Source: https://www.cityofwhittier.org/government/whittier-transparent/current-interests/addressing-homelessness-in-our-community/frequently-asked-questions
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 14:58:31+00:00

Document:
Why are we seeing so many unsheltered individuals in Whittier now?
The short answer is that we do not know. We do know that there have always been unsheltered neighbors in our community; the 45-bed Whittier First Day coalition shelter was constructed in 2001 to help homeless individuals in Whittier. State and national data suggest that homelessness has increased substantially; the increase in homelessness is not isolated to our community. Interestingly, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) point-in-time count data shows that homelessness has decreased over the last three years, from 175 unsheltered persons in 2016, to 161 unsheltered in 2017 and to 156 unsheltered individuals in 2018 (2018 Homeless Count Results).
Certainly, the housing shortage in California contributes to the incidence of homelessness. The high cost of living in our region, coupled with extremely low vacancy rates and high rents, exerts substantial pressure on individuals trying to make ends meet.
While many homeless individuals and families are virtually invisible to those of us in the community, there is a small subset of homeless individuals who are in encampments in our City. There have been some suggestions that perhaps there has been an inadvertent reduction in access to mental health and substance abuse treatment and diversion programs due to recent criminal justice reform measures, but social science researchers are still investigating this question. What we do know is that there are simply not enough shelter beds in our community to accommodate the number of individuals in need of shelter.
Has anyone from City Hall visited any of the homeless encampments?
Yes, staff members and Council Members have visited the encampments. Police, parks, and other staff are at encampments on a daily basis. Service providers and outreach workers from Whittier First Day and PATH also have daily outreach schedules in our community.
Is anyone asking where homeless individuals are from? Are the individuals in encampments from our community?
Yes, outreach workers and social services providers are in regular contact with homeless individuals in our community. They have built relationships with many of the individuals on the street. If a homeless person is willing to be connected to family, reunification can typically be arranged. However, a substantial number of individuals are connected to Whittier, whether through school, jobs or family, and thus continue to call Whittier home.
There are homeless people near schools/in parks/near churches/in the library/at shopping centers. What can be done?
If you see a homeless person, please help connect that person to resources by using the la-hop.org website to request outreach services.
All individuals have the right to remain in public spaces provided they are not blocking sidewalks or exits to buildings, and presuming their behavior is otherwise in keeping with the law. If a private property owner is experiencing challenges in asking a person to leave the property, that property owner should contact the police department.
Why are we seeing encampments in our community?
We are seeing an increase in encampments in our community, despite the fact that the number of unsheltered homeless individuals has improved, from 175 unsheltered persons in 2016 down to 156 unsheltered individuals in 2018.
As a result of the Martin v. Boise case, however, behavior such as sleeping on public property cannot be criminalized if a shelter bed is not available for that person. Therefore, the anti-camping and park curfew ordinances cannot be enforced until there are enough shelter beds available in our community.
It is our hope that continued outreach, as well as the expansion of the number of shelter beds throughout Los Angeles County, will help decrease the number of people living on the streets. Case managers and outreach workers are trying to build relationships with individuals experiencing homelessness in our community and connect them with resources. The Whittier Police Department's dedicated Mental Health Evaluation Team (MET), as well as the Problem Oriented Detail, have focused on addressing the challenges of homelessness for years. The City has been working with our service providers and waste franchise operators to ensure that litter and debris is regularly cleaned up and disposed.
Why can’t the police enforce park curfew hours?
In September 2018, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in Martin v. City of Boise case that found citing or arresting someone for engaging in basic human needs is cruel and unusual punishment. Because the court held that sleeping is a basic human need, the court required a shelter bed to be available in order to enforce park curfew hours.
Why isn’t the City enforcing the anti-camping ordinance at the parks?
In September 2018, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in Martin v. City of Boise that found enforcement of anti-camping ordinances was a violation of the 8th amendment of the Bill of Rights prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment. Specifically, the Court found that without an available shelter, the “jurisdiction” of the City of Boise could not prevent individuals from engaging in basic human functions such as sleeping. Thus, cities, including Whittier, cannot cite and clear people from a public place unless there is a shelter bed available.
Where are homeless shelters allowed to be located in Whittier?
