The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2023-11-06 HT Regular Meeting Agenda PacketCity of Palm Desert Page 1 HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA AGENDA (HYBRID MEETING) City Hall, North Wing Conference Room 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 Pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449, this meeting will be conducted as a hybrid meeting and there will be in-person access to this location. •To participate via Zoom, use the following link: https://palmdesert.zoom.us/j/85182952479 or call (213) 338-8477, Zoom Meeting ID: 851 8295 2479 •Written public comment may also be submitted to mnance@palmdesert.gov. Emails received by 8:00 a.m. prior to the meeting will be distributed to the Taskforce. Any correspondence received during or after the meeting will be distributed to the Taskforce as soon as practicable and retained for the official record. Emails will not be read aloud except as an ADA accommodation. 1.CALL TO ORDER 2.ROLL CALL 3.NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: This time has been set aside for the public to address the Homelessness Taskforce on issues that are not on the agenda for up to three minutes. Because the Brown Act does not allow the Taskforce to act on items not listed on the agenda, members may briefly respond or refer the matter to staff for a report and recommendation at a future meeting. 4.PRESENTATIONS A.CITY NET – STREET OUTREACH PRESENTATION 5.ACTION CALENDAR A.APPROVAL OF MINUTES RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Homelessness Taskforce Regular Meeting minutes of September 11, 2023. Monday November 6, 2023 9:00 a.m. Regular Meeting 1 Homelessness Taskforce Agenda November 6, 2023 City of Palm Desert Page 2 B.HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE MEETING FOR JANUARY 2024 RECOMMENDATION: Approve one time rescheduling of the Homelessness Taskforce Regular Meeting from Monday, January 1, 2024, to Tuesday, January 9, 2024. 6.INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS A.HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE MEMBERS B.CITY COUNCIL LIAISONS C.COMMUNITY PARTNERS 1.CVAG – CV Housing First: Second Quarter Report for 2023 D.CITY STAFF 1. Code Compliance Activity Report E.ATTENDANCE REPORT 7.ADJOURNMENT AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing agenda for the Homelessness Taskforce was posted on the City Hall bulletin board and City website not less than 72 hours prior to the meeting. /s/ Michelle Nance Recording Secretary PUBLIC NOTICES Agenda Related Materials: Pursuant to Government Code §54957.5(b)(2) the designated office for inspection of records in connection with this meeting is the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. Staff reports for all agenda items and documents provided to a majority of the legislative bodies are available for public inspection at City Hall and on the City’s website at www.palmdesert.gov. Americans with Disabilities Act: It is the intention of the City of Palm Desert to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an attendee or a participant at this meeting, or in meetings on a regular basis, you will need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, the City will attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact the Office of the City Clerk, (760) 346-0611, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to inform us of your needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible. 2 City of Palm Desert Homeless Task Force November 6, 2023 3 ●Overview o 501(c)(3) nonprofit o Established in 2003 in Long Beach, CA o 225+ employees o Currently providing services in seven counties in CA o Local context: County of Riverside, Riverside, San Jacinto, Perris, Murrieta, Corona & Norco ●Mission o City Net is committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness in the communities we serve by connecting neighbors experiencing homelessness to transformative care and innovative solutions that lead to housing City Net Organizational Overview 4 Organizational Overview – Riverside County Current Riverside County •Active CoC participant since October 2018 •Currently contracted in Corona, Hemet, Murrieta,Norco,Perris,Riverside City, Riverside County, San Jacinto, and Union Pacific Railroad •28 Client Facing Staff in Riverside County 5 Contract Timeline City Council Approval •September 28, 2023 Staffing •2 client-facing staff: 1 Lead CM, 1 CM Scope of Services •Street Outreach •Case Management •Housing Navigation •Transportation, crisis response, inter- agency collaboration •Linkage to Substance Use and Mental Health Services 6 Deliverables: •Case Management Services •Connect client to the Coordinated Entry System •Connection to Mental Health and/or Substance Use Services •Connection to shelter/ bridge housing opportunities •Connection to long term housing opportunities Goals for Palm Desert 7 Data and Reporting 8 Murrieta O&E and Motel ES July 1, 2021- September 30, 2023 OUTREACH HIGHLIGHTS 245 162 78 INSERT PHOTO We would like to highlight our amazing collaboration with city staff Brian and Lindsay. We conduct outreach alongside them multiple times a week and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the client in Murrieta. Success Story: While determined to complete her nursing degree, a client's education was interrupted when she lost her employment and, subsequently, her residence, which ultimately led to her losing custody of her children. Once unhoused, she lost hope in changing her current situation and continuing her education until she connected to City Net by enrolling in the Project Touch Emergency Shelter. City Net provided supportive resources for the client. (Cont. on page 2) Client Interactions Clients Enrolled Positive Exits Average length of time experiencing homelessness 42 months 14 Average length of stay in the motel project 72 days Clients Document Ready On average, this can take 3-6 months. Coming soon VISPDATS completed Coming soon Total average hours of service 181 Clients in Motel Shelter Exits to Shelter 54 Exits to Temporary Housing Exits to Permanent Housing 10 66.5 VISDPATs measure clients’ vulnerability. XX clients scored over 8, high vulnerability. 