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Santa Monica Chronic Homeless Project: Registry Creation February 26 th , 2008 City of Santa Monica Common Ground. Street to Home 101. Create a by-name and photo registry of street homeless population Prioritize based on vulnerability Align housing and service resources to match the need
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Santa Monica Chronic Homeless Project: Registry Creation February 26th, 2008 City of Santa Monica Common Ground
Street to Home 101 Create a by-name and photo registry of street homeless population Prioritize based on vulnerability Align housing and service resources to match the need Align incentives for non-profit providers to house the most vulnerable first
February 2005 55 people sleeping in the BID
February 2007 7 people sleeping in the BID
Vulnerability Index • More than 6 months street homeless AND at least one of the following: • End Stage Renal Disease • History of Cold Weather Injuries • Liver Disease or Cirrhosis • HIV+/AIDS • Over 60 years old • Three or more emergency room visits in prior three months • Three or more ER or hospitalizations in prior year • Tri-morbid (mentally ill+ abusing substances+ medical problem)
Teams • City of Santa Monica, Human Services Division, Housing Division, Fire/Paramedics, and Police Department • Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) • Department of Veteran’s Affairs • Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health • CLARE Foundation • New Directions • OPCC • St. Joseph Center • Step Up on Second • West Coast Care
Baseline Count Results • 277 individuals sleeping outside
Interview Methodology • Safety First • Assertive • Respectful • Sensitive • Persistent
Interview Results • 261 interviews completed • 94% of Friday night count completed survey • 220 pictures (84% of respondents allowed)
Age * 44 (17%) were over 60 years old
Average Length of Homelessness * 30% of vulnerable cohort homeless > 15 years
Where Did People Come From? 135 (53%) were homeless before they came to Santa Monica
% Veterans 34 (54%) of veterans are considered vulnerable
Vulnerability Indicators 110 (42%) of those surveyed met at least one High-Risk Criteria
Initial 10 Most Chronic & Vulnerable • All have been homeless more than 18 years in Santa Monica • 8 men, 2 women, 1 couple • 2 of 10 had 4 co-occurring vulnerability indicators • Average age is 54 years old
Typical Profile • 49 year old white male • Grew up in Texas in Foster Care – came to Santa Monica 30 years ago when he was 19 years old • Makes money panhandling & hangs out on the beach • Cirrhosis • “Tri-morbid” = mentally ill + abusing substances + medical problem
Community Impact 87% reduction in Times Square Continued reductions in NYC result of this focus Project 50 in Los Angeles has housed 10/50 of the most chronic and vulnerable in less than one month Claiborne Encampment in New Orleans – Advocacy Tool Washington, DC – 60% reduction in six months in Central Business Improvement District
Next Steps • Assign ten most chronic and vulnerable people • Gather housing and services resources and focus on most chronic and vulnerable • If you’re paying for services, pay for people to house the most chronic and vulnerable • Develop training and service protocols • Review City policies and practices that may contribute to homelessness or attract people to Santa Monica