Full Text
Attachment A City of Redmond Task Force on Homelessness Status of Recommendations Final Update November 21, 2017 Recommendation Status 1. Increase police bike patrols RPD deployed a downtown bike patrol beginning April, 2016; ongoing RPD recommended, and the Mayor approved, a pilot project to bring on full time dedicated outreach worker (Kent Hay) to work closely with the Neighborhood Resource Officers to identify and build relationships with homeless individuals in Redmond. He has primary responsibility for providing follow-up and assistance to individuals sleeping outdoors allowing the NROs to focus on criminal activity; July, 2016 Budget proposal submitted and approved to extend the Outreach pilot project into a full time, ongoing position; approved Dec, 2016; ongoing 2. Implement a community awareness campaign, including signs regarding panhandling Staff worked to develop a new website specific to the issue of homelessness in Redmond. It leverages the regional work by building on the county-wide initiative. Redmond campaign is called All In All Home, Redmond. Website launched July, 2016; ongoing (www.redmond.gov/homelessness) Staff attended community events and made a number of presentations to spread the word about the new website and ways residents can be involved: --Derby Days-July, 2016 --So Bazaar-August, 2016 --Redmond Lights-December, 2016 --Joint event with Lifewire-Oct, 2016 --Joint event with Friends of Youth-March, 2017 --Multiple presentations to civic groups and groups of city staff-July-Dec, 2016 --Articles published in both FOCUS and on the eCity Newsletter Kent is often tapped to speak to various groups about his role and overall approach Staff continued to engage in discussions with police and human services staff from other Eastside Cities about the potential to post signs discouraging people from giving money to panhandlers. Given heavy demands on other fronts--largely related to siting of shelters—this effort has been on a back burner. In the meantime, Redmond has developed resource cards that we have handed out at all of the events noted and that are available for download from the website. These cards may be used by residents in lieu of giving money, to provide information about programs that offer relevant services ---PAGE BREAK--- Attachment A 3. Provide job training and positions for homeless individuals in the community The Human Services Commission recommended new investments in Hopelink Employment Program ($26,128/year) The City Outreach Specialist works closely with WorkSource Redmond The All In All Home Redmond website lists several contacts for employers willing to offer employment to individuals who are or have formerly been homeless 4. Increase the number of transit passes available to the homeless Through a partnership with the City’s Go Redmond Commute Trip Reduction Program, $25,000 was granted to 8 local agencies including those that are specifically serving homeless individuals Friends of Youth, LifeWire, Congregations for the Homeless, Redmond Outreach Program, Overlake Christian Church Safe Parking, YWCA to purchase transit passes. We hope to be able to replicate this going forward 5. Create additional day center resources on the Eastside to meet regional needs In response to the Task Force recommendations, the Human Services Commission recommended –and City Council approved--new and increased investments in programs providing day center resources: Friends of Youth Drop-In Center (new investment $75,000/year) New Bethlehem Day Center for families (new investment $22,500/year) Congregations for the Homeless Drop-in Center ($34,000/year, increased from $6630) Sophia Way Women’s Day Center ($15,919, increased from $9335) 6. Partner with King County Housing Authority to provide housing opportunities for lower income households Preliminary discussions with KCHA-Winter, 2016-Spring, 2017 ARCH Exec Board discussion/guidance-Aug, 2017 Meeting of multiple jurisdictions to discuss potential path forward-Aug, 2017 Follow up meeting with cities and KCHA occurred late Oct, 2017; ARCH continuing to follow up 7. Extend City’s inclusionary zoning ordinance to require some units affordable to households making 50% or less of Average Median Income City Council took advantage of a re-zone process underway for the Marymoor Village sub-area to institute a requirement for a minimum of 10% of new units to be affordable at 50% of AMI as recommended by the Task Force. In addition, the city is offering an 8 or 12 year multi-family tax exemption to new development in Marymoor Village, Downtown and Overlake Village in exchange for 10% of units being affordable at 50% of AMI 8. Create storage lockers for homeless individuals The City has dedicated space at a vacant park facility that may be used for storing items if needed as part of a more comprehensive plan focused on permanent housing. This facility can only be accessed by the City Outreach Specialist 9. Increase affordable housing options This has become an area of significant interest and attention around the region. In addition to employing specific strategies addressed above, the City of Redmond continues to include support for affordable housing as a high priority item on its legislative agenda. Advocacy is a key area in which residents can be actively engaged. This is included prominently in the “Everyone Has a Part” section of our All In All Home Redmond website ---PAGE BREAK--- Attachment A 10. Create a City “Flexible Funding Pool” that can help people stay in their homes In response to the Task Force recommendations, the Human Services Commission recommended – and City Council approved increased investments in programs providing emergency assistance (e.g. eviction prevention, move-in assistance, motel vouchers, utilities help, and other basic needs): Hopelink ($23,000/year, from $14,790) Catholic Community Services ($11,220/year, from $10,200) King County Bar Legal Services to help prevent evictions (new program $3500/year) In addition, the Human Services Commission recommended –and City Council approved $5500 of flexible funds for Kent to utilize for expenses that generally cannot be covered by other funding sources in support of helping individuals with getting back on a pathway to housing 11. Expand funds to help those living in shelters to secure 1st & last month’s rent, security deposits 12. Develop printable literature/public education program for Redmond residents to identify how to help the homeless This is the same resource card referenced in Item #2 above. We have used it widely and continue to update and distribute it 13. Create/Support a periodic “day of caring” The Redmond Library initially created this during the time the Task Force was meeting. Since then, the Redmond Outreach Program developed the Next Steps Resource Center which brings a variety of service providers to the library two days a week 14. Support the County’s Best Starts for Kids Levy This levy passed in November, 2016 and significant resources are currently being allocated through a variety of RFP processes 15. Advocacy at the state and national level to restore funding for a robust mental health system Redmond 2017 legislative agenda included support for increased resources for mental health services Advocacy is a key area in which residents can be actively engaged. This is included prominently in the “Everyone Has a Part” section of our All In All Home Redmond website 16. Advocate with the state to make it easier to access and distribute Community Housing Grant (CHG) and Housing Support Program (HSP) funds Non-profit agencies on point as this is primarily a service delivery issue Hopelink reports efforts to make these changes have been unsuccessful to date 17. Convene an ongoing commission of Redmond stakeholders Several members of the initial Task Force agreed to serve on an Implementation Committee to support and track the implementation of the Task Force recommendations. The Implementation Committee helped with the Communications roll-out of the Task Force Recommendations and then met several times through mid-2106 to help develop the overall communications campaign strategies and materials. Full Task Force was convened in May, 2016 for an overall progress report Full Task Force convened in Oct, 2017 when this progress report was shared. Those in attendance agreed that based on this update, this Task Force has run its course. Members remain interested in ongoing discussions regarding the next phase of work on the issue of homelessness in Redmond