9 At the same time, she navigated housing programs and learned of the stipulations for regaining custody. The case managers enrolled the client in the Bringing Families Home program and received transitional housing in September. With a stable living environment, the client's hope has been restored! She will soon have custody of her children and resume her nursing education. •A recent high school graduate was searching for belonging as he explored his personal identity, which created a rift with his friends and family. After being turned out of his home, he had no place to stay, but he was determined to turn his life around. He contacted City Net for assistance, and they quickly enrolled him in the shelter program, helping shape new attainable goals for his future. The client joined the Job Corps and began learning skills that will provide financial and housing stability in the future. His case managers are thrilled with the progress that has come from his hard work, and they know he's on his way to acquiring permanent housing of his own. •A single mother was exhausted from a difficult divorce where she had to fight for custody of her teenage son when her finances ran out, and she became unhoused. Despite working full-time, the legal proceedings meant she could not make ends meet, and she self-enrolled into the Project Touch shelter. Through the shelter, she connected to City Net for resources and assistance. In addition to housing and financial resources, the case managers emotionally supported the client as she adjusted to her new living situation. Within a month of entering the shelter program, the client secured a room and board for her and her son to live together. She says she is on her way to reaching her goals, and the support provided by City Net and Project Touch has been invaluable. •When a client's spouse passed away a few years ago, her life turned upside down, and she could no longer afford the mortgage on her home. In her seventies, the client found herself unhoused and staying in her car for the first time in her life. She resisted seeking assistance until she finally contacted City Net, upon which she explained that she was overwhelmed and embarrassed by her situation. The case managers were understanding as they listened to her concerns and connected with Project Touch on her behalf. In a wonderful turn of luck, the client moved into transitional housing after only a few weeks in the shelter program! SUCCESS STORIES 10 Q & A 11 [This page has intentionally been left blank.] 12 City of Palm Desert Page 1 HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA MINUTES Click HERE to review the meeting audio. Click HERE to access the meeting agenda packet. 1.CALL TO ORDER A Special Meeting of the Homelessness Taskforce was called to order by Chair Vines on Monday, September 11, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Taskforce members Joseph Butts, Scott Marks, Davis Meyer, Vice Chair Cindy Burreson and Chair Diane Vines. Absent: None. Liaison(s) Present: Mayor Kathleen Kelly, City Council Liaison Staff Present: Jessica Gonzales, Housing Manager; Jason Austin, Social Services Coordinator and Michelle Nance, Recording Secretary. 3.NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT None. 4.PRESENTATIONS A.AFFORDABLE HOUSING UPDATE Housing Manager Gonzales presented an update on the City of Palm Desert’s Affordable Housing Program. Monday, September 11, 2023 9:00 a.m. Special Meeting 13 Homelessness Taskforce Minutes September 11, 2023 City of Palm Desert Page 2 ALL ACTIONS ARE DRAFT, PENDING APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES 5.ACTION CALENDAR A.APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION BY TASKFORCE MEMBER BUTTS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MARKS, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the Homelessness Taskforce Regular Meeting minutes of July 10, 2023. 6.INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS A.HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE MEMBER REPORTS & REMARKS Chair Vines and Social Services Coordinator Austin provided an update on their visit to St. Margaret’s food access program. In response to inquiry, City staff offered to work with the County to coordinate a future presentation on the County’s Permanent Supportive Housing Project. B.CITY COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS & REMARKS Mayor Kelly announced that August 24, 2023, was proclaimed as “Dr. Vines’ Day” in Palm Desert; spoke on the high-quality affordable housing projects being developed in Palm Desert; provided an update on recent resignation and appointments on the Homelessness Taskforce. C.COMMUNITY PARTNER REPORTS Greg Rodriguez, of Riverside County, provided an update on the Palm Springs Navigation Center. D.STAFF REPORTS & REMARKS 1.Code Compliance Activity Report – Report provided; no action taken on this item. 2.City Services Update - Social Services Coordinator Austin provided an update on the use of designated shelter beds and the recent Request for Proposals for street outreach services. E.ATTENDANCE REPORT Report provided with agenda; no action taken on this item. 7.ADJOURNMENT The Homelessness Taskforce adjourned at 9:47 a.m. 14 Homelessness Taskforce Minutes September 11, 2023 City of Palm Desert Page 3 ALL ACTIONS ARE DRAFT, PENDING APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Respectfully submitted, Michelle Nance, Deputy City Clerk I Recording Secretary ATTEST: Jason Austin, Social Services Coordinator Secretary APPROVED BY THE HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE: __/__/2023 15 [This page has intentionally been left blank.] 16 ITEM 6B Coachella Valley Association of Governments Homelessness Committee September 18, 2023 STAFF REPORT Subject: CV Housing First: Second Quarter Report for 2023 Contact: Ivan Tenorio, Management Analyst (itenorio@cvag.org) Recommendation: Receive and file the quarterly report for the CV Housing First program, representing clients served in the second quarter of 2023 Background: CVAG is now in its third year of operating the CV Housing First program with staff. The program is focused on the CV 200, a by-name list of chronically homeless individuals residing in desert cities that have frequent contacts with law enforcement and who are likely to be shelter resistant or who have already fallen out of housing. The list was developed in partnership with CVAG’s member jurisdictions and local law enforcement. CVAG staff has committed to adjusting CV Housing First programming based on the data, and provides quarterly updates to its members about the program. The CV Housing First team uses two primary methods to get clients to housing solutions: rapid resolution and crisis stabilization units, which are residential units, apartments and hotel rooms that CVAG rents to case manage CV Housing First clients. CVAG staff will continue to provide quarterly reports as it provides services in 2023. CV Housing First Clients – By the Numbers through June 30, 2023 CV 200 as of 6/30/2023 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 TOTAL Clients housed in Crisis Stabilization Units (CSH) 25 36 61 Clients being helped through Rapid Resolution (RR) 0 0 0 Clients returned to the street (failures) 7 9 16 Clients moved into permanent housing from CSH (successes) 18 14 32 Clients moved into permanent housing through RR (successes) 0 0 Clients moved into permanent housing through Outreach (successes)* 6 1 7 TOTAL HOUSED FROM LIST OF 200 24 15 39 17 NON-CV 200 as of 6/30/2023 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 TOTAL Households Housed in CSH Units 0 0 0 Households being helped through RR 0 0 0 Households returned to the street (failures) 0 0 0 Households moved into permanent housing from CSH (successes) 0 0 0 Clients moved into permanent housing through Outreach (successes)* 0 1 1 Households moved into permanent housing from RR (successes) 0 0 0 TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS HOUSED 0 0 0 TOTAL INDIVIDUALS HOUSED 0 1 1 The data is divided by CV 200 clients – the by-name list of chronically homeless individuals that CVAG maintains in partnership with law enforcement and code enforcement – and non-CV 200 clients. This year, CVAG staff set an internal goal of permanently housing 65 of the CV 200 clients. This would be higher than last year’s total of 54 individuals but not quite as high as the 2021 results of housing 75 CV 200 clients. The total number of clients housed or returning to the streets is less than the total helped each quarter, as the grand total includes clients who may remain in their units at the end of the quarter. CVAG continues to refine its data metrics in order to be transparent about how many and how quickly individuals are housed. This year, CVAG staff added a row to account for CV 200 and non-CV 200 clients who are being permanently housed by the CV Housing First program via outreach efforts, and not case management based in the crisis stabilization units. This group may include CV 200 clients who timed out of a CVAG unit but still were open to outreach services, and were eventually housed by the team. The other group being non-CV 200 clients who engaged with the CVHF outreach team and were provided resources and possibly housed. During this second quarter, the CV Housing First team also learned that two CV 200 clients were housed by other agencies. These two individuals will be noted in CVAG’s records as housed and are not counted in CVAG’s totals. 