R2010-35 PLACING ON FILE - 10 YEAR PLAN TO END CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS

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Planning Process The process for developing the Ten Year Plan consisted of nine steps: 1. Obtain Commitment from Mayor and City Council (May 2009) The Mayor and City Council made a firm commitment to the planning process. The City Council made its commitment and approved the development of the plan by unanimous vote on May 18, 2009. 2. Identify Stakeholders (July 2009) The second step involved soliciting support and participation from a wide spectrum of the community: city and county government, state agencies, law enforcement, health care, faith-based groups, homeless providers, businesses, schools, veterans groups and many others. The City of Decatur hosted a well-attended informational meeting July 23 at the Decatur Public Library to inform stakeholders about the plan and solicit their input. 3. Convene a Working Group (August 2009) The City appointed a task force to serve as the "Working Group." This group coordinates the process. It consists of respected persons representing various stakeholder groups. At its first meeting the Working Group reviewed its mission, established a schedule, discussed definitions and population groups, and began gathering data on homelessness. 4. Gather Research and Data on Homelessness (September 2009) The Worlcing Group considered the data and defined the extent of the problem. It arrived at an estimate of the number of chronic homeless persons. 5. Define the Community's Homeless Problem (October-November 2009) The Working Group identified causes of chronic homelessness in Decatur. It reviewed the existing systems and structures, from early engagement to permanent housing. The Working Group developed its three-pronged approach: prevention, housing, and services. 6. Conduct Interviews of Homeless Persons (November-December 2009) A team of students from Millikin University conducted interviews with homeless and formerly homeless Decatur residents. Their purpose was to gain understanding of the process by which people become chronically homeless and to obtain subjective and anecdotal evidence concerning the characteristics and needs of homeless persons. The Working Group added this step to the process. 7. Draft Strategies (December 2009) The Working Group agreed on strategies to address the causes and consequences of chronic homelessness. The strategies will fall into three areas: prevention, housing and services. The consultant prepared a draft report, which was circulated among the Working Group members. Rev. 2010/02/19 27