BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Consider Recommendations Relating to County of Santa Clara County and Santa Clara Valley Water District Efforts to Reduce Homelessness.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Receive report from the Office of Supportive Housing; and
B. Receive report from the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
Body
SUMMARY:
This report provides an update on the efforts of the County's Office of Supportive Housing and the District to reduce homelessness in Santa Clara County.
The Office of Supportive Housing
Supportive Housing System
There are a number of program models for responding to homelessness, some of which are more effective than others at helping families and individuals return to permanent housing. Shelter or housing-based responses to homelessness can be divided into two main types: temporary housing (including emergency shelter and transitional housing programs) and permanent housing (including rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and homelessness prevention programs).
Emergency shelter (ES) programs respond to the crisis of homelessness, providing immediate shelter from the elements, access to meals, and connections to services and resources. Most shelters for adults offer bunks or cots in shared rooms with strict rules regarding behavior and alcohol and drug use. Shelter guests are usually required to leave the shelter during the day, and when demand is higher than the available beds, might not be guaranteed access to a bed the following night. Both nationally and in Santa Clara County, emergency shelter has been found to be ineffective in moving people out of homelessness. In FY 2013-14, only 15% of people exiting emergency shelters moved into permanent housing in Santa Clara County.
Transitional Housing (TH) programs provide temporary housing (usually no more than 2 years) with attached services focused on helping people prepare to obtain housing upon program exit. Units can be anything from an enclos...
Click here for full text