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CC - Authorization to the Committee on Homelessness and Housing Division Staff to Solicit Volunteer Enumerators and Donations of Refreshments for the 2018 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count
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Meeting Date: January 8, 2018
Contact Person/Dept: Tevis Barnes/CDD- Housing
Phone Number: (310) 253-5782
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/03/2018);
Committee on Homelessness (12/05/17); St. Joseph Center (12/05/17); and Upward Bound House (12/05/17).
Department Approval: Sol Blumenfeld, Community Development Director (12/21/17)
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the Committee on Homelessness to work in conjunction with the Culver City Housing Division to solicit volunteer enumerators and donation(s) of refreshments for the 2018 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count (Count).
BACKGROUND:
Annually, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) conducts a Homeless Count to better understand what homelessness looks like throughout Los Angeles City and County. The Count 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 (i.e. cars, campers, RVs, sidewalks, doorways). 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.
The 2018 Count will start Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018 in the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys. The West Los Angeles and South Bay/Harbor Count will be conducted Wednesday, January 24, 2017. The Metro, South Los Angeles and Antelope Valley Counts will be conducted on Thursday, January 25, 2018.
To participate in the 2018 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 nine 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. There is a separate agenda item before the Council this evening recommending the Council approve an Opt-In Agreement with LAHSA for the 2018 Homeless Count. The Opt-In Agreement is for a three-year period.
DISCUSSION:
At its regular meeting on July 25, 2017, the Committee on Homelessness voted to form an ad hoc subcommittee that would take the lead in working with Housing Division staff and LAHSA to coordinate the 2018 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 2018 Count without additional support. The Committee on Homelessness assisted the Housing Division in coordinating the 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Homeless Counts. During previous Counts, the Committee on Homelessness was essential in coordinating the Counts and enlisting over 300 volunteer enumerators and soliciting refreshments from various Culver City businesses such as Copenhagen Bakery, Tito’s Taco, Tub’s Fine Chili, the West Basin Water District, Seasoned Greetings, Starbucks Coffee and Sorrento Market.
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 Count and work with the Housing Division to coordinate with Culver City Police and Fire Departments.
The subcommittee is comprised of Deborah Wallace, Freddy Puza and Kim Gibson. Member Wallace has served as a Vice-Chair of the Committee on Homelessness and was first appointed by the Council in 2010. Member Puza participated in the 2016 and 2017 Counts by assisting with public relations/outreach and training volunteer enumerators. Member Gibson participated in the 2016 and 2017 Homeless Counts by coordinating the deployment center. All the subcommittee members are motivated and capable of fulfilling the duties required to successfully coordinate the 2018 Count.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There is no impact to the City’s General Fund or the Culver City Housing Authority budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Save the Date - Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count
2) Homeless Count Flyer
MOTION:
That the City Council:
Authorize the Committee on Homelessness to work in conjunction with the Culver City Housing Division to solicit volunteer enumerators and donations of refreshments for the 2018 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count.