Homeless shelters are allowed by-right in M-1 manufacturing zones and Supportive Housing and Transitional Housing are permitted in the following districts as established in the Whittier Boulevard Specific Plan: Gateway, Workplace Residential Overlay, Shopping Cluster (on first floor with restrictions on distance from Whittier Blvd.), Center, and Neighborhood Spine Districts.
Who’s in charge of serving homeless individuals?
The federal government funds “Continuums of Care” to ensure that health needs of individuals are served, which includes serving the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) is the federally-recognized continuum of care for the City of Whittier. LAHSA coordinates services such as outreach, case management, and shelter, with local service providers including Whittier First Day, The Whole Child and Jovenes.
Our community has established shelters like Salvation Army Hospitality House and Whittier First Day, so why are there still people living on the streets in our community?
The 2018 homeless count estimates that there are 52,765 homeless people living in Los Angeles County. The count of crisis shelter beds in the County varies, depending upon the availability of cold weather shelters and other factors, but there are fewer than half the number of beds necessary for the number of unsheltered individuals in the County. In Whittier, there were 156 homeless people without shelter, according to the 2018 count, but there are only 45 year-round crisis shelter beds available, with another 40 cold-weather shelter beds.
How would an individual be referred to a shelter? Who is eligible?
Referrals to shelter and resources are made by outreach workers and case managers from LAHSA, People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), and Whittier First Day entering the individual into the Coordinated Entry System managed by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
How will homeless individuals with mental health concerns be treated?
The social services providers who perform outreach and case management for homeless individuals are specially trained to work with sensitive populations, including individuals who have experienced trauma, and individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Our Whittier Police Department’s Mental Health Team is also available to assist.
How much funding does the City receive because of the homeless problem?
Homelessness is a net drain on all community resources, not least of which is the loss of human dignity and productivity. There is no financial benefit to the City because of this homeless crisis; the increase in calls for service are are not reimbursed. The State provides funding directly to the Continuum of Care for homeless services, and the County receives funding through Measure H for expansion of homeless services. These resources do not flow to the City for additional services, although the City is applying for grants to implement the adopted Homeless Plan.
"Didn’t Los Angeles County raise its sales tax by ¼% through Measure H? What’s happening with those funds?"
"Who's in charge of serving homeless individuals?"
Didn’t Los Angeles County raise its sales tax by ¼% through Measure H in order to address homelessness? What’s happening with those funds?
The voters of Los Angeles County adopted a quarter-cent sales tax in 2017, which went into effect October 1, 2017. The tax generates approximately $355 million each year for homeless services for the next ten years. The funds are collected by the County and managed through the County CEO’s office (http://homeless.lacounty.gov). The County has an adopted 51-strategy homeless plan and does not directly allocate Measure H fund to cities.
Why is the City considering adopting a shelter crisis declaration?
Last year, the state allocated $500 million in funding for Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP). This block grant program was designed to provide direct assistance to cities with populations over 330,000 and to the continuum of care (CoCs) such as LAHSA, which administers homeless services in Los Angeles County. Although the deadline for this funding has closed, it is possible the state may release a second round of HEAP funding, which will be administered by LAHSA with priority to agencies that have adopted declarations of a shelter crisis.
Why doesn’t the City have enough shelter beds?
As a compassionate, caring community, Whittier is home to a number of shelters, service groups, and supports in the City that work to help individuals in crisis. There is a 45-bed crisis shelter at Whittier First Day and a 40-bed faith-based cold weather shelter program in the City which runs November through March. Together, these 85 beds are the only emergency shelter beds in Whittier, but there is a long waiting list for both shelters.
There are also transitional housing programs in Whittier, such as the 28-bed Women and Children’s Crisis Center, the Salvation Army Hospitality House which has room for eight families, and the Salvation Army which has 78 transitional housing beds. However, these beds are not immediately available to a person experiencing homelessness on the street today.
The 2018 Point in Time Count found that there are 204 homeless individuals in the City of Whittier (Homeless Count - By City/Community), 156 of whom are unsheltered. Because of the ruling in the Martin v. Boise case, a shelter bed must be immediately available in order for the City to enforce park curfew and anti-camping ordinances.
Is the City going to build a shelter?
