DATE: December 16, 2020
TO: Community Service Commission
FROM: Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Update on City of Hayward Homelessness Efforts Including Soliciting Input to Inform the Development of the Homelessness Reduction Strategic Plan
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the Community Services Commission reviews and provides comments on this report and provides input to inform the development of the Homelessness Reduction Strategic Plan. End
SUMMARY
Homelessness is a growing regional and state-wide crisis, with homelessness in Hayward increasing 23% from 2017 to 2019. While the City Council has long identified homelessness, housing affordability, and eviction prevention as key concerns in the community and have supported local efforts and projects to address these issues, the global COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues and created a more acute need for increased homelessness response and intervention, particularly for individuals with increased vulnerabilities. As a result, the City is taking additional measures to address this growing need. Additionally, the City has contracted with Homebase, a highly qualified strategic planning consultant, to develop a five-year homelessness reduction strategic plan that will help the City create a path for ending homelessness in Hayward and align the City’s efforts with those occurring at the regional and State levels. This report provides an update on the development of that plan, solicits feedback and input from the CSC to inform that plan, and provides other important updates on the City’s efforts to address homelessness, particularly in light of the increased risks of COVID-19.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report