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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHOMELESSNESS IN ORANGE COUNTY & CITY OF TUSTIN PRESENTATION - 7.18.17Homelessness in Orange County and the City of Tustin 1 City of Tustin 2 Census Results •As of July 2017 there are 47 identified unsheltered homeless in Tustin •Composite of responses indicate the typical unsheltered homeless in Tustin is a male 50’s-60’s with a disability or mental health concern •42% of respondents reported the loss of job or income as the cause of their homelessness •15% have served in the U.S. Military •No children were documented as being homeless •Approximately 22 have established residency in or near the Civic Center Plaza 3 The Numbers –47 in Tustin 4 Increasing Civic Center Plaza Population •December 2016:Library personnel and police report a growing population in the plaza * April 2017 –Library closure moved several of the Civic Center homeless into the Courtyard Previously the homeless used the library for computer, WiFi, recharging of electronics and bathroom •Estimated population has doubled since mid-year 2016 •Size of encampments growing as many are permanently storing property including travel chests,suitcases,shopping carts,etc.and locking the property to stationary objects in the plaza 5 Was the library closing related to the homeless issue? No. A major water leak occurred requiring the library to close for an indefinite time. 6 Since the library closed, has there been an increase in the homeless population at the Civic Center Plaza? Yes. Some of the homeless came from the library property and other locations. The major difference has been the expanded use of tents and structures in the plaza. 7 Can the City keep the homeless from camping in the plaza or other public spaces? Recent Court Opinions (City Attorney) 8 Are there enough shelter facilities to house the homeless? Since 2004, the City has partnered with several organizations to provide 410 beds and 48 homes of temporary/transitional housing. Currently, there are 28 beds and 2 houses available. 9 What is next regarding the plaza? The County Library has requested to have the plaza as part of their efforts to open temporary library operations. We will notify individuals in the plaza of the schedule and will provide assistance through City Net to locate temporary/transitional housing as well as a continuum of services. 10 What is the long-term approach in providing housing for the homeless? The City of Tustin has provided a greater share of the County’s shelter since 2004. The housing and service care providers believe that permanent housing is key to reducing the chronically homeless population. To that end, the City has been evaluating several options in this area. 11 AB 346 sponsored by Association of California Cities –Orange County Provides an additional funding source to be used in the development of temporary/transitional/permanent housing 12 13 14 SUMMARY OF “AHA’S” •COST TO OC COMMUNITY: $299M Annually •BIGGEST COST BURDEN ON: Municipalities and Health Care •PROFILE OF TYPICAL OC HOMELESS PERSON White Male / 50 years old / Most likely US Born Mainly OC residents –70% have lived in OC for 10 years+ •TOP 2 REASONS CITED FOR BEING HOMELESS Eviction / Foreclosure Job Loss / Insufficient Wages •HOUSING ALL OF OC’s CHRONICALLY HOMELESS WOULD SAVE: $42M 15 City of Tustin 16 Initial outreach attempts •June 2016:Police Department Community Impact Officer teamed with the Orange County Health Care Agency to form a Psychiatric Evaluation Response Team/PERT in order to meet with and assess Civic Center residents and identify any with mental health needs •August 2016:Police team with the “Coast to Coast”homeless outreach organization in an attempt to find permanent housing for the courtyard residents. “Coast to Coast”agrees to work in the Civic Center (and surrounding area)twice per month •Few,if any Civic Center residents accept the opportunity for permanent housing due to a variety of reasons ranging from not wanting to live with others,shelters not allowing pets,not allowing alcohol/tobacco use,and general disagreement with associated rules 17 Outreach Success/Failure •November 2016:Community Impact Officers successfully found permanent housing for a Civic Center resident who was in California with no means to return to his family in Florida.Once confirming he had a residence and employment secured in his home state,an airline ticket was secured and we transported him to the airport.This story was covered in a “Behind the Badge” article. •November 2016:Coast to Coast successfully housed their first Civic Center resident.She was admitted into a transitional home in Anaheim maintained by a local church.Within one-week she returned to the Civic Center stating she did not like the living situation in the transitional home. 18 Outreach Alternatives •February 2017:Countywide meetings are held to address homelessness and other organizations become more active •Community Impact Officer meets with other agencies who deal with a larger homeless population including Fullerton and Anaheim •Orange County Rescue Mission becomes active in civic center outreach but few meet or agree to the admittance criteria •City Net Organization is researched as a potential resource •April 2017:City leaders visit “Potters Lane”and explore other alternative housing options including MicroPadTM and affordable housing 19 City Net Outreach Organization •May 2017:Coast to Coast discontinues services to Tustin.Agreement made with the Long Beach-based “City Net”outreach group. •City Net three-month pilot program with 160 hours of outreach commitment per month is contracted •City Net teams are deployed into Tustin with initial focus being the Civic Center Plaza •Community Impact Officer teams with City Net members once a week 20 Policing Enforcement •Since January 2016,there have been a total of 43 arrests in the Civic Center area. •15 were generated 159 service calls by the public to the Police Department •28 were generated by direct contact from our Police Department to the Civic Center area •Arrests include charges of assault with a deadly weapon (knife),assault on a police officer, terrorist threats,resisting arrest,narcotics possession,under the influence of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia,assault &battery,possession of stolen property and public intoxication and others •Since January 2017,officers have issued 34 municipal code citations for charges of possessing open alcohol containers,drinking in public,urinating in public,defecating in public,scavenging etc. 21 Demographic Comparisons 22 23 City of Tustin Affected Homeless Housing City of Tustin population is 82,372 410 Emergency & Transitional (E&T) Beds per capita = 1 per 200 residents Orange County population is 3,194,024 15,890 OC E&T Beds at Tustin’s 1 per 200 residents 2,863 Current E&T Beds Santa Ana population is 341,341 1,698 Santa Ana E&T Beds at Tustin’s 1 per 200 residents 653 Current E&T Beds Irvine population is 267,086 1,329 Irvine Shelter Beds at Tustin’s 1 per 200 residents 148 Current E&T Beds 24