Title
Approval of a Resolution Accepting the One Community: Healthy, Safe and Housed Plan
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing on the One Community: Healthy, Safe and Housed Plan and the move to approve a resolution accepting the Plan.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a briefing on the One Community: Healthy, Safe and Housed Plan and approve a resolution accepting the Plan.
Staff Contact:
Amy Buckler, Strategic Projects Manager, 360.280.8947
Presenter(s):
Amy Buckler, Strategic Projects Manager
Teal Russell, Homeless Response Coordinator
Stacey Ray, Senior Planner
Background and Analysis:
In March 2019, the City began a year-long process to identify short- and long-term strategies, actions, and measures of success for responding to the homelessness crisis. This included planning for the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness as well as to address the broader community impacts. The City used a Participatory Leadership process, designed to identify community-based solutions through intentional learning together, constructive dialogue, and fostering trust. Over 1,200 people participated in two online surveys and 20 unique listening sessions and conversations. The process was shepherded by a Community Work Group made up of 11 volunteers with different life experiences and perspectives.
In February 2020, the City Council held a study session with the Community Work Group to discuss what they learned and how the voice of the community is reflected in the outcomes. The Work Group presented the Council with a set of strategies and potential implementation approaches to guide City and partner actions. Subsequently in February, staff presented a set of 2020 City-led implementation actions to the Land Use & Environment Committee.
Since then, staff has completed the attached final report (One Community Plan), including a set of metrics for measuring success; updated the website; and developed a public communication strategy. What had been referred to as the homeless response plan is now called the One Community: Healthy, Safe and Housed Plan. Following an update about the plan and next steps, staff is recommending the City Council take action to adopt a resolution to formally accept the One Community Plan.
Metrics
Homelessness is a complex issue with an ever-shifting landscape and no easy solutions. This requires a dynamic plan, with durable strategies and actions that can evolve over time. That is why the metrics in the One Community Plan are so important. The City and its partners need to be able to try new things, learn what is working, and adjust actions to be most effective.
Results maps and metrics have been identified for each of the Plan’s three focus areas. These will enable us to track key indicators of success for City programs as well as the overall success of regional actions. The City is committed to tracking and reporting on the effectiveness of our programs. During the briefing staff will present a sneak peak of an online dashboard report that will be available later this year.
Partnerships
Homelessness is bigger than any single jurisdiction or organization. An effective response will require a coordinated regional approach including the State, County, cities, non-profits, faith communities, and the private sector.
The One Community Plan was developed through a robust public and stakeholder process and that points to the types of partnership actions our community would like to see. Throughout this process we heard directly from over 50 partners and potential partner organizations whose voices and opportunities for collaboration are represented.
Partners may be organizations working directly with the City, but often and just as important, they are individuals and organizations doing related work independent of the City. Many of these organizations are already hard at work. As we move forward with implementation and report on our own actions and performance data, the City can highlight actions taken by these partners.
Relationship to County Plan
Thurston County oversees implementation of a 5-Year Homeless Crisis Response Plan which guides policy and practices of local service providers who make up our region’s homeless crisis response system. Olympia’s One Community Plan is an extension of and supports implementation of the County’s Plan. While both are aimed at helping individuals experiencing homelessness, Olympia’s plan also addresses the impacts of the homelessness crisis on the broader community. City and County staff work closely together to coordinate efforts.
In addition, work is underway to formalize a Regional Housing Council (RHC) with elected officials from Thurston County, Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater. The RHC will consider issues specifically related to funding a regional response to homelessness and affordable housing and how to better coordinate existing funding programs and may play a role in policy formation related to housing and homelessness.
Roles for City Council
• Share the One Community Plan with community organizations/partners.
o Staff will provide Councilmembers with slides and key messages to aid in presentation and reporting
• Ongoing oversight.
o Through the following committees, the Olympia City Council will guide implementation of the One Community Plan:
§ Focus Areas #1 and #3 - General Government Committee
§ Focus Area #2 - Land Use & Environment Committee
§ Budget and finance related issues - Finance Committee
• Future policy discussions and action.
o There are issues identified in the One Community Plan that will require further policy discussion by Council (e.g., appropriate camp stewardship)
o Some implementation steps will require action by Council (e.g. code changes to reduce barriers to affordable housing)
• Seek out partnership opportunities when possible. In particular, the City is looking for partnerships with:
o Faith community, non-profit and government entities to host temporary emergency housing.
o Regional partnerships to locate and fund shelter or other supported sites.
o Affordable and supportive housing partners.
o Organizations with programs that help reduce individuals’ barriers to housing or increase longer-term security.
• Annually adopt capital and operating budgets.
• Annually identify a legislative agenda to advocate for increased support for affordable and supportive housing, homeless response and prevention.
Next Steps
Now that the planning process is complete, staff will focus on the following:
• Presenting the plan to the public through social media, print articles, radio, e-news and presentations upon request.
• Developing on-going communications to report on data and stories about how City and partner actions are making a difference.
• Further honing the measures and reporting tools.
• Following through with identified City-led actions for 2020.
• Continue to look for partnership opportunities, including:
o Work to formalize a Regional Housing Council.
o Proactively engage potential faith community partners.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Homelessness is of significant concern to the community. Summaries of public and stakeholder engagement in the One Community process can be found on the website’s About the Process page.
Options:
1. Move to approve a resolution accepting the One Community: Healthy, Safe and Housed Plan.
2. Do not approve the resolution and refer to a Council Committee for further deliberation and refinement.
Financial Impact:
The planning process was completed in-house. The 2020 City-led Actions document contains estimated costs associated with each of the actions.
Attachments:
Resolution
One Community Plan
2020 City-led Actions
Link to Updated Website