| | | | | | | | ![](https://vancouvercity.novusagenda.com/agendaweb/ImageLibrary.ashx?path=ROOT%252fImageLibrary%252fCOV-Primary-Horizontal-Color.WEB-294w.png) | Item #4.
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| | | | | | | | TO: |
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| Mayor and City Council |
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| Eric Holmes, City Manager |
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| DATE: |
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| 3/11/2024 |
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| SUBJECT
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| Ratification of Emergency Order 2023-03.01
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| | | | | | | | Key Points
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Despite City’s funding of housing development, development incentives, eviction prevention, diversion, rental assistance, shelter, and other supportive services, chronic unsheltered homelessness continues to drastically and rapidly increase at a rate that has become unmanageable utilizing standard City processes and existing tools.
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Number of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and chronic unsheltered homelessness increased significantly (54% and 78% respectively) since 2022.
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Our city hosts 78% of the total Clark County unsheltered population, underscoring the urgency of the issue.
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Recent behavioral shifts, including heightened violence and drug-related incidents, pose substantial risks to public safety and health of housed and unhoused residents.
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The increases in population and behavioral challenges are placing significant strain on City resources, particularly emergency services.
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Staff is recommending Council adopt the resolution ratifying Emergency Order 2023-03.01, enabling staff to implement updated Outside Habitation Expectations for tent encampments and vehicles, RVs, and trailers.
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| | | | | | | | Strategic Plan Alignment |
Economic Opportunity - a place where a wide variety of businesses of all sizes grow and thrive.
Housing and Human Needs – meeting basic needs and partnering with organizations to support the community.
Vibrant and Distinct Neighborhoods – a variety of accessible places and spaces.
Safe and Prepared Community – a safe place to live, work, learn, and play.
Climate and Natural Systems – Environmental stewardship and efforts to address climate change to ensure a sustainable future.
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| | | | | | | | Present Situation |
Since the declaration of the emergency to respond to growing homelessness crisis and ratification of Emergency Orders 2023-02 and 2023-03 on November 6, 2023, the City has taken the following actions:
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Homelessness Emergency Action Plan (HEAP) drafted and approved by Incident Commander to provide clarity on staff roles and responsibilities related to declared emergency.
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Briefed all VPD patrol officers about the updated policy and procedures related to or involving unsheltered homelessness, bringing patrol’s response into alignment with HART’s processes and providing patrol greater clarity and more tools for responding to calls for service involving unsheltered homelessness.
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Gotten approval to expand the Community Court from one half day to one full day every week. This transition will occur as soon as a new location for the Community Court is secured.
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Established Fourth Plain corridor response team to provide both behavioral health response and community engagement and activation to reduce the significant negative impacts related to unsheltered homelessness in that area.
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Opened Safe Stay Communities 3 and 4, doubling the total Safe Stay capacity in Vancouver and bringing a new service provider into the community.
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Under the existing Emergency Order 2023-03 the City Manager has closed five public properties so as to address and mitigate the adverse impacts of homelessness.
Since the November emergency declaration issues of interpretation and application of Emergency Order 2023-03 have been raised by HART, VPD, and individuals experiencing homelessness. To address these Emergency Order 2023-03 has been amended in the following ways:
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Made easier to read and understand by using plain language in alignment with Governor Inslee’s recent Executive Order 23-02.
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Consolidated reference to all relevant VMCs to clarify enforcement criteria and potential actions.
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Provide increased objectivity (and therefore, improved enforceability) with respect to the activities that qualify as “meaningful engagement”.
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Remove a previous reference to being able to “pack up and leave the area in an hour” to avoid any potential hardship posed on qualified individuals with a disability.
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| | | | | | | | Advantage(s) | Creates additional clarity of intent of Emergency Order 2023-03 for HART, VPD, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
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| | | | | | | | Prior Council Review
| Council Consent Agenda - November 6, 2023
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| | | | | | | | Action Requested | Adopt resolution ratifying Emergency Order 2023-03.01
Aaron Lande, Program and Policy Development Manager, 360-487-8612; Jamie Spinelli, Homeless Response Manager, 360-487-8610
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