The City is investigating the expansion of shelter beds in our region. No decision has been made at this point. The expansion of the number of available shelter beds is a necessity under the Martin v. Boise case, as a jurisdiction cannot force individuals to leave a public space unless there is a shelter to which the individual can go. The term “jurisdiction” as used in the Martin v. Boise case has not been further clarified, so while it could be interpreted as narrowly as a city boundary or as widely as the County of Los Angeles, a reasonable interpretation could be a Service Planning Area (SPA) (Service Planning Area 7). Whittier is working with other cities in SPA 7 to identify one or more locations for an emergency shelter.
Whittier already has shelters, and other services for homeless people. Why should we build another shelter?
The City Council has not determined whether a shelter will be constructed in the City, but City staff are exploring regional and local options to expand the number of shelter beds available. There are 156 unsheltered individuals in Whittier according to the 2018 Homeless Count, but there are only 45 year-round shelter beds in the City. There is a 40-bed faith-based cold weather shelter program runs November through March. Transitional housing is available at a 28-bed women and children’s crisis center, while the Salvation Army hospitality house has room for eight families, and the Salvation Army has 78 transitional housing beds, but these are not “crisis” beds available to anyone on a walk-up basis.
The Martin v. Boise case requires that a shelter bed be immediately available in order for the City to enforce park curfew and anti-camping ordinances.
Could the City afford to run its own shelter to serve just Whittier homeless based on the homeless census numbers?
There are three homeless services providers designated to serve the Whittier by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), which is the federally-recognized Continuum of Care for our community. LAHSA has designated Jovenes, Inc., as the provider for transitional-aged youth; The Whole Child as the provider for children and families; and Whittier First Day as the provider for single adults. These providers have the skills and expertise to provide appropriate service, guided by best practices, for individuals experiencing homelessness and related challenges. If the City were to open a shelter, it would be operated by an experienced service provider.
It is unlikely the City could operate its own homeless shelter for Whittier homeless individuals only. The City does not have sufficient General Fund dollars to build and operate a shelter of its own. A total of 204 homeless individuals were living in Whittier during the 2018 point-in-time count, 156 of whom were reported as unsheltered. Regional funding for shelters generally requires that a shelter make beds available according to a prioritization of needs as established by the LAHSA coordinated entry system criteria.
If Whittier builds a shelter, what happens to those that don’t want to go? Will laws be enforced? What happens if/when the shelter is full?
Anti-camping laws can be enforced when there is an available bed in the area for those in need. If there are no shelter beds available, the city’s park curfew and anti-camping ordinances cannot be enforced under the current court ruling (Martin v. Boise).
I have compassion for individuals who are experiencing homelessness, but I am concerned for my business; what can I do?
As a business owner, some basic tips to keep in mind include: Security lighting; lockable enclosures for trash and storage; security camera systems; alarms; and (depending upon your property’s specific needs), potentially the filing of a trespassing letter with the Whittier Police Department. In the Uptown area, coordinate with the Uptown Ambassador security service.
What will be done to ensure the Whittier community receives further information about the City’s attempts to address homelessness?
The City maintains a webpage with information and resources on homelessness in our community. The City has adopted a Homeless Action Plan. Progress toward accomplishing the goals of the plan is reported to the City’s social services commission on a quarterly basis. The City Council requested an annual update on progress on the plan. Recently the Council appointed an Ad Hoc committee on homelessness to perform additional analysis and provide recommendations to the full Council with regard to interim solutions and shelter options.
The Whittier Homeless Coalition (www.whittierhomeless.org) has a variety of opportunities depending upon your comfort level and availability. Individual and family mentorships, job opportunities, literacy tutors, mental health and substance abuse counselors, food and clothing donors, care package assemblers, and financial donors are all most welcome. The Coalition can help you determine how your talents can best be used to assist our neighbors in need.
My church or service group is interested in helping; what’s the best way for us to get involved?
Please work with the Whittier Homeless Coalition (www.whittierhomeless.org) or Whittier First Day (www.whittierfirstday.org). In the past, well-meaning groups have organized on-site meals or church services which ultimately created a larger disruption in the community rather than providing lasting help to our homeless neighbors. Long-term solutions require coordinated, consistent efforts, and the Coalition can help your group determine the best way to leverage your assistance without inadvertently exacerbating challenges experienced by our homeless neighbors.

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