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 Ci...
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