," often referred to as the annual "Homeless Census Report". This report serves to:
1. Provide the most accurate census of homeless people, the causes of their homelessness and other demographic information;
2. Quantifies needs based on numbers of homeless people, which in turn brings in Federal and State dollars to provide homeless shelter, transitional housing and other services;
3. Provides an accurate assessment of current available resources; and
4. Allows for the analysis of needs and resources to serve as the basis for local strategic responses to homelessness.
The Homeless Census Report provides guidance for the HOME Consortium funding allocations for housing programs in Thurston County. The report data is also heavily used by social service agencies and other local bodies of government seeking State and Federal funding to address homeless and related needs.
2) 2015 Homeless Connect Events
The 2015 Homeless Connect Events will be held in conjunction with the 2015 Homeless Census, including one urban hub Homeless Connect Event coordinated by City of Olympia and one or more rural hub Homeless Connect Event(s) coordinated by Thurston County Homeless Census Coordinator during which homeless census workers will collect homeless census data from homeless people who will also receive survival commodities and services. These Homeless Connect Events serve the following functions:
· Serve as a PIT Census locations January 2015 Point in Time Census (TBA last week January, 2015)
· Offer tangible goods and services to homeless and street dependent people
· Provide referrals for services, shelter and housing for homeless and street dependent people
· Strengthen the County's network of services
· Increase public awareness of homeless issues
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The Homeless Census and the Homeless Connect Events provide key data to support more effective responses to homelessness, whcih affects all residents of the community.
Options:
1. Move to authorize the Mayor to sign an Interlocal Agreement with Thurston County to produce the County's "2015 Thurston County Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of Homeless Persons and corresponding Homeless Connect Events".
2. Do not move to authorize the Mayor to sign an Interlocal Agreement with Thurston County to produce the County's "2015 Thurston County Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of Homeless Persons and corresponding Homeless Connect Events ".
Financial Impact:
1. The $30,000 contract from Thurston County will fund City staff and additional professional service contractors to conduct the 2015 Point-in-Time Census and to produce the County's "Point-in-Time Count of Homeless Persons" report.