A PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA

ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN SANTA MONICA:
WHAT’S NEW, WHAT’S NEXT

An independent evaluation of the network of homeless services available in Santa Monica was conducted earlier this year and yielded valuable insights for streamlining programs to improve our effectiveness in dealing with homelessness in our city. The resulting recommendations focused on seven key areas: addressing the impact of homeless people in public spaces; reducing the flow of homeless people into the city so Santa Monica handles only its “fair share”; improving the performance of local services; increasing public education and involvement; defining the city’s role; creating a process for community-wide discussion on homeless issues; and gathering better data.

Together with our community partners, city staff have been developing a number of new initiatives to address these key areas of concern. Some are still in the formative stages, including implementation of a new homeless management information system to aid the city and social service organizations in collecting and analyzing data on client services. Other efforts are already underway and we are making progress on several fronts, including:

	The launch of a public education campaign, which began in April with the broadcast of It’s Your Call: Homelessness in Our Community, a viewer call-in show aired live on CityTV. Each week for 13 weeks, the program featured local and regional experts discussing and responding to callers’ questions and concerns about homelessness.
	Adoption and enforcement of a new city ordinance that prohibits leaving donated food, clothing and other material items in our parks, or on adjacent sidewalks or parkways.
	Advocacy for federal assistance to provide housing subsidies for 15 additional chronically homeless individuals who have been on the streets of Santa Monica for a number of years.
	Expansion of supportive services through two new projects focused on regional approaches. The Chronic Homeless Project utilizes interagency collaboration and rental subsidies to move the long-term homeless off the streets and into permanent housing. Services are provided before and after the move. The Santa Monica Homeless Community Court links chronically homeless individuals cited for “presence” crimes in Santa Monica with services designed to move them off the streets and reduce the likelihood of rearrest. Persons are expected to demonstrate progress toward ending their homelessness in order to avoid jail.
	Targeted outreach by community-based and city-funded outreach teams on the Third Street Promenade, to help move long-term homeless individuals into housing.

Please visit homelessnessaction.smgov.net for more information
about these programs, or call (310) 458-8701.

SUMMERTIME...AND THE DOG WALKIN' IS EASY!

Santa Monicans love their dogs and they love taking their dogs on walks—through the neighborhood, to the park and around town—because it’s great exercise for all concerned. Please remember, just as you need that leash, you must always bring along something with which to clean up after your canine friends. It’s the law (SMMC 4.04.385) and, in addition to being appreciated by property owners, park visitors and others following behind, it will also help prevent polluted runoff from reaching Santa Monica Bay, keeping our coastline and water safe for beachgoers and marine life.

TWILIGHT DANCE SERIES ROCKS ON

The performances at this summer’s Twilight Dance Series are wowing the crowds every Thursday on the Santa Monica Pier—and there is still plenty of summer left to enjoy the music, the fun, the ocean breezes and the beauty of Santa Monica at twilight! The free concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Check out these great acts on tap for the rest of the series:

The Pier is located at the intersection of Colorado and Ocean Avenues.  Please consider walking, biking or using public transit to get to there as nearby parking is limited. Try our all-new, free bicycle valet service! If you must drive, you’ll find parking lots at 2030 Ocean Avenue and 1550 PCH, south of the Pier. For more concert information, please visit twilightdance.org or call (310) 458-8900. For bus information, go to bigbluebus.com and mta.net, or call (310)
541-5444.

Winning poster design
by Ginna Hepp

LONG-RANGE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS

MAJOR MATTERS EXPECTED TO COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL AUGUST TO OCTOBER Consideration of policy for contracting out services. Consideration of recommended strategies to conserve Santa Monica’s private tree canopy, including public education, technical support and regulation. Consideration of policy related to the placement of banners on street poles. Measure V Action Plan for implementation of stormwater projects utilizing Measure V funds. Redevelopment Agency review of the proposed Santa Monica Place remodel. The long-range nature of this list means that some items may not be heard in the month originally scheduled, as new matters emerge and agendas are re-worked. No item will come to Council before the date originally published. Also available on-line at www.smgov.net.