REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Study Session on Citywide Plan to Reduce Homelessness and Its Impacts
Report
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study session is to provide general updates and to gather feedback on the latest draft of the City's Citywide Plan to Reduce Homelessness and Its Impacts. The City Council prioritized special need housing opportunities for persons of all economic levels as set forth in Goal C of the adopted May 2024 Housing Element. Prior to that, in March 2021, the City Council endorsed Santa Clara County's Community Plan to End Homelessness with three key strategies:
1. Address the root causes of homelessness through system and policy change
2. Expand homelessness prevention and housing programs to meet the need
3. Improve quality of life for unsheltered individuals and create healthy neighborhoods for all
To help implement these strategies, at the November 16, 2021 Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to form an Ad Hoc Homelessness Taskforce and to engage a consultant, Homebase, to manage the Taskforce process. The intended purpose of the Taskforce was to allow community residents and stakeholders to identify and recommend potential City strategies to address the needs of Santa Clara's unhoused population, which in turn would be incorporated into the City's Homelessness Response Plan. On December 6, 2021, the City Council approved an agreement with Homebase to assist the City with facilitating the Taskforce and community engagement process, drafting a strategic plan framework, and preparing a draft of the City's Homelessness Response Plan. The City continued the engagement with Homebase in the sixth cycle Housing Element.
In the spring of 2022, staff worked with Homebase to administer the selection of the Taskforce membership. Eight members were selected from a pool of over 130 applicants, including one representative for each Council District and two 'at-large' members, to form the Taskforce. Taskforce members represente...
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