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Home My WebLink About2A Staff CorrespondenceConsolidated Agenda Correspondence Received Prior to 03/25/2021 Batch Six DESERT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT Z_)1i~y ,SJ /m!t!ty 'LJmJr March 24, 2021 To: Palm Springs City Council From: Carole Rogers, R.N ., M.P .H. Director 1 DESERT HEALTHCARE .. FOUNDATION I am writing to you as an individual and an elected member of the Desert Health Care District. I urge you to support the Well in the Desert and approve the renewal of the use permit of their facility on Calle Encilia. The Well in the Desert provides a unique and valuable service to the homeless people in our area. crogers@dhcd.org cell: 510-772-1669 ITEMNO. r;,,A 00 { l c;fz,oL/ 1140 N. Indian Canyon Drive Palm Springs CA 92262 Office: 760-323-6113 March 25, 2021 Mayor Christy Holstege City of Palm Springs 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 Mayor Holstege, As Executive Director of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), I wanted to provide some input in advance of the City of Palm Springs' City Council discussion on homelessness services, which is on today's Council meeting agenda. CVAG has a long history of leading programs that help homeless individuals and families in the Coachella Valley and -as you've seen as Chair of our Homelessness Committee -the program works best when the entire region is working collaboratively. CVAG's work to help the homeless dates back almost 20 years, first in the form of partnerships with local churches and then operating an emergency overnight shelter in north Palm Springs. In 2017, after thoroughly scanning the landscape of existing forms of help available in Coachella Valley, CVAG launched the CV Housing First program, building on a successful national model. The underlying philosophy of this program is that once someone's housing situation has stabilized, they are able to focus their attention on issues that lead to becoming homeless in the first place, like maintaining employment and dealing with addiction or mental health issues. CV Housing First uses a combination of strategies - including rapid rehousing, outreach, crisis stabilization units and other supportive services -to connect unsheltered homeless individuals with housing opportunities they can sustain over time. CVAG's Executive Committee, following the recommendation of the Homelessness Committee, directed us to start 2021 by transitioning the CV Housing First program from one run by a contractor to one that is operated in-house. I appreciate the warm welcome I received when I provided an update to the Palm Springs City Council on March 11, 2021 about the direction our program is taking this year. As I explained at your meeting, we are relying on an effective combination of cross-trained staff working in close collaboration with local law enforcement -including Palm Springs Police -and public health partners to focus on the "frequent flyer" users of public services. We've identified these individuals as the CV200. By helping them -typically the hardest, most shelter-resistant chronically homeless people -get off the streets and into programs, we can reduce the amount of public funding spent on in terms of health care and social services. But as successful as the rollout of the program has been, we've also been very transparent that our program won't entirely solve all of the homeless issues in the Coachella Valley. That's why we've consistently reinforced the message that "that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to addressing homelessness." We've had many steadfast partners who have helped us find and fund these solutions - and both the City of Palm Springs and the County of Riverside are among those important partners. rrEMNo. ·z A -0~-, 2-s-1 .... 101-( CITY rn: BLYTHE· CITY oi= CATl-ltDRAL CITY• CITY oi= CoACI-IELLA • CITY oi= DESERT Hor SPRINGS• CITY oi= INDIAN WELLS CITY oi= INDIO· CITY oi= LA Qu1NTA • Clrv oi= PALM DESERT• CITY oi= PALM SPAINGS • CITY oi: RANCI-IO M1RAGI: • COUNTY oi= R1vrns1DE AGUA CALIENTE BAND oi= CAl·-lUILLA INDIANS • CABAZON BAND oi= MISSION INDIANS As part of today's agenda, the City Council and the County will be discussing both the challenges and opportunities that are presented by the existing services offered within the City limits. I write today to reiterate my view that while CVAG is filling a niche within the community by focusing services to the CV200 clients, we also stand ready to discuss with you how to make sure CVAG's program is being best coordinated with the other services. For example, our partnership with the County of Riverside includes helping CV200 clients who are in Project Roomkey units, which leverages both the County's and CVAG's programs and services. We've also benefited from the use of the former Boxing Club, which the City has graciously allowed us to use as a hub for the CV Housing First program's services. Moving forward, we will continue to work with both the City and the County to improve the coordination between all our services. Homelessness is a complex issue, and it takes a village -including our cities, our tribes, our County, regional government, and partnering organizations -to successfully address this issue. Please don't hesitate to contact me at tkirk@cvag.org or at (760) 346-1127 if I can provide additional information or support. Sincerely, Tom Kirk, CVAG Executive Director Homelessness Assistance Activity Status March 25, 2021 1 Most cities in California have funding jurisdiction for General Fund activities such as Police/Fire safety, parks, streets, maintenance, development, etc. Social services -and funding sources for those functions -are the responsibility of the State, typically performed through County governments {Cal. Welfare & Inst. Code, Sec. 17000). Additionally, the City of Palm Springs has provided General Fund resources to address increasing issues of homelessness within the City. 2 • A County program, several Coachella Valley Cities (including Palm Springs) provided annual support to Roy's to provide services to homeless families and single adults. • Clients were allowed to remain in the program up to 120 days based on their progress. • Clients participated in case management activities and receive the tools necessary to secure housing and successfully end their homelessness. • The City contributed $103,000 annually. • Roy's was closed in 2017. 3 City Homelessness Assista nee - $4.3 million City Funds (FY16 -FY20) • City contract for Crisis Team operated by the County of Riverside • Wrap Around Services from Martha's Village and Kitchen • Cool/Warm Centers • Well in the Desert • Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) CV200 • CV Housing First Programming • Food Distribution • Roy's Desert Resource Center • Police and Community Service Officers • Bus Pass and Transportation Voucher Programs • Transient Property Storage and Camp Cleanup 4 Outcomes 413 individuals provided with permanent housing 1,281 individuals provided with temporary housing or shelter 137 individuals received behavioral health or substance abuse treatments 143 individuals became employed 1,563 individuals provided with mainstream benefits 368 individuals provided with overnight cool/warm shelter 5 CVAG Presentation The CV200 Program focuses on chronically homeless. City contribution $103,000 annually. In just 40 days, assisted 20 individuals from the list of 200 chronically homeless persons with exiting homelessness. Overall success rate of 65% when helping individuals exit homelessness when compared to a 5% success rate at Roy's. Attributed to Housing First philosophy -first stabilize someone's housing situation so they can address the issues that lead to becoming homeless. 6 Rental Assistance -City Contribution of $510,000 CDBG COVID Funds • For households with incomes at or below 80% of Area Median Income AND have experienced a COVI D related financial impact. • Up to 12 months of unpaid rent during the period between March 13, 2020 until the time of application submission, plus an additional 3 months of future rent. • Utility assistance will be provided. • Tenants can apply or landlords can initiate an application on behalf of the tenant. Unitedlift.org and select 'Palm Springs~ as your City/Community 7 Homelessness Funding -State Homelessness Grant $10 million • August 2020-$3 million funding commitment for Ivy Palm Hotel Project to create 75 new permanent supportive housing units. • December 2020 -County of Riverside not successful in purchasing Ivy Palm Hotel. • January 2021-Funding commitments totaling $4 million for affordable housing projects -$1.4 million to Agave on Palm Canyon for 71 affordable housing units of which 25 units will be dedicated to housing those experiencing homelessness -$2.4 million for Vista Sunrise II to create 61 new affordable housing units which include 29 units dedicated to those experiencing homelessness. 8 Baristo Park ... ' 9 Baristo Park 10 Indian and Ramon 11 Quality Inn (Encilia side) 12