AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE CITY’S INITIATIVES AND EFFORTS TO DELIVER HOMELESS OUTREACH AND PREVENTION SERVICES
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Summary:summarysummary
In early 2023, the City established the Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET) to address quality of life issues and support a coordinated approach to homelessness across City departments. Following a year-long coordinated effort alongside the launch of the Pathway Home Program, the City achieved Functional Zero Homelessness status. Since that time, the City has worked diligently to maintain this status through continued field outreach, close coordination with its shared homeless outreach liaison through the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, and ongoing engagement with individuals who appear in the city. Subsequent Point-in-Time counts indicate that Signal Hill has retained its Functional Zero status, reflecting the City’s sustained commitment to connecting individuals with shelter, housing, mental health, medical, and supportive services, while also investing in prevention efforts that help residents remain housed. Collectively, these efforts demonstrate the City’s ongoing commitment to protecting community well-being through a compassionate, practical, and proactive response to homelessness.
Strategic Plan Goals:
Goal No. 5: High-Functioning Government - Strengthen internal communication, recruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of City Services.
recommendation
Recommendation:
Receive and file this report regarding the City of Signal Hill’s ongoing efforts to address homelessness through prevention, outreach, regional coordination, and connection to supportive services.
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Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
Background:
The City of Signal Hill remains committed to addressing homelessness in a proactive, compassionate, and practical manner. Although Signal Hill is a small community, it continues to prioritize programs and partnerships that help connect unhoused individuals with services, maintain public health and safety, and prevent residents from falling into homelessness. In early 2023, the City formed the Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET), a multidisciplinary group of staff members from various City departments that meets regularly to address quality of life issues and homelessness.
In March of 2024, the City achieved a Functional Zero status through a collaborative housing project with the County of Los Angeles and the City of Long Beach called Pathway Home. The Functional Zero designation reflected the City’s consistent efforts to identify individuals experiencing homelessness, connect them with appropriate services and housing resources, and maintain a coordinated and responsive local approach. Since that time, staff and the City’s homeless outreach liaison have worked diligently to maintain that status through ongoing outreach, monitoring, and engagement with any individuals who appear in the city.
Point-in-Time counts conducted since 2024 have continued to indicate the City has retained its Functional Zero status. The City has continued housing individuals since March of 2024. While this is an important achievement, maintaining that status requires continued effort, strong partnerships, and prompt response to changing circumstances.
Analysis:
Signal Hill’s approach to homelessness emphasizes direct outreach, service coordination, regional partnership, and homelessness prevention. The City recognizes that homelessness is a regional issue that requires both local attention and collaboration across jurisdictions. A key component of the City’s program is its partnership with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments and the shared homeless outreach liaison that serves Signal Hill, Lakewood, and Hawaiian Gardens. This shared-services model allows Signal Hill to leverage regional resources while maintaining access to dedicated outreach support tailored to local needs; it also reflects the City’s commitment to working collaboratively with neighboring jurisdictions to address homelessness in an efficient and coordinated manner.
This Homeless Liaison plays an important role in the City’s homelessness response efforts by conducting direct field outreach, building relationships with unhoused individuals, assessing immediate needs, and connecting individuals with available resources and services throughout Los Angeles County. Through this outreach model, the City is able to provide more personalized and responsive assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness. The outreach liaison helps connect clients to shelter, interim housing, permanent housing resources, mental health services, substance use treatment, medical care, public benefits, and other supportive services based on each individual’s circumstances and willingness to accept assistance.
The NET team continues to meet and plays an important supporting role in the City’s homelessness response efforts by facilitating communication across departments, coordinating responses to emerging concerns, and supporting the homeless outreach liaison in her ongoing work in the field. The homeless outreach liaison also works closely with City staff and the NET team to preserve the progress Signal Hill has made since receiving its Functional Zero designation. Staff remain diligent in monitoring local conditions, conducting outreach, and continuing to work with any individuals who appear in Signal Hill so that services and assistance may be offered as early as possible.
In addition to outreach, the City supports efforts aimed at preventing homelessness before it occurs. homelessness prevention remains a critical part of the City’s overall strategy, as early intervention can help stabilize vulnerable households and reduce the likelihood that residents will enter the homeless services system. Earlier this year, the City funded a rental assistance program that helped 10 families remain in their homes. The City continues to monitor funding opportunities and partnership options that can strengthen both prevention and response efforts.
City staff also coordinate with public safety personnel, regional partners, and service providers to respond to homelessness-related concerns in a manner that balances compassion, public health, and community well-being. This coordinated approach helps the City respond appropriately to issues that arise in public spaces while continuing to emphasize engagement and connection to services wherever possible.
Overall, the City’s homelessness response efforts reflect an ongoing commitment to compassionate outreach, regional coordination, and practical solutions that support both vulnerable individuals and the broader community.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
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Siamlu Cox
recommendation
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