In September 2021, the CSPAH was approved and presently serves as a planning document enabling the City to be strategic in identifying ways to connect homeless individuals to resources and programs. Being both flexible and adaptable to community needs, the CSPAH identifies goals and strategic actions to address homeless solutions and prevention over the next five years including exploring development of a navigation center. A summary of current CSPAH activities is provided in Attachment No. 1 and available on the City’s Addressing Homelessness website at https://ggcity.org/endhomelessness.

Provided is a link to the City’s Data Dashboard that conveys the number of homeless and at-risk individuals assisted on a quarterly basis, as well as the funds expended to administer the six (6) eligible activities (Street Outreach, Emergency Shelter, Rapid Rehousing, Homelessness Prevention, Homeless Hotline, and Workforce Development). (https://ggcity.org/endhomelessness/dashboard)

In March 2022, a Point-in-Time (PIT) count was conducted by the County of Orange of which 5,718 persons were identified in Orange County to be experiencing homelessness, and 391 individuals in Garden Grove (Attachment No. 2 – 2022 PIT Count). Advancing a navigation center alongside permanent supportive housing remains a high priority in addressing homelessness.

Due to the pandemic, many communities across the county and state are working tirelessly to address the growing homelessness challenges. While extensive homeless programs and services are in place, Garden Grove continues to actively explore alternative solutions to address homelessness, especially during this COVID recovery period. Both residents and businesses report increased rates of disturbances, trash, mental health challenges and substance use. These types of calls for service are typically handled by the Garden Grove Police Department (Special Resources Team) who work alongside the City’s homeless street outreach service provider (Moving Forward Psychological Institute), and the Be Well Mobile Response Team.

As more individuals find themselves without shelter for a number of reasons such as behavioral, economic, family, or medical issues, staff continues to explore housing intervention alternatives and solutions in which individuals can store their belongings, seek behavioral, mental and medical services, search for employment and housing, access mail, income and benefits, and other stabilizing aspects. To that end, it is envisioned that advancing development of a navigation center would provide a place where individuals would have a place to get back on their feet.   

Central Service Planning Area (Central SPA) Collaboration

In an effort to leverage resources among the Central SPA cities, staff initiated joint discussions with the cities Fountain Valley and Westminster to explore a partnership and collaboration in the future development of a navigation center. To date, staff has also received an initial commitment from the County of Orange to participate in a project to construct and operate a navigation center over a 10-year period. To memorialize the tri-cities collaboration in the Central SPA, staff from the three cities have drafted a Memorandum of Understanding for the City Council’s review. The MOU outlines that the cities agree to collaborate towards a future navigation center including funding contributions towards construction and operations. (Attachment No. 3 – MOU)

Negotiations towards a more comprehensive MOU detailing levels of funding commitments by the participating Central SPA cities (Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, and Westminster) and the County are in process once a potential site is identified.

Community Outreach

The City’s Addressing Homelessness website has been updated to highlight information about the Navigation Center. https://ggcity.org/endhomelessness.

Collaboration with United Way Orange County continues with the educational webinars in concert with the United to End Homelessness efforts. In March 2021, United Way presented a Homelessness 101 webinar. There are follow-up webinars planned as follows:

1)   Homelessness 101 Webinar hosted by United Way Orange County (Part 1)

Monday, June 27, 2022 at 5:30PM–7:30PM

2)   Homelessness 101 Webinar hosted by United Way Orange County (Part 2)

Monday, July 11, 2022 at 5:30PM–7:30PM (Tentative)

In closing, staff is requesting Council approval of the MOU with the Cities of Fountain Valley and Westminster to advance the development of a navigation center.

There is no fiscal impact. The attached MOU does not commit any City funds to the future navigation center. However, future consideration of a possible navigation center property and related operational costs would require future budget appropriation.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Fountain Valley and the City of Westminster; and

• Authorize the City Manager to sign the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the City, and make minor modifications as needed.