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9.A. - Page 7 of 15 • Support Fair Oaks Community Center clients who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing assistance with renter resumes, contacts with potential housing opportunities, and accompaniment, when deemed necessary, to housing interviews. The proposed budget forthis pilot project would be $110,000 per year including $100,000 for the contract Housing Locator Assister (either from a local non-profit agency with experience providing these services or directly contracted by the City and trained by a local non-profit agency with experience providing these services) and $10,000 per year for landlord incentives. Successful implementation of this pilot project would lend itself to seeking increased funding from the County of San Mateo to support projects like this as an integral part of the existing countywide Coordinated Entry System (CES)/Diversion for homeless households as well as applying for private grant funds. "No or Low Cost" Program/Services There were also several programs identified by the HHIT that would have little to no cost, but could make services provided to the homeless community more effective, including: • Maximize Partnerships: Examine existing partnerships, and see how they can be made even more effective than they already area. For example, Street Life Ministries does outstanding work, and often partners with the Police Department and other City departments. Given this relationship, staff could examine how we can strengthen and expand this relationship. • Homelessness Emergency Aid Program: A "shelter crisis" resolution was recently adopted by Council, which will help the City, County and local non -profits gain access to additional State funds for homeless shelters and services. • Homelessness Encampment Response Tool Kit: The San Mateo County Center on Homelessness has developed a "Homelessness Encampment Response Tool Kit", which lays out best practices and procedures when responding to an incident at a homeless encampment. This toolkit can be modified for the City's use, as Fire, Police, and Public Works staff and local non -profits are often responding to complex incidents at homeless encampments. • Legislative Advocacy: The City can also advocate for State and Federal policy that could aid homelessness aid and response. For example, the City has not been able to enforce local laws on State-owned properties operated by Caltrans, despite the fact that they are within the City of Redwood City. A change to state law could allow the City to take a more active role in providing assistance to homeless individuals on Caltrans property, and could allow the City to take a more active role in cleaning up those properties which are often the concern of nearby residents. It is important to note that taking a more active role would require more City staff time, even if volunteer organizations provided assistance. City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore 232