MEETING DATE:
DECEMBER 9, 2014
SUBJECT:
Title
RESOLUTION NO. 2014-8009 - REGIONAL WINTER SHELTER SUPPORT
Body
Recommendation
Recommendation
ADOPT a resolution approving participation in the eighth year of the Regional Winter Shelter System and allocate $62,900 in homeless winter shelter support.
Body
Board or Commission Action
Not applicable
Relevant Council Strategic Theme
Not applicable
Relevant Department Goal
City of San Marcos 2013-2021 Housing Element, Program #5 - Transitional Housing/Homeless Shelters
Introduction
Over the decades, the City of San Marcos has supported multiple winter shelters throughout North San Diego County to help provide emergency winter shelter for the homeless. A summary of the city's support over the past 15 years is attached as reference. For the past seven years, the city has participated in the Alliance for Regional Solutions (ARS) winter shelter system, which provides over 180 beds in six different winter shelters located throughout North San Diego County.
Discussion
In October 2007, the Council approved participation in the first regional approach to providing shelter for the homeless in North San Diego County. Although several shelters have been operated throughout North County by different agencies in the past, there had been no coordinated effort to address the homeless issues relevant to all communities. After considerable work between representatives of the nine North County cities, the County and the homeless service providers, a Regional Winter Transitional Shelter System (RWTSS) plan was developed and tested these last seven winters with great success.
In short, the RWTSS will provide for a combined total of approximately 180 beds in six different shelter sites, for an average of 130 nights (22,852 bed nights) from November 2014 through March 2015. ARS will be coordinating all aspects of the six RWTSS shelters. During the 2013-14 winter season there were four stationary ARS shelters: Escondido Emergency Shelter (Haven House) in Escondido, Operation Hope in Vista, Bread of Life in Oceanside and La Posada de Guadalupe in Carlsbad. There were also two rotating ARS shelters, Interfaith Shelter Network North Coastal and Interfaith Shelter Network North Inland, with member congregations each hosting a shelter for two weeks. The shelters also provide meals, transportation, security and supportive services. In the past seven seasons of operation, the RWTSS has assisted 3,732 people seeking shelter. Last year 7 (2% of the 372 total served) of the adults that used the RWTSS shelters claimed San Marcos as their last permanent home. The RWTSS model is based on the equitable distribution of cost and capacity based on population, and it is an accountability-based model.
Fiscal Impact
The RWTSS plan was developed through the participation of over 30 non-profit service providers (working under the name "Alliance for Regional Solutions"), the nine North County cities (Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Poway and Escondido) and the County of San Diego. The Alliance for Regional Solutions has requested San Marcos' participation in the eighth year of the RWTSS plan. The city, through the development of the RWTSS budget, has been requested to continue its direct support to Operation HOPE ($25,000), Bread of Life ($14, 500), Interfaith Community Services ($15,000) and the Interfaith Rotational Shelter Network ($8,400) winter shelters. The combined total of $62,900 is within the FY 14-15 budgeted amount in the City's Affordable Housing Fund.
Attachment(s)
1. Resolution
2. 15-year History of City of San Marcos Homeless Shelter Support
3. Alliance for Regional Solutions 2013-14 Winter Shelter Report
Prepared by: Karl Schwarm, Director, Housing & Neighborhood Services
Reviewed by: Lydia Romero, Deputy City Manager
Approved by: Jack Griffin, City Manager