Homelessness Solutions Task Force
The City's Homelessness Solutions Task Force (HSTF) was created by the City Council in 2019, to find solutions to homelessness in the city. The Task Force's objectives were to:
- Identify strategic goals and the resources needed to achieve them.
- Find funding for programs benefiting the homeless community.
- Build partnerships to help prevent homelessness.
- Develop policy recommendations and measures to assess the effectiveness of homelessness-related policies and programs.
A Strategic Action Plan was developed by the HSTF along with City Staff to provide the City with a framework that identifies and addresses local issues associated with homelessness and the most effective means to focus efforts and resources. It utilizes a multi-faceted approach to outline actions, goals, and objectives directly related to homeless intervention, outreach an prevention. The Strategic Action Plan strengthens our City's response system and establishes a platform that allows both the public and private sector to engage, stay informed and volunteer. It also allows for the collaboration of various stakeholders and the mobilization of public and private resources, including State and Federal grants, to improve policy, programs and housing resources needed to reduce homelessness. It was presented and adopted by the City Council on November 5, 2019. To access the full Strategic Action Plan see the link below.
The HSTF provided valuable guidance and created a roadmap for addressing homelessness, which has led to significant progress in tackling these social issues. As the Task Force was not meant to be a standing committee, it was dissolved by City Council in July 2024.
Homelessness Solutions Strategic Action Plan(PDF, 351KB)
Objective 1
Category 1: Homelessness Solutions Taskforce
Proposed Actions & Goals
Goal No. 1:
Establish a committee made up of citizens representing various stakeholder groups
Goal No. 2:
Plan, advocate, support, and collaborate with those affected by homelessness as well as members in the community who serve the homeless.
Goal No. 3:
Help to identify strategies, leverage funding, and measure effectiveness of new and existing policies and programs designed to reduce and prevent homelessness.
Objective 2
Category 2: Homelessness Solutions Coordinator
Proposed Actions & Goals
Goal No. 1
Optimize collaboration between community partners and help to centralize services
Goal No. 2
Provide guidance on homeless related issues and act as the City’s single point of contact for the community and service providers
Goal No. 3
Identify, research, write and administer grants that support homeless outreach and services
Goal No. 4
Develop, coordinate and evaluate city contracted programs to address homelessness
Objective 3
Category 3: Enhance Shelter Operations
Proposed Actions & Goals
Goal No. 1
Apply for grants directed to build low barrier shelters or increase shelter capacity.
Goal No. 2
Identify best plan of entry and referral method (i.e., accommodate walk-ins/referrals generated from 211 and direct access from local hospitals, homeless outreach teams, and shelter staff)
Goal No. 3
Explore Navigation Center operating as a Day Center that provides onsite supportive services, case management, and housing navigation.
Goal No. 4
Examine the possibility of combining the warming and cooling shelter with 24-hour emergency shelter operation. Target ability to serve 100-150 homeless single men, women, couples, and families, including pets.
Goal No. 5
Consider a Recuperative Care Center as a separate wing for hospitals to discharge homeless patients in need of medical respite (reduces readmission by 50%; basic needs met, homeless person able to receive help with housing stability and other support services).
Goal No. 6
Explore financial partnerships with foundations/investors for long-term sustainability of center.
Objective 4
Category 4: Housing First Model
Proposed Action & Goals
Goal No. 1
Identify an inventory of housing currently available.
Goal No. 2
Understand the placement priority for local residents.
Goal No. 3
Explore opportunities to increase affordable housing supply with support service components (i.e. alternative/transitional/permanent housing).
Goal No. 4
Explore municipal code changes that would eliminate impediments and accelerate housing production and utilize planning grants to help accelerate and streamline the approval process.
Goal No. 5
Explore partnerships with affordable housing developers to expand inventory of affordable housing and permanent supportive housing units especially through the use of time saving and innovative methods.
Goal No. 6
Explore partnerships with agencies that provide housing subsidies and “master lease” programs to low income and special groups (i.e. chronically homeless, disabled adults, veterans, seniors, youth and full-time students).
Goal No. 7
Seek opportunities for gap funding with non-profit agencies.
Objective 5
Category 5: Homelessness Prevention
Proposed Actions & Goals
Goal No. 1
Get an understanding of current resources available.
Goal No. 2
Explore the “room and board” model.
Goal No. 3
Start with targeting senior citizens.
Goal No. 4
Explore partnerships with service providers who touch those on the verge of homelessness (i.e. CAPS, 211, Catholic Charities).
Goal No. 5
Tie prevention assistance education to life skills.
Objective 6
Category 6: Outreach / Viability
Proposed Actions & Goals
Goal No. 1
Communicate through a public awareness campaign of the Homelessness Solutions Task Force activity and progress and maintain communication regularly.
Goal No. 2
Sheriff’s HOPE (Homeless Outreach and Proactive Enforcement) Team to continue linking the homeless population with resources and service providers throughout the county.
Goal No. 3
Support efforts of County homeless outreach programs and collaborate where possible.
Goal No. 4
Continued coordination between the Victorville Police Department, Code Enforcement, HOPE Team and MET (Multiple Enforcement Team).