TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Brian Ambrose, Community Services Director
PREPARED BY: Brian Ambrose, Community Services Director
SUBJECT:
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Regional Homeless Action Plan
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RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt the Regional Homeless Alliance Assessment Report and Action Plan and the associated findings as prepared by Baker Tilly.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On November 1, 2022, the City Council accepted and appropriated grant funding from the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on behalf of the Regional Homeless Alliance (Vote: 5-0).
On May 16, 2023, the City Council approved an agreement with Baker Tilly on behalf of the Regional Homeless Alliance to provide regional homeless consulting services, including the creation of a Regional Homeless Action Plan Report (Vote: 5-0).
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Coordinate and deliver responsive, effective community services.
BACKGROUND
In September 2022, the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded funding to the City of Murrieta as the lead agency for the Regional Homeless Alliance (RHA). The RHA is a five-city regional homeless collaboration comprised of Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, and Wildomar. The purpose of the funding was to hire a consultant to develop a Regional Homeless Action Plan and to identify steps and recommendations to formalize the RHA. This funding was part of a Congressionally Directed Spending Request advocated on behalf of the City by Congressman Ken Calvert.
After a Request for Proposal process that included input from three cities, Baker Tilly was selected as the most qualified firm to lead the RHA through the creation of a Regional Homeless Action Plan and to provide recommendations to solidify the RHA as an agency to address regional homeless issues. As part of the planning process, Baker Tilly interviewed over 50 stakeholders, held numerous meetings with the region’s staff and city managers, visited the outreach teams in each city, and completed a resource inventory. From this extensive process, Baker Tilly has submitted its final version of the RHA Assessment Report and Action Plan, also known as the Regional Homeless Action Plan. The final plan lays out seven goals and twenty-six recommendations/action steps to implement a Regional Homeless Program. The seven goals are as follows:
Goal 1: Coordinate, streamline, and improve street outreach and engagement.
Goal 2: Regionalize encampment response protocols and grants.
Goal 3: Standardize data collection, including integration with the Homeless Management
Information System (HMIS) and the Coordinated Entry System (CES).
Goal 4: Connect with the County and the Continuum of Care System.
Goal 5: Regionalize funding support from County/State/Federal Sources.
Goal 6: Increase resource access points and the number of interim shelter beds available within the RHA communities.
Goal 7: Develop permanent, affordable and supportive housing units.
The twenty-six recommendations can be found in Attachment A of the Regional Homeless Alliance Assessment Report and Action Plan (Attachment 1).
Should the collaborating cities adopt the recommendations from the Action Plan, the RHA will move forward with an implementation action plan.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the presentation of the Regional Homeless Action Plan and approved findings. Should the RHA move forward with an implementation plan, there will be an unknown fiscal impact for staff and a consultant shared by collaborating cities. However, the RHA is actively researching and applying for grant funds to cover a portion of those costs.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Regional Homeless Alliance Assessment Report and Action Plan