Title
Discussion of a Coordinated Response to Homelessness
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee
City Manager Recommendation:
Provide guidance on the proposed scope of work with ACR Business Consulting to provide homelessness planning services.
Report
Issue:
Whether to contract with ACR Business Consulting to provide homelessness planning services as a possible next step in the Downtown Strategy process.
Staff Contact:
Keith Stahley, Director Community Planning and Development Department 360.753.8227
Presenter(s):
Keith Stahley, Director Community Planning and Development Department
Aaron Rodriguez Managing Director ACR Business Consulting
Background and Analysis:
The City is engaged in the development of a Downtown Strategy. One of the issues that has been repeatedly identified as a concern for the health of downtown is the effect of people living on the streets and alleys of downtown. There are many dedicated and talented people working to respond to homelessness in our community, however, these efforts are not always well coordinated and aligned to maximize the effectiveness of our limited resources. Cities such as Everett that have experience the impacts of homelessness on their downtown have taken proactive steps to encourage greater coordination of resources, communication and a more strategic approach to responding to the challenges of homelessness.
Mr. Rodriguez is supporting the County's process to update the Thurston County 10 Year Housing Plan commonly referred to as the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. This experience makes Mr. Rodriguez well positioned to assist the City in efforts to enhance the effectiveness of efforts to manage homelessness and its effects on downtown. The 10 Year Plan has a county-wide focus and staff recommends that the City engage Mr. Rodriguez to refine this effort to focus on Olympia and provide a framework to effectively responds to homelessness in do...
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