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Homeless Task Force
Multidisciplinