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CITY COUNCIL GOAL: Homeless Initiative <br />Continue to work collaboratively with our community partners to end chronic <br />homelessness in 10 years. <br />- Blue Ribbon Commiftee <br />- Youth <br />- Women and children <br />Contact: Angel Jones, Assistant City Manager, 682-5336 <br />Richie Weinman, Staff Lead, 682-5533 <br />Reporting period: January -March 2007 <br />Eight strategic priorities were identified at the February 2005 retreat of the City of Eugene's Mayor, <br />City Council, and Executive Managers -one of which was to "Develop a strategy to help the <br />homeless in Eugene." The council wanted to determine the City's future role in addressing this <br />complex, international issue and the inter-departmental Homelessness Action Planning Team <br />worked to develop a three to five-year action plan. This team was expanded to include staff from <br />the Lane County Human Services Commission and representatives of the City's Human Rights <br />Commission. Mayor Piercy frequently attended the meetings. The council reviewed this plan on <br />.. two occasions in 2005 Quly 13 and November 30) and approved the work plan. The council has <br />since reaffirmed this goal for 2006 and 2007. <br />On May 17, 2006, the council reviewed options to address homelessness. Following a <br />recommendation to the Budget Committee, the council approved a series of appropriations and <br />provided direction on the next steps for stable, sustainable funding. <br />Because homelessness has the potential to touch every resident and neighborhood within the city, <br />the council acknowledged staff's expanded definition of "the homeless" to include community <br />members who are "at risk" of becoming homeless because they cannot afford food and shelter. <br />OUTCOMES <br />Homelessness is not isolated to Eugene. Therefore, the City of Eugene needs a great deal of <br />assistance, especially from Lane County, the State of Oregon, and the federal government. The <br />following goals and actions were taken by the City's staff team in order to make recommendations <br />to the City Council: <br />1. Examine ways to more efficiently deliver services, with existing resources, based on the <br />evaluation of City service delivery to homeless/at risk populations. <br />2. Assemble community stakeholders and forma "collaborative base" to identify the most critical <br />areas in need. These stakeholders will include, but are not limited to, homeless/at-risk <br />community members, City and County staff, Eugene Human Rights Commission, Housing <br />Policy Board, Human Services Commission, Commission on Children and Families, elected <br />officials, past and present service providers, and business owners. <br />3. Engage homeless/at-risk community members -listen to their views, identify their needs, and <br />determine what enhancements they feel would provide the greatest benefit. <br />4. Train City staff on issues relating to homeless/at-risk community members. Provide more. <br />detailed training for City employees and work groups. who are more likely to have frequent, <br />-3- <br />