title
HA - Authorization to Solicit Volunteers Enumerators and Donations of Refreshments for the 2016 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count
body
Contact Person/Dept: Tevis Barnes/Community Development Department/Housing Division
Phone Number: (310) 253-5782
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Commission Name:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (12/10/15)
Department Approval: Sol Blumenfeld, Director of Community Development (12/03/15)
______________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Culver City Housing Authority Board (CCHA) authorize the Committee on Homelessness to work in conjunction with staff to solicit volunteer enumerators and donation of refreshments for the 2016 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count (2016 Count).
BACKGROUND:
Every 2 years, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) conducts a census of the homeless to better understand what homelessness looks like throughout Los Angeles City and County. This process incorporates a street count, shelter/institution count, and homeless demographic survey. The street count is a point-in-time census that is conducted in late January between the hours of 8pm and 2am. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines homelessness as not having a regular fixed nighttime residence or sleeping in places not meant for human habitation. The count enables LAHSA and local governments to account for the number of homeless individuals within its jurisdiction and understand the scope of homelessness. Information from the count is essential in assisting jurisdictions in requests for funding.
Because of growing homeless populations throughout the County of Los Angeles, starting in 2016 LAHSA will conduct the count on an annual basis. The 2016 Count will start Tuesday, January 26, 2016 in the San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles County at 8pm. The West Los Angeles/South Bay Count will be conducted on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 starting at 8pm. The Antelope Valley will conduct its count on Thursday, January 28, 2016 starting at 6am. The Metro, South Los Angeles, San Fernando and South Los Angeles counts will be conducted on Thursday, January 28, 2016 starting at 8pm. The designated end-time for all counts throughout the Los Angeles County, except the Antelope Valley, is 2 am.
To participate in the 2016 Count, jurisdictions must opt-in or opt-out. Opt-in means the City will participate in and have the opportunity to get a full enumeration of the entire City by counting all 9 census tracts. In exchange for gaining a full enumeration, the City will be responsible for recruiting volunteers, providing a deployment site (the Culver City Senior Center has served as the deployment center during past homeless counts), and securing refreshments for the volunteer enumerators.
DISCUSSION:
In September of this year, the City of Los Angeles declared homelessness a “state of emergency” and proposed $100 million for housing and other programs to help address this issue. The City of Los Angeles estimates a homeless population of between 25,000 to 50,000 persons including men, women, and children. This number is up 12% from 2 years ago. The County of Los Angeles estimates a homeless population of approximately 44,000 including individuals, families, and unaccompanied minors.
Focusing on the City, the 2015 Homeless Count enumerated 33 individuals and 21 cars, campers, recreational vehicles, and makeshift shelters believed to provide shelter to the homeless. This is an increase from the 2013 Homeless Count where 22 individuals were enumerated.
At its regular meeting on Monday, November 2, 2015, the City Council directed the City Manager to place an item on a future agenda to consider a request by the Committee on Homelessness to authorize them to solicit volunteers and donations for the 2016 Count.
At its regular meeting on October 27, 2015, the Committee on Homelessness voted to form a subcommittee (Subcommittee) that would take the lead in working with Housing Division staff and LAHSA to coordinate the 2016 Count. Due to staff reductions as a result of the elimination of the Culver City Redevelopment Agency, the Housing Division is unable to conduct the 2016 Count without additional support. The Committee on Homelessness assisted the Housing Division coordinate both the 2013 and 2015 Counts and will again be relied upon to help coordinate the 2016 Count. The Subcommittee was essential in coordinating the 2015 Count and solicited refreshments from various Culver City businesses such as Copenhagen Bakery, Tito’s Taco, Tub’s Fine Chili, the West Basin Water District, and Seasoned Greetings provided refreshments and recruited 62 volunteer enumerators with teams of volunteers from the Downtown Business Association, Grace Lutheran Church, Temple Akiba, University of Southern California Service Fraternity, and the Wende Museum.
Should the City Council approve the request, the role of the Subcommittee will be to communicate and coordinate with LAHSA, solicit volunteers, train volunteers in conjunction with LAHSA, obtain refreshments, coordinate the deployment center the evening of the 2016 Count, and work with the Housing Division to coordinate with Culver City Police and Fire Departments.
The 2016 Count subcommittee is made up of Freddy Puza, Paul Taylor and Deborah Wallace. Ms. Wallace is currently the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Homelessness and serves as the Chair of the 2015 Homeless Count Subcommittee. She is retired with a background in veteran affairs and services and was appointed to the Committee on Homelessness in 2012. Mr. Taylor is retired from the field of engineering and served as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Mr. Taylor was appointed to the Committee on Homelessness in July 2015. Mr. Puza was also appointed in July 2015 and has a background in public relations and marketing. Each Subcommittee member will be required to attend the LAHSA sponsored training. All the Subcommittee members are motivated and capable of fulfilling the duties required to execute the 2016 Count.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
Approval of the Committee’s request does not create a fiscal impact to the Housing Authority Board Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2015/2016.
ATTACHMENTS:
2013 and 2015 Homeless Count Results
RECOMMENDED MOTION(S):
That the Housing Authority Board:
Authorize the Committee on Homelessness to work in conjunction with Housing Division staff to solicit volunteer enumerators and donations of refreshments for the 2016 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count.