The program model we support (partially adopted by Sacramento) for helping the chronic homeless (those who represent the largest group of homeless who camp in the Parkway) is being planned for Los Angeles.
They are also using the preffered scattered site approach (only partially used by Sacramento) where chronic homeless are moved into apartments scattered throughout the city rather than congregated in centers (which Sacramento is directing a majority of its funds towards), which severely degrades residential and commercial neighborhoods as we have seen in Sacramento with the concentration of homeless services.
L.A. County might get new homeless program
Supervisors expected to approve Project 50, which aims to get skid row's most vulnerable people into supportive housing.
By Susannah Rosenblatt
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
November 19, 2007
Los Angeles County supervisors are poised to approve a program that will identify the 50 most vulnerable homeless people on downtown's skid row and move them within 100 days into apartments with readily accessible support services.
The program, patterned after projects underway in New York City and elsewhere, is not only aimed at saving the lives of those most likely to die on the streets, but also is expected to save taxpayers the millions of dollars typically spent on people who cycle in and out of shelters, jails and emergency rooms.
"A lot of these folks fall through the cracks when they go through the shelters," said Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, a major proponent of the project. "If we can't make this work, then we've got a problem."
On Tuesday, the board will probably approve two contracts with homeless advocacy groups to provide training and housing for the program. Four of the five supervisors have indicated they support the program.
The county has struggled to address the vast homelessness problem. A year ago, supervisors approved an unprecedented $100-million homeless initiative, anchored by five regional assistance centers. But the program faltered after communities balked at the prospect of homeless people coming to their neighborhoods. The county quietly switched gears, deciding instead to fund private organizations and smaller efforts, such as a housing program for families on skid row.
