Presentations by: Beverly Mesa-Zendt, Human Services Manager 425-556-2423
Tisza Rutherford, Homeless Outreach Administrator 425-553-7093
Planning and Community Development
IV.
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND While there have been new challenges due to the pandemic and staffing transitions these last few months, the City’s new Homeless Outreach Program Administrator has been working to identify and resolve gaps and barriers for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Current challenges:
• COVID-19 has created many additional barriers, including charging stations for cell phones, lack of places to stay during the day, and closure of state offices and needed services (e.g. ID cards, driver’s licenses). Treatment centers currently are only providing tele-health, which is difficult for those without phones, limited minutes, or little technology skills.
• With more community members sheltering in place, police have reported an increase in calls from individuals just now “noticing” individuals sleeping outside or in parked cars. These calls have burdened police to respond to situations that are not classified as criminal activity.
• There has been an increase in transient populations arriving in Redmond from Seattle. This is partly due to the current unrest in Seattle, and to reduced or eliminated bus routes.
• Deferred parks maintenance has led to overgrowth in areas bordering private and commercial property. This sometimes results in development of new encampments. Outreach staff has coordinated with Parks to cut back and maintain identified areas so they are not as appealing for camps to establish. Current work underway: The Homeless Outreach Administrator:
• Continues to work closely with City and County Police and Parks staff to provide outreach, post notices to vacate, and clean up encampments quickly when they are discovered within City limits.
• Has established relationships with area businesses, nonprofit agencies, safe parking programs, and shelter workers to provide resources to individuals in need of outreach.
• Reestablished a weekly on-site presence at: o Together Center, o Overlake Church Safe Parking, o St. Jude’s Safe Parking, o Lake Washington United Methodist Church Safe Parking, and o Community Court and Resource Center.
• Is collaborating with Community Court and Together Center to reestablish an outdoor Resource Center with volunteer agencies to coincide with bi-weekly Community Court tele-hearings. Folding-table kiosks are set outside of the Redmond court and any community member is welcome to stop by to connect with resources.
• Is coordinating with IKRON to distribute free cell phones with pre-loaded minutes to clients who need access to tele-health treatment. Staff is also working with IKRON to launch its PACT (Program of Assertive Community Treatment) Team, which will provide frequent, mobile behavioral health, employment, RN/ARNP and case management services to frequent utilizers of emergency and police services.
• Has continued meetings with city representatives and interfaith communities to better coordinate services.
• Has connected with Bellevue’s Homeless Outreach worker and Congregations for the Homeless to facilitate a more coordinated Eastside response.
On a positive note, an increase in unemployment and the economic recession has led to increased affordable housing options as homeowners are seeking to downsize and rent rooms to compensate for their own living expenses. This has unexpectedly created more affordable housing solutions for individuals working toward housing stability.
Council, Committee of the Whole (Parks and Human Services) 7/7/2020
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND While there have been new challenges due to the pandemic and staffing transitions these last few months, the City’s new Homeless Outreach Program Administrator has been working to identify and resolve gaps and barriers for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Current challenges:
• COVID-19 has created many additional barriers, including charging stations for cell phones, lack of places to stay during the day, and closure of state offices and needed services (e.g. ID cards, driver’s licenses). Treatment centers currently are only providing tele-health, which is difficult for those without phones, limited minutes, or little technology skills.
• With more community members sheltering in place, police have reported an increase in calls from individuals just now “noticing” individuals sleeping outside or in parked cars. These calls have burdened police to respond to situations that are not classified as criminal activity.
• There has been an increase in transient populations arriving in Redmond from Seattle. This is partly due to the current unrest in Seattle, and to reduced or eliminated bus routes.
• Deferred parks maintenance has led to overgrowth in areas bordering private and commercial property. This sometimes results in development of new encampments. Outreach staff has coordinated with Parks to cut back and maintain identified areas so they are not as appealing for camps to establish. Current work underway: The Homeless Outreach Administrator:
• Continues to work closely with City and County Police and Parks staff to provide outreach, post notices to vacate, and clean up encampments quickly when they are discovered within City limits.
• Has established relationships with area businesses, nonprofit agencies, safe parking programs, and shelter workers to provide resources to individuals in need of outreach.
• Reestablished a weekly on-site presence at: o Together Center, o Overlake Church Safe Parking, o St. Jude’s Safe Parking, o Lake Washington United Methodist Church Safe Parking, and o Community Court and Resource Center.
• Is collaborating with Community Court and Together Center to reestablish an outdoor Resource Center with volunteer agencies to coincide with bi-weekly Community Court tele-hearings. Folding-table kiosks are set outside of the Redmond court and any community member is welcome to stop by to connect with resources.
• Is coordinating with IKRON to distribute free cell phones with pre-loaded minutes to clients who need access to tele-health treatment. Staff is also working with IKRON to launch its PACT (Program of Assertive Community Treatment) Team, which will provide frequent, mobile behavioral health, employment, RN/ARNP and case management services to frequent utilizers of emergency and police services.
• Has continued meetings with city representatives and interfaith communities to better coordinate services.
• Has connected with Bellevue’s Homeless Outreach worker and Congregations for the Homeless to facilitate a more coordinated Eastside response.
On a positive note, an increase in unemployment and the economic recession has led to increased affordable housing options as homeowners are seeking to downsize and rent rooms to compensate for their own living expenses. This has unexpectedly created more affordable housing solutions for individuals working toward housing stability.
Council, Committee of the Whole (Parks and Human Services) 7/7/2020
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