At its Dec. 13 meeting, the Concord City Council approved the formation of a Working Group for the Homeless Strategic Plan. The Working Group will assist the City as it begins developing its Homeless Strategic Plan in 2023. Applications for this recruitment are due to the City Clerk by Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
The Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group will act as an advisory body to Council, staff and the project consultants, and will meet in person once per month, at minimum, for approximately 9 to 12 months to hear, discuss, and provide feedback as the strategic plan is shaped. Members are expected to attend all meetings, read all materials, and be prepared to listen and engage on the topics discussed.
- two (2) Concord City Councilmembers
- one (1) representative with lived experience of being homeless
- one (1) representative from a nonprofit homeless services provider
- one (1) substance abuse professional
- one (1) mental health professional
- one (1) Concord resident and property owner
- one (1) representative who is a Concord resident and is either from Concord’s business community or an owner of commercial property in Concord
- one (1) representative who is a veteran homeless services provider
For the lived experience, nonprofit homeless services provider, and substance abuse professional and mental health profession positions, preference shall be given to applicants who are either from or based in Concord.
The Homeless Strategic Plan (Plan) is intended to guide future City efforts and investments related to responding to the impacts from and the needs of Concord’s unsheltered population, using data and fact based information
The move comes after the City Council set aside $5.4million of one-time funding, to be used for programs and services identified in a Homeless Strategic Plan. That funding came after a survey from city residents where 51.9% of respondents cited homelessness as the most serious issue facing the residents of Concord.
That prompted Concord to set aside $2.4 million in one-time general funds in March to help support the issue. In September, Council allocated an additional $3 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds for a total of $5.4 million of one-time funding available for projects and priorities established in the strategic plan. This funding will also be used to fund the consultant costs associated with development of the plan.
Concord Timeline:
- January 2022 – Community Satisfaction Survey
- March 2022 – $2.4 million set aside for homeless services
- April 2022 – Homeless Strategic Plan Prioritized
- August 2022 – Work Plan for development of Strategic plan
- September 2022 – Additional $3 million allocated ($5.4 million total)
- October 2022 – HED developed recommendations, issued RFP.
- January, 24 – Award Contract to Consultant
- January 2023 – Adoption of Homeless Strategic Plan.
Staff highlighted at the meeting they understood the community wants a plan to move faster, but they were ensuring it was a very robust process with engaging the public while bringing fact based information to the plan—which could take 12-months. The working group will only be in place until the plan is adopted.
Mayor Laura Hoffmeister had concerns over the January 3, 2023 deadline. Staff said they could extend the deadline, but were trying to avoid having the working group seated after they had a consultant on board, they hoped to bring them in together.
Council Documents:
- Agenda Staff Report for – ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN (15222)
- Resolution for – – Attachment 1_ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN (15222)
- Supporting Document for – – Attachment 2_ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN (15222)