On Monday the City Council Homeless Action Subcommittee met to discuss current and planned city programs and to hear the input provided by the public at our recent town hall meetings and through the online survey. Watch the meeting video.
Voucher program update
City staff gave an update on the development of a city hotel voucher program with “wrap around” services to help people transition to permanent housing.
- The city is still in the process of developing this program. No hotels have been selected, and the timing has been delayed while the city works to identify a suitable location and partner hotel, as well as consider city zoning rules.
- In addition to finding a suitable location, the city is working on a contractor agreement, which would outline the details of the program, including eligibility, rules, safeguards and other issues raised during recent community meetings.
- To take time to properly research options, the city will not return to the City Council with a proposed hotel and vendor agreement by the end of June or in July as originally planned.
- This could affect the city’s ability to implement a program in time to be eligible for federal grant funds for the voucher program. FEMA funding will run out Sept. 30, 2021.
- Because of this, staff is also researching other potential funding options and programs.
- We will keep you informed as development of this program continues.
County social workers
- The County of San Diego has assigned new social workers specifically for North County homeless outreach.
- City staff are meeting with the county to discuss the role of these social workers and how the city could best collaborate with them as part of the city’s overall program to reduce homelessness.
Regional collaboration
- City staff are working with other North County cities and the county to develop a common framework for sharing data, resources and housing inventory related to homelessness.
Safe parking lot presentation
- City staff presented an overview of safe parking lots, which is a strategy used by some cities to designate a place for people to sleep in their vehicles free of charge while also receiving services to help them transition to housing. See the PowerPoint presentation.
- One location that had been suggested is the city-owned building at the corner of El Camino Real and Faraday Avenue.
- Safe parking lots are not currently allowed under the city’s zoning laws, but could potentially be allowed if the city were to declare a shelter crisis or amend its zoning laws.
- Even if zoning laws were not an issue, the city’s building on Faraday Avenue is part of a property owners association with rules that would prohibit a safe parking lot program.
- No action was taken on this informational item.
Recent public feedback
- City staff presented an overview of the feedback provided by the public during the recent town hall meetings and through the online survey so subcommittee members could consider this input in future decisions about the city’s homeless response efforts.
Upcoming office hours
Fully half of the respondents to our recent survey said they would like to get involved in the issues of homelessness by attending small group meetings to discuss homeless issues with the city’s response team. Our office hours are a great way to do that.
Community members will have the opportunity to meet informally with members of our team, ask questions and talk about ideas and concerns.
Thursday, July 15, Noon - 1 p.m. | Sign up here
Wednesday, July 21, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Sign up here
You will receive an email confirmation with the Zoom meeting link, phone number and details after you sign up.
New department
Starting with the city’s new fiscal year July 1, the new Housing & Homeless Services Department will officially be formed. This department will consolidate services from various areas of the city into one operating department. The goal is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the city’s housing and homeless programs. Here is an updated city organizational chart that shows how this new department fits within the city’s structure. The new director, Mandy Mills, starts July 6.
More information
The city is continuing to update its website on homelessness so you have easy access to information and can get your questions answered. Here are some quick links:
