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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 6/29/2021 - Memorandum From Brittany Depew Re: Homelessness Updates Social Sustainability 222 Laporte Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.8055 MEMORANDUM DATE: June 23, 2021 TO: Mayor Arndt and Councilmembers THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager Jackie Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Department Director FROM: Brittany Depew, Homelessness Lead Specialist RE:Homelessness Updates Purpose: The purpose of this memo is informational to provide Council with monthly homelessness updates. Ten-Year Homelessness Data Driven by a recent Service Area Request (SAR), staff and Homeward Alliance compiled a list of some of our community’s homelessness-related successes over the past ten years. While Council members receive SAR responses, we thought these specific data points would be helpful to include in this memo as well. Homeward Alliance has helped more than 1,000 people escape homelessness in the last five years. More people have gotten housed each year since 2017, when housing-focused care management work began with the Housing First Initiative. Northern Colorado is extremely close to reaching “functional zero” for veteran homelessness, meaning the ability to house homeless veterans meets or exceeds need. The Northern Colorado Continuum of Care was established in early 2020, which promotes regional response and a unified effort to end and reduce homelessness across both Larimer and Weld Counties. A regional Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS) has been launched, allowing providers to share data while individualizing response and service based on each individual’s needs. There has been significant turnover in the population of people experiencing homelessness. Almost no one who was homeless 10 years ago remains unhoused today, and the majority of people who were homeless a year ago are now housed. Our community’s homeless population has remained stable in relation to our population growth. Seasonal Overflow Shelter Plan The Seasonal Overflow Shelter season, which runs November 1 through April 30, requires additional cross-sector collaboration to increase shelter capacity during the coldest months. Staff and partners will be meeting on June 24 to begin discussing plans for the upcoming winter season. The Rescue Mission has been working with City staff to discuss the feasibility of adding a semi- permanent structure on their property to increase overnight capacity, especially for the upcoming winter season. o At a Conceptual Review meeting on June 10, a list of regulatory hurdles was shared with the Rescue Mission. o Though the list of hurdles may render this proposal unfeasible, the Rescue Mission is still pursuing any and all options for best utilizing their space. They are currently seeking bids for fire sprinklers or a firewall installation and will continue to communicate with staff and partners as more information is available. 2 Library Park Open House Neighborhood Services and Police Services are hosting an open house in Library Park on June 23. Staff from Social Sustainability, Neighborhood Services, Traffic, Police, Library Services, and Outreach Fort Collins will be present to meet with neighbors. Planned activities include the block party trailer, lemonade stand, children’s activities with library staff, emergency response SWAT vehicle, K-9 officer, and the drone team. Fort Collins Rescue Mission Updates As mentioned above, the Rescue Mission is looking into the feasibility of adding a semi-permanent structure on their property to increase overnight capacity. Currently able to serve 80 men overnight and about 60 during the day for 24/7 shelter. An average of 78 men served per night since their return to Linden St. location on May 1. o Note: If fewer than 80 men are served in a night, this typically indicates that beds were assigned but not all guests showed up to claim their space. An average of 5 men turned away per night due to space limitations. An average of 8 meals served per day at the Murphy Center to guests who do not receive a bed space overnight (either due to personal choice or space limitations). The Rescue Mission and City staff have submitted a request for $30k in CARES funds to continue 24/7 shelter through August 2021. Catholic Charities Updates We received the final winter season report from Catholic Charities for November 2020-April 2021: o 191 unduplicated individuals served. o Total of 3,902 nights of shelter provided. o 10,267 total meals provided. Catholic Charities’ shelter, previously called The Mission, was renamed Samaritan House. Hosted Meal with a Mission on June 12, which raised over $60,000 to help men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. Murphy Center Updates The Murphy Center reopened the interior of their building on June 1, with daily indoor hours of 8:00- 11:30. Afternoon hours are reserved for appointments with service providers. Extreme Heat Events Staff from various City departments will be meeting to begin discussing a formal response plan related to extreme heat, air quality, and heavy rainfall. In the meantime, shelters and partners have developed their own triggers for heat response and are doing the following (subject to change): o Homeward Alliance, generally open indoors from 8:00-11:30, will allow clients to remain inside the building until 5:00pm when the high is 90 degrees or above. o Catholic Charities will allow guests to stay onsite during the day when the temperature is 95 degrees or above. o Fort Collins Rescue Mission provides 24/7 shelter for up to about 60 men every day. o Outreach Fort Collins carries water bottles and increases motivational interviewing and service engagement with clients on the hottest days. Homelessness Advisory Committee 2.0 Staff will be hosting a meeting on July 7 with committee members from both HAC 1.0 and 2.0 to debrief on full process. Findings and next steps will be shared with Council for discussion at the July 27 work session.