Title
Consider a memorandum/resolution appointing citizens to the board of the ARBOR OF HOPE non-profit to lead the county-wide coordination and management of homeless services.
Summary
DATE: July 18, 2023
TO: Kent Cagle, City Manager
FROM: Rashawn Smith, Community Development Administrator
SUBJECT: Appointment of Citizen Members to ARBOR OF HOPE county-wide non-profit coordinating homeless services.
BACKGROUND AND FINDINGS:
Homelessness and mental health is a crisis of staggering proportions growing worse every day in cities nationwide, the City of Killeen is no exception. Although there are numerous services and programs available within Bell County, the agencies tend to operate individually rather than as a system of support to holistically address homelessness. The cities of Killeen, Temple, and Bell County collectively agreed the situation necessitated a comprehensive approach - one with a series of short, medium, and long-term strategies to adequately address homelessness.
In 2022, the Bell County Judge and Commissioners began working on the plan to reduce the use of jail cells for homeless individuals through the Jail Diversion Program, while in February 2023 the cities of Killeen and Temple adopted the Homelessness and Mental Health Strategic Plan (HMHSP) (Killeen Resolution 23-034R, 2/14/23). The Plan was developed to reduce and address the duration and frequency of homelessness within the county. A major emphasis and recommendation from the Plan is to establish a 501(c)3 non- profit organization to lead the county-wide coordination and management of all homeless services and concerns, including overseeing implementation of the HMHSP. This organization will be known as Arbor of Hope.
The Arbor of Hope governing board will be composed of 4 members appointed by the Bell County Commissioners Court; 3 members appointed by the Killeen City Council; 3 members appointed by the Temple City Council; (1) Chairperson of the County Homeless Service Pr...
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