This presentation is provided at the request of Council and is for informational purposes only.

The purpose for this work session is to provide an overview of Flagstaff's coordinated entry program, known as Front Door and 2018 homelessness data resulting from the Point in Time (PIT) Count and to discuss potential zoning code amendments to incorporate Safe Parking facilities.

Presenting Flagstaff's Front Door information is Ross Altenbaugh, Executive Director of Flagstaff Shelter Services and Chair of the Systems Design Steering Committee for Front Door. Camie Rasband is the Chair for Coconino County’s Continuum of Care (CofC) and David Bridge is Arizona Department of Housing’s (ADOH) Continuum of Care Coordinator. Mr. Bridge will present the 2018 PIT data.

What is PIT?
A point-in-time (PIT) count is an unduplicated count on a single night of the people in a community who are experiencing homelessness.

The Importance of PIT:

• Required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to be completed by Continuum of Care (CoC).
• Provides a snapshot of those who are homeless at this single point in time and an opportunity to collect some basic information.
• Information from count is used to measure homelessness on a local and national level.  PIT Count data is used to measure progress at local and national levels related to preventing and ending homelessness.
• PIT Count data and the CoC’s efforts to produce an accurate count play a critical role in CoC program funding competition. The count is accomplished through local efforts and volunteers.
• PIT Count data is used for local program and system planning to continue to make progress in ending homelessness in the Balance of State (BOS) counties (all counties except Maricopa and Pima).
• Local data can help raise awareness about the challenges faced by persons who are homeless in specific communities.

What is Front Door?
Front Door is a community collaboration. The program is administered by Flagstaff Shelter Services and Catholic Charities of Northern Arizona. Front Door serves those experiencing a housing crisis in Flagstaff. Front Door provides a single entry point into the shelter and housing system to streamline services, reduce shelter stay and length of time homeless, increase program utilization, and eliminate the need for households in crisis to “service hop”.
 
Front Door Coordinated Entry System was awarded the “2018 Community Builders Award” from United Way of Northern Arizona and the “2017 Advocate of the Year Award” by the Arizona Housing Coalition.

Some key participating agencies involved in Front Door Coordinated Entry

• Flagstaff Shelter Services
• Catholic Charities of Northern Arizona
• Sunshine Rescue Mission
• Northland Family Help Center
• Coconino County Community Services
• City of Flagstaff
• Southwest Behavioral Health Services
• The Guidance Center
• Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona
• Veterans Resource Center
• Arizona Community Foundation
• United Way of Northern Arizona
• Mickenny Vento
• Victim Witness

What is Safe Parking?
Safe parking provides homeless individuals and families residing in vehicles or recreational vehicles a legal place to temporarily park overnight.

PIT Year	Vehicular Homeless
2015	40
2016	20
2017	9
2018	14

Safe Parking Options
Staff has identified two ways in which municipalities have incorporated safe parking options into their codes and regulations.  The first is to provide designated facilities that are regulated and managed and provide wrap around services.  The second is to allow overnight parking within city rights-of-ways in designated areas for short term periods with little to no regulation.  The first option has proven to be more successful in permanently housing those experiencing homeless.

Best Practices for Safe Parking

• Specific entry and exit requirements
• Regular monitoring by program staff
• Link safe parking programs to specific supportive services intended for people to move into more permanent housing and earn more stable income
• A private entity, faith-based organization, or non-governmental organization should run the program
• Parking lots can be public or private
• Managing entity and/or property owner could be required to have minimum insurance requirements
• Lots provide the following services (they can be portable or permanent): restroom, wash facilities, trash receptacles, cooking areas
• Night lots are most important, but some also have daytime lots too
• Regulations should be for public safety and security
• Participants are carefully screened and must receive a permit from the sponsoring organization prior to participating
• Sponsoring organizations should apply for a special permit to operate each Safe Parking lot
• Buffer from residential use

1.)  City of San Luis Obispo
 Requires a Use Permit

• Applicant must be a social service provider, or, if the property owner is not a social service provider, must be affiliated with or can qualify as a social service provider
• Application requirements
  • Site plan
  • Location of trash, recycling, water, restrooms, exterior light fixtures
  • Location and distance to residential properties
  • Location and distance to public transit
  • Location of designated overnight parking spaces
• Hours of operation
• Monitoring and oversight program
• Neighborhood relations plan
• Sufficient information to determine that the applicant is a qualified social service provider, or is associated with a qualified social service provider, capable of running a Safe Parking program

Performance standards

• Program must be run by a qualified Social Service Provider (Director determines this)
• Participants must have a case manager and should be enrolled in a “self-efficiency program” to transition to permanent housing
• Background check – criminal. Social service provider determines if people should be excluded
• Restroom, water, trash – should be available to participants during parking lot hours and should be maintained
• Residency preference – for people with proof of residency in San Luis Obispo for at least 6 months w/in last 2 years
• Buffer from residential use – at least 50 feet (less is permitted on a case-by-case basis). More may be needed, depending on neighborhood context.
• Authorized vehicles only – must be registered with the SSP
• Participant Information – the SSP must have a roster of names and license numbers of all participant authorized to park overnight
• Written agreement – participants must enter into a written agreement with the SSP prior to parking overnight. Must include the following:
  • One vehicle/participant
  • At least one participant must have a valid driver’s license, registration, and insurance (SSP must have all three on record)
  • No possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol
  • No weapons or firearm

2.)  Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) 85.02 – Vehicle Dwelling

• No overnight parking in residential neighborhoods and 300 specific commercial blocks
• Green Streets program
  • Allows people to sleep in vehicles in designated streets (9 pm – 6 am
  • Must be at least 500 feet from licensed schools, pre-schools, daycare facilities, parks
  • Comply with all posted parking restrictions at all times.
  • Registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and insured.
  • Parked > 72 hours or more can be reported as an abandoned vehicle.
  • Parking in alleys is illegal at all times.
  • Vehicles without an engine, wheels, or some other part necessary for safely driving the vehicle are subject to immediate impounding.