HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 - Discussion Related to Homelessness - HandoutWhat the City of Newport Beach is Doing to Address Homelessness
Addressing homelessness is a top priority for the City Council and staff. While we have dedicated
resources to this issue in the last few years, we know there are increasing concerns about the impacts
on our community and we must do more.
The City of Newport Beach (City) has taken a number of steps to address the very complex issues
related to those people experiencing homelessness. The Newport Beach City Council formed a
Homeless Task Force in the spring of 2019. The Task Force is comprised of three Council Members
and seven community members who are working to develop a long-term plan to reduce or eliminate
homelessness. The planning process includes: developing strategies to integrate all services needed;
creating a list of community partners willing to assist with addressing the issues; reviewing and
considering temporary housing solutions; and developing metrics to monitor the reduction of
homeless.
Even prior to forming the Task Force, the City committed staff and consultant resources to work with
homeless individuals throughout the city. A full-time police officer serves as the Homeless Liaison
Officer and is assisted by caseworkers from the Orange County Health Care Agency, who specialize
in behavioral health. The City also contracts with City Net, a local nonprofit organization, which
provides social services. City Net also deploys staff to assist with street outreach and case
management services. Street outreach seeks to connect unsheltered homeless neighbors with
emergency shelter, housing, or critical services, healthcare and urgent, non -facility -based care. These
efforts take time as multiple visits can be required before a relationship is built and trust is gained.
Finally, the City has reassigned an employee to be the full-time Homeless Coordinator to coordinate
our efforts both internally and externally.
Homelessness is a Statewide Issue
Homelessness is an issue occurring throughout the county, region and state. As of 2018, California's
homeless population was estimated at 130,000. Locally, the 2019 Point in Time Count observed
approximately 6,860 homeless persons in Orange County, of which, 64 individuals were homeless
and unsheltered in Newport Beach. (Historically, 60 to 80 homeless persons consider this to be their
home community.)
While some of the more than 6,800 homeless individuals countywide were in shelters, more than half
were unsheltered. Meaning, they were living in parks, vacant lots, public transit centers, parking lots
and other places not intended for human dwelling.
It is Legal to be Homeless
It is not illegal to be homeless. Homeless persons have the same rights and responsibilities as any
other resident or visitor. Equally, homeless individuals are not exempt from obeying the law. The
Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) responds to illegal activity by anyone within the City limits
Page 11
when laws are broken.
Abiding by Federal Law
Cities and counties must follow state and federal laws that clearly define what can and cannot be
done when addressing the impacts of homelessness. In September 2018, the United States Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in its Martin v. City of Boise that the Eighth Amendment precluded the
enforcement of laws prohibiting sleeping outside against homeless individuals with no access to an
alternative shelter. Specifically, the Ninth Circuit held that, as long as there is no option for sleeping
indoors, the government cannot criminalize indigent, homeless people from sleeping outdoors, on
public property.
As a result, local human rights groups asked the federal judge overseeing Orange County's homeless
issues to directly block cities from enforcing anti -camping laws when that city does not have adequate
shelter beds or other housing for persons as an alternative sleeping location.
Newport Beach has one, 12 -bed home for veterans operated by a local non-profit. That home is at
capacity.
Why the City Needs Shelter Beds
Establishing a temporary shelter will provide those homeless people who are unsheltered a place to
go and enable the City to fully enforce its anti -camping ordinance, in compliance with federal law.
Once shelter beds are available, individuals will no longer be able to illegally camp on public property
within Newport Beach. This will help to reduce homeless encampments in public spaces and it will be
an added measure of security and well-being for residents, business owners and visitors.
The challenge is that the City has limited locations in which to place a shelter. A large portion of the
City is located within the Coastal Zone, in which permits to build a shelter can be appealed to the
California Coastal Commission, creating delays and potential denial of the project. The State of
California, through the Housing Element of the General Plan, requires the City create SB -2 zones. An
SB -2 zone requires the City to designate certain parcels of land that could accommodate a homeless
shelter by right. The City has adopted SB -2 zones in limited locations within the City. See attached
map.
Trespassing on Private Property
The Ninth Circuit decision that currently prevents the City from enforcing its anti -camping ordinance
does not pertain to private property. Trespassing is the wrongful entry onto the real property of
another. If an uninvited visitor appears on your private property, you may ask them to leave. If the
visitor refuses to leave, or leaves but returns, their visit is now considered trespassing. The NBPD can
enforce private property trespassing violations and any person who is encountering this violation of
trespassing law should contact the NBPD.
For More Information
For more information, please visit newportbeachca.gov/homelessness. To be informed of the
Homeless Task Force meetings, please sign up for notification at:
newportbeachca.gov/government/open-transparent/sign-up-for-enotification.
Page 12
Fairview
Park lub
rPark --
ve
.ti
Tal bSeit i,�
�� R;-gnn �•
College / \N,
nta Ana
Fair Costa Mesa CClrnt
s
a
d
Victoria St
m
u
a
W19thSt
,a
F
I
m ,� s, .
y41,s.
l`4--WpC11t LA,
Regional Park ut;•y
Newport
Beach
Schools (Public and Private)
• Coastal Zone Boundary
City Boundary
500 foot Buffer from School Properties
Coastal Zone Area
0 SB2 Zones
NEG°S °-5
'
N E W PORT REACH a Miles
Schooh_C.—IZone.m%d
orale Bon,
... i U to Canyon Dr
it
Mich H. -,on D,
e► D
s m er'v'�
s x j
a -.h kj n
San Joaquin
Hills
Un`�91 " 0, Qr
Ir
L Gully
'YY*Y F'ehcan Hdl r
IfCourr o
U
0
c
3
a,
f,.
Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, Intermap, INI
(Hong Kong), Esri Korea, Esri (Thailand), NGCC,
Community
1
r
1
f�
JsL,l•> i ,�i
r
1
P, NRCan, Esri Japan, METI Esri China
City of Newport Beach
etMap contributors, and the GIScUseron
September 04, 2019