AUBURN, CA (MPG) - A variety of potential strategies are beginning to emerge from Phase I of a regional effort to develop options that address homelessness in the mid and south Placer region. Two strategy response groups have been meeting since Sept. 2021 to review existing conditions and spotlight emerging priorities under the facilitation of MIG, Inc., a consulting firm and recognized leader in community social policy and planning.

One of the strategy response groups is an ad hoc committee made up of two elected leaders each from the county and its five cities and one town. That committee is supported by a cross-jurisdictional steering group tasked with providing process oversight.

Preliminarily, the consultant has compiled a list of potential strategies for further exploration and included them in the Placer Homelessness Response Emerging Strategies Phase 1 Report, which has been released for public review.

MIG, Inc. will make informational presentations to town and city councils in the mid and south Placer region in the weeks ahead, starting with the Roseville City Council’s upcoming meeting on Wednesday, March 16. MIG will share preliminary findings and take questions and comments from council members and the public. Additional dates and times for presentations at the Lincoln, Rocklin, Auburn and Loomis meetings will be shared as they are confirmed.

The report identifies a framework and over a dozen potential strategies to mitigate homelessness impacts, including exploring the need for an emergency shelter in south Placer, expanding partnerships between law enforcement and social services for outreach and response, implementing regionally compatible ordinances and law enforcement practices, exploring the potential for a sobering center with support services and evaluating the possibility of expanding interim and permanent supportive housing.

The strategies listed in the report represent a base of ideas for additional analysis and testing, implementation considerations, and community and stakeholder input. They do not represent an endorsement of the group of elected officials who took part in this process. In the next few months, many of the stakeholders who have been involved will be invited to continue their participation, as strategies are translated into specific initiatives. In addition, there will be a broader community dialogue, including town-hall-style conversations in both south and mid Placer and a statistically valid survey of residents.

While Placer experiences the lowest rate of homelessness in Northern California, the fourth-lowest rate of homelessness in the state overall, and the lowest rate of unsheltered homeless in the state - even as Placer’s overall population has grown significantly - homelessness and blight have become more visible. Several factors add complexity and limitations to the options government has to address homelessness.

These include:

Recent court rulings, including Martin v. Boise, which prohibit the imposition of criminal penalties on unsheltered homeless persons for sitting, sleeping or lying on public property unless there is viable shelter space available.

Health restrictions and effects of a global pandemic.

The fact that some unhoused people who interface with law enforcement and service providers decline services designed to assist them and help them secure shelter. This regularly increases the expenses for costly resources in the health care and criminal justice systems.

Given these challenges, there is increased recognition that addressing homelessness requires a coordinated and steady effort by multiple partners from each jurisdiction, community-based organizations, the local business and faith communities, service providers, county departments, and the Homeless Resources Council of the Sierras, the nonprofit public benefit corporation that serves as the administrative entity for the Placer County and Nevada County homeless continuums of care. It also requires an understanding among residents and business owners of the legal parameters in order to explore and suggest viable options. The coordinated response process stemmed from this recognition and aims to expedite progress and address deep-rooted challenges.

As Phase 1 of this process draws to a close, Phase 2 will focus on taking the strategies and conducting additional analysis, applying implementation considerations, and gathering community and stakeholder input.

The regional effort is intended to build on past accomplishments initiated in 2014 when the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with Marbut Consulting for an assessment of existing and projected homeless service needs and evaluation of the regional system’s capacity to care for its homeless population. Since that time, the board has taken multiple measures to address homelessness within Placer County including the establishment of a shelter at the Placer County Government Center; augmenting homeless services through the award-winning Whole Person Care program; and the establishment of the Homeless Liaison Team, whose representatives from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department and Health and Human Services engage homeless residents daily to help connect them with support and resources and respond quickly to health and safety concerns.