Submitted by: Council Vice President Waszczak
Submitting Department: Legislative
Agenda Section: Discussion
Item Title:
title
FY25 Council ARPA/Budget Amendment: Homeless Action Plan
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
For discussion: I move the Mayor and Council dedicate $15,000 (of remaining ARPA funding if possible) to contract with a consulting firm that has proven expertise in both systems mapping and homelessness.
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Summary Background:
The consulting firm will produce a systems map to catalog, and depict relationships and interactions between, entities that provide services to people experiencing homelessness in the cities and towns along the Route 1 Corridor (from Mt. Rainier to College Park). The consulting firm will also make initial recommendations for a community homelessness action plan. By depicting the existing network of service providers and how they are interconnected, Route 1 cities and towns will be in a position to better leverage our assets and address our gaps. This will allow us to form key partnerships, develop strategies for change, and improve coordination between local governments and social service providers as we strive to end homelessness and support people experiencing homelessness.
? Systems mapping is not the creation of a geographical map of offices. Rather, it is the process of identifying and depicting 1) a complex issue, 2) the system of players/stakeholders who impact that issue, and 3) the current connections and disconnections, strengths and challenges in that system. Systems thinking can help us tackle large, complex problems like homelessness that demand a strategic multi-agency response. It is beneficial to have an account of organizations that make and implement policy, run facilities, deliver services, etc. so we can capture a system-wide understanding of problems and solutions. This will help Route 1 local governments better collaborate with each other, with state and county government agencies, and with c...
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