Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
JANUARY 21, 2021
Subject
SUBJECT: QUARTERLY UPDATE ON METRO'S HOMELESS OUTREACH EFFORTS
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE Update on Metro's Homeless Outreach Efforts.
Issue
ISSUE
In spring 2016, Metro created the Metro Homeless Task Force to address displaced persons that have turned to Metro's system and property for alternative shelter. Since then, Metro has made significant progress in addressing the homelessness issue by expanding its resources and partnering with community-based organizations.
Background
BACKGROUND
The homelessness crisis has significantly grown in the last couple of years. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) released the results of the 2020 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, which showed 66,436 people in Los Angeles County experiencing homelessness. This represents a 12.7% rise from last year's Point-in-Time count of 58,936 homeless persons. The city of Los Angeles saw a 16.1% rise to 41,290 from last year's point-in-time count of 36,300 homeless persons.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
P.A.T.H.
PATH outreach teams remain agile in their ability to use a crises deployment model to continue providing outreach and support to homeless persons. The outreach teams work hand in hand with law enforcement and work closely with the Departments of Health Services, Public Health and Mental Health to provide services and housing.
PATH's current level of staffing is 32 outreach workers. The optimum outreach number is 40. PATH has modified their daily outreach efforts to early and mid-morning deployment on rail. Lack of outreach staff limits outreach on Metro's system. Metro's rail system does not have a presence of outreach teams between the hours of 3:30 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. P.A.T.H. is currently in the process of hiring two additional outreach workers and continue to actively recruit qualified person...
Click here for full text