Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Cole, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Declaration of a Shelter Crisis in the County of San Mateo
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the declaration of a shelter crisis in the County of San Mateo, State of California, pursuant to Government Code section 8698.2.
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BACKGROUND:
The Human Services Agency ("HSA") oversees homeless programs and services for the County of San Mateo. In addition, HSA spearheads the planning, implementation, and coordination of the homeless crisis response system for the County, which includes serving as the Lead Agency for the San Mateo County Continuum of Care, a collaboration of local stakeholders promoting a communitywide commitment to end homelessness.
In July 2016, after eliciting input and feedback from County leadership and community partners, HSA published the Strategic Plan to End Homelessness ("Plan"), which presented strategic goals towards achieving the County's objective of a functional zero level of homelessness. Since the publication of the Plan, the County and its community partners have implemented a number of strategic programs and initiatives to ensure that the homeless crisis response system can rapidly connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to shelter and permanent housing.
Addressing homelessness continues to be a high priority for the County, given the significant health and safety impacts on people who are unsheltered, which have been compounded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While permanent affordable housing is the foundational answer to homelessness, shelters are a critical piece of the homeless crisis response system. Shelters provide safe temporary living accommodations and intensive on-site support services to assist people experiencing homelessness with finding and moving into permanent housing. The County and its community partn...
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