HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

CHARGE TO THE COMMISSION

The Situation

According to the most recent homeless count released in 2006, there are about 7,600 unhoused people on any given night in Santa Clara County. In light of this serious, countywide social problem, it is critical that community leadership group be formed to address homelessness. Such a group would be in a position to provide direction and support for a comprehensive approach to ending homelessness in ten years.

Progress to Date

Many good actions are being taken every day to end homelessness. Thousands of people working and volunteering in non-profits provide housing and services to those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. And yet, homelessness persists. Santa Clara County must devise new methods of addressing the problem that will result in ending, rather than managing, homelessness.

The County of Santa Clara and the City of San Jose have developed ten-year plans to end chronic homelessness. The Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) and local housing stakeholders have drafted a 20-year plan guiding the production and financing of affordable housing in the County.

Now that the planning documents are in place, a top-flight leadership group is needed to educate policy makers and the general public about the extent and costs of homelessness and to press for needed changes in public policy. Such a leadership group could provide direction and support to entities directly involved in the provision of housing and services in order to achieve significant results.

Charge to the Blue Ribbon Commission:

  1. Review and adopt a set of implementation policies based on the recommendations of the Working Groups.
  2. Launch a regional public education campaign on homelessness and affordable housing, based on successful practices in other areas, to educate community leaders and the public and encourage support for solutions.
  3. Develop or access new sources of funding to create more affordable housing units and housing services to prevent and end homelessness.
  4. Establish realistic goals based on effective models of service and establish measurements for continuing success.

 

BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON ENDING HOMELESSNESS
AND SOLVING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS

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