To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: JOY A. FORD, CITY ATTORNEY
STEPHANIE JOHNSON, QUALITY OF LIFE PROSECUTOR
TITLE
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DISCUSSION REGARDING AN UPDATE ON THE CITY'S ENHANCED RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS PROGRAM
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Enhanced Response to Homelessness Program was initiated by the City Attorney's Office and Police Department in June 2019 at the request of the former Mayor and City Council as an additional response to homelessness. The Los Angeles County annual point-in-time (PIT) count is at its lowest it has ever been, counting seventeen (17) individuals on the street, twenty (20) individuals in the pallet shelter, and twenty-seven (27) vehicles, for a total of sixty-four (64).
BACKGROUND
In 2012, the Police Department conducted a field assessment of the City's growing homeless population in the City to improve public safety and increase the City's knowledge of this diverse population. In October 2013, the City Council adopted a Strategic Plan Objective assigning the former City Manager responsibility for convening a short-term working group on the issue of homelessness in the community, which convened in September of 2014.
In January of 2016, People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) was identified as a sole source provider to address homelessness issues. PATH had been selected by the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) to work with all SBCCOG member cities on homelessness. In that same year, the police department acquired a Department of Mental Health (DMH) Mental Health Emergency Response Team (MET) clinician who covered Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Beach. The Quality of Life Officer and Quality of Life Prosecutor positions were also created.
In 2017, the Police Department asked the City Council to approve an agreement with Harbor Interfaith to provide dedicated personnel to the City five days a week for homeless outreach and follow-up case management. In 2018, Manhattan Beach submitted a proposal...
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