Title
Agenda Item:
Options to Fund New or Enhanced Homeless Services
Body
Issue:
What new or enhanced homeless services should receive Council Goal Money funding?
City Manager’s Recommendation:
Provide staff direction on next steps for consideration of use of Council Goal Money to fund enhanced homeless services.
Staff Contact:
M. Anna Schlecht, Housing Program Manager, 360.753.8183
Presenter(s):
Anna Schlecht, Housing Program Manager
Brian Wilson, Downtown Liaison/Code Enforcement Officer
Background and Analysis:
At the January 8, 2013 meeting, Council requested that staff develop a framework to support a January 15 Council discussion of options to allocate funds to address homelessness. This request arose during a discussion of a proposal to quickly allocate up to $35,000 from Council Goal funds to provide immediate services to homeless and street dependent people. This staff report provides a range of options for consideration by Council to determine the best use of these funds.
Staff compiled a list of strategies that have been presented by stakeholders to the Council over the past year to be considered as new or enhanced resources to benefit homeless and street-dependent people who currently seek refuge in the downtown core. Additional information and cost estimates will be presented to Council. Following is the list:
New Shelter - Low Barrier: A diverse group of stakeholders has been holding extensive talks on how to create a new, low barrier shelter that provides the maximum number of shelter beds with the minimum ("low barrier") level of entry requirements while maintaining adequate safety standards for residents, staff and volunteers. Recent examples of low barrier shelter include the Occupy Olympia Camp in Heritage Park and the “Cold and Hungry Shelter” that was located in a quonset hut on Devoe Road prior to the creation of Drexel House. Stakeholders involved in these discussions include the County’s new Homeless Coordinator; Interfaith W...
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