The Huntington Beach City Council unanimously approved April 4 a 90-day plan to end homelessness, first initiated by Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark last December.
Included in the plan is $40,000 for social workers and overtime for the city’s homeless task force, which will be funded from its police and homelessness division budgets.
Funds for social workers would go towards additional outreach efforts and enhanced case management, according to city officials, including a review of files for some of the city’s homeless who have been at the city’s shelter for more than 180 days.
Councilman Casey McKeon suggested speeding up the process, requesting staff to reach out to landlords who accept housing vouchers to see if permanent housing could be established sooner.
Task force officers’ additional funds will contribute toward public education including updating the city’s website periodically with solutions for those experiencing homelessness.
For the months of January and February, about 450 homeless people in Huntington Beach were contacted by task force officers resulting in 93 being referred to the city’s shelter and 46 to outside facilities, city officials said during the meeting.
The plan also seeks to fill a vacant Social Services Supervisor position, to oversee homeless programs and staffing, as well as reclassify the vacant Homeless and Behavioral Health Services Director to a manager position, which would save the city $75,000 yearly.
With the city’s approval, the plan is effective immediately.
