|
Homelessness is a significant humanitarian crisis of our time. Even so, California lacks a comprehensive plan to address it effectively and equitably. Despite significant investments and partnerships between the state and local governments, our response to helping those who are unhoused is fragmented and lacks clear lines of responsibility, accountability, and sustainability.
On April 18, 2023, the Board endorsed a letter of support for the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) AT HOME Plan, which is the comprehensive approach to effectively and equitability address homelessness in California. The AT HOME Plan is designed to be a collaborative effort which recognizes that local officials understand local challenges and are best equipped to develop local solutions that work for their residents.
The AT HOME Plan allows for the development of a local plan to address homelessness in Shasta County. The County of Shasta, City of Redding, City of Anderson, and Shasta Lake City are determined to work together and with our state and local partners to develop and implement a local to help those who are unhoused or at risk of becoming unhoused in our communities. The AT HOME Plan is currently being further refined at the state level. However, as noted above, the AT HOME Plan contemplates that local entities will work together to develop their own plans to address the problem.
No one level of government is solely responsible for the homelessness crisis. The ad hoc Steering Committee is intended to provide a mechanism for the County and the Cities to work together to create a local plan that will assist the entities to:
- Clearly define city and county roles for standing up and supporting shelters, permanent supportive housing, encampment outreach, and encampment clean-up.
- Commit to coordinate resources in a collaborative way to address the highest priority homeless needs in our community.
- Work together to develop a county-wide plan with established, clear goals and responsibilities.
- Recommend allocation of funding commensurate with the responsibilities each entity has within the plan and provide for maximum local flexibility to be used in accordance with established goals and outcomes.
- Establish working groups that may include staff of the County and Cities to identify and make recommendations to each of the entities regarding the responsibilities aligned to each of the authorities, resources, and a commitment to collaboration.
The ad hoc Steering Committee will be comprised of staff and elected officials from the County of Shasta, the City of Redding, the City of Anderson, and Shasta Lake City as follows:
- The Shasta County Executive Officer or designee; two members of the Board of Supervisors; and the Health and Human Services Director; and
- The Redding: City Manager and two members of the Redding City Council;
- The Shasta Lake City Manager and two members of the Shasta Lake City Council;
- The Anderson City Manager and two members of the Anderson City Council.
|
|
The City of Redding, the City of Anderson, and Shasta Lake City are scheduled to ask their respective councils to appoint members to the ad hoc Steering Committee in the same manner at their council meetings held on June 20, 2023.
|