City Council Priority Issues Jan-Mar 2007

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runaway, and at-risk youth. As a result of these services, 80% of case-managed, chronically homeless youth acquired stable housing and 87% of those youth improved their employment status. Of case-managed sheltered youth with families, 76% reconciled with their families or transitioned to stable housing. The investment in the Safe & Sound Coalition results in long-term stability and proven outcomes. The partnership with the City of Eugene consistently leverages considerable public and private dollars and the commitment of business, public safety and social services to address the complex issues that result in youth homelessness. Status: 363 unduplicated youth accessed the New Roads Drop-in Center for services 2,644 times. There were 72 intakes with new youth. 78% of the youth were from Lane County. 49 youth are in formal case management, 94% of whom are in stable housing. 80 youth received dual diagnosis services for a total of 313 sessions. 14 youth received sexual assault support services. There were 1,153 street outreach contacts resulting in 504 street level referrals. 22 students are enrolled at New Road School. Four units of housing for youths, upstairs at New Roads, opened as a result of City of Eugene assistance. Trends: Looking Glass is seeing an increase in the number of youth with significant mental illnesses. They see a rise in the number of chronically homeless youth seeking services, a reduction in pregnant and parenting youth, fewer viable job opportunities, increases in youth fleeing intimate partner violent relationships, and a dramatic increase in difficulty finding appropriate housing for youth. $160,000 Safe & Sound The Safe and Sound funding began July 1, 2006, providing runaway and homeless youth (ages 11 - 17) with services and support during non-school hours (daytime access), transitional housing, intensive case management, and 24-hour access to transportation services throughout the Eugene area for youth in crisis (Project Safe Place). The services provide increased access to: shelter care, mental health and substance abuse, and on-going planning services; daytime safety; and necessary case management services to assist homeless youth in attaining self-sufficiency. Services accelerate youth's ability to get back on track, reconcile with their families, or find alternative safe housing for the 275 youth sheltered each year. A projected 10 homeless youth will receive transitional housing and case management services, 65 youth will access daytime services, and 30 youth will access Safe Place crisis transportation sites. The goal is that 75% of youth with families will increase their communication, problem-solving, and living skills, continue in school, and return home or find an alternative. Status: Station 7 has experienced an increase in teen mothers accessing shelter and more homeless youth, in general, have been admitted to the project since this time last year. Successful terminations are at 82% of youth returning home or finding housing. Shelter was provided for 75 youth. All youth were screened for behavioral health needs. Substance abuse services were identified for 25 youth. 43 youth participated in daytime non-school hour services. 12 youth in crisis were transported to safe shelter via the Safe Place Project. 19 families and 24 unaccompanied youth received crisis assistance which did not include shelter. CHALLENGES Homelessness impacts the community in numerous ways and the homeless population is as diverse as the city itself. There are numerous approaches to addressing the problem including prevention, affordable housing, and services for homeless people of all ages and conditions. The homeless problem has increased over the last 25 years primarily due to severe reductions in funding of various programs. Solving the problem will take a combination of creativity and funding. -6-