Title
Consider a memorandum/resolution approving an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Temple for Regional Homelessness Cooperation and a Strategic Plan.
Summary
DATE: January 18, 2022
TO: Kent Cagle, City Manager
FROM: Danielle Singh, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Interlocal Agreement for Regional Homelessness Cooperation and a Strategic Plan
BACKGROUND AND FINDINGS:
The City recognizes the ever-growing need for a coordinated approach to include community and regional partners along with their resources to functionally end homelessness within our community.
The City of Killeen started the Homeless Outreach Team (H.O.T.) in 2018 to provide professional, humane, and safe responses to individuals facing homelessness and experiencing mental health problems. The program provides support to fill services gaps and respond to individuals facing homelessness in an effort to reduce citations, arrests, EMS transports, and the use of other emergency medical resources. The team assists with basic services such as ID card recovery, obtaining birth certificates and social security cards, family reunification via bus tickets, referrals for shelter/housing, and the search for employment.
Homelessness, mental health crises, coronavirus and housing insecurity has grown tremendously in recent years, resulting in a chronic and serious public health challenge. A coordinated approach to include regional resources and partners is needed to address homelessness within our community. There are many resources within the region dedicated to providing resources to individuals experiencing homelessness, but the region lacks a coordinated effort of utilizing these resources towards a common goal of reducing and functionally ending homelessness in our community.
In March 2021, the City Council issued a motion of direction for City Staff to work with the City of Temple to join efforts on a homelessness strategic plan that would include measurable goals and strategies and...
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