18 CVAG staff also tracks how long individuals are staying in the program before being housed or returning to the street. The goal is to exit clients within 90 days to permanent housing solutions. Over the past two years, it was not uncommon for the length of stay to exceed 100 days. For the second quarter, the CV 200 clients who successfully exited the program into permanent housing stayed in a crisis stabilization unit on average for 64 days. Those CV 200 clients who exited the program unsuccessfully stayed on average 59 days. This quarter’s length of stay is a slight increase over the first quarter. But the overall trend is that the length of stay is shortening and staying under CVAG’s 90-day goal. Part of this decrease can be attributed to the work CV Housing First staff does during outreach as they prepare clients for transitioning to living in one of CVAG’s residential units, hotel rooms or apartments. The Housing First outreach team has a focus on addressing the lack of vital documentation for the CV 200 clients prior to entry, including obtaining their birth certificates and identification cards that are needed to secure a housing voucher. If the case managers can spend less time gathering these documents when they are in the crisis stabilization units, more time can be spent on the client itself regardless if that is self-care, addressing health concerns, and or even their behavioral health. The CV Housing First team is also working to serve CV 200 clients by coordinating with other outreach efforts, including the newer City-led efforts in both Palm Springs and Palm Desert. Of the 15 permanent housing resolutions in the second quarter, the breakdown of clients’ Exit Destination is as follows: •Family/Friends – 1 •Rental With Ongoing Subsidy (Permanent Supportive Housing) – 7 •Rental With Ongoing Subsidy (Low Income Senior Housing) – 0 •Rental With Ongoing Subsidy (Voucher for veterans housing) – •Rental With Ongoing Subsidy (Project-Based Vouchers) – 4 •Rental with No Ongoing Subsidy – 1 •Shared Housing – 2 •Long-term care facility or nursing home – 0 Voucher availability The second quarter was a drop over the first quarter. This is a trend CVAG also saw in 2022. In both instances, as the fiscal years were wrapping, CVAG staff faced challenges securing both permanent supportive Housing and project-based vouchers. Staff would caution that the lack of vouchers is also impacting the third quarter success rates, which are sluggish as compared to the previous two quarters. This challenge is further exasperated by the limited amount of affordable housing in the Coachella Valley. The availability of Permanent Supportive Housing and Project-based vouchers was key to success in the first quarter of 2023, when CVAG saw five clients secure housing St. Michaels in the City of Riverside. CVAG staff is keeping an eye on future opportunities, including the Monarch Apartments in Palm Springs that is expected to open this year or the Hadley Villas in La Qunita that is now accepting County vouchers. 19 Fiscal Analysis: The CV Housing First program, including the staffing and CV 200 program, is incorporated into the CV Housing First budget, which has been funded by contributions from cities, Riverside County, and grants. 20 CITY OF PALM DESERT CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION ACTIVITY REPORT Pedro Rodriguez Code Compliance Supervisor prodriguez@cityofpalmdesert.org 760-776-6442 21 CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION ACTIVITY REPORT This reporting period is for the months of September and October 2023. This report will reflect all the current activity regarding unlawful storage of personal property and unlawful encampments and assist the Riverside Sheriff’s Department. Code Compliance Officers responded to 24 complaints of unlawful camping and storage of personal property on private and public property. During this reporting period, there was one abatement of personal property. Code Compliance Officers responded to 8 calls to assist the Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies in removing and storing personal property. Code Compliance Activity – July and August 2023 Code Compliance Cases for Unlawful Camping/Storage of Property 24 Violation by Case Type Unlawful Camping on Private Property 1 Unlawful Camping on Public Property 2 Storage of Personal Property on Private Property 3 Storage of Personal Property on Public Property 4 Panhandling Complaints 0 Assist Riverside County Sheriff Dept with removal/storage of property 1 Assist with 602 Penal Code Letter for Business 8 Removal of shopping carts with personal property 5 Abatements of Unlawful Campsites or Storage of Personal Property Case 23-2001-72555 Highway 111 Cost $300.00 Cost Cost Cost Cost 22 Code Compliance Division YTD 2023 Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YTD Assist RSO 2 1 2 4 0 2 2 4 1 0 18 Pan Handling 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 Storage of Personal Property on Private Property 1 4 2 3 1 1 2 0 3 0 17 Storage of Personal Property on Public Property 1 6 3 3 4 3 3 10 0 4 37 Unlawful Camping on Private Property 3 5 10 2 10 11 6 4 1 0 52 Unlawful Camping on Public Property 4 3 2 1 1 3 5 2 2 0 23 PC 602 letter 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 8 0 13 Storage of Shopping cart with personal property 1 7 0 0 1 1 4 5 4 1 24 23 [This page has intentionally been left blank.] 24 CITY OF PALM DESERT ATTENDANCE REPORT Advisory Body: Prepared By: Year 2022 2022 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 Month Sep Nov Jan Mar May July Sep Date 12-Sep 7-Nov 9-Jan 6-Mar 1-May 10-Jul 11-Sep Burreson, Cindy P P P P P E P 1 0 Butts, Joseph P P P P P P P 0 0 Fisher-Anaya, Rosemary N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A P N/A 0 0 Marks, Scott P A P P P P P 1 1 Meyer, Davis P A P A P P P 2 2 Schachter, Chris N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0 Vines, Diane P P P P P P P 0 0 Palm Desert Municipal Code 2.34.010: P Present A Absent E Excused -No meeting Bimonthly: Two unexcused absences from regular meetings in any twelve-month period shall constitute an automatic resignation of members holding office on boards that meet bimonthly. Total Absences Total Unexcused Absences Homelessness Taskforce Michelle Nance 25 [This page has intentionally been left blank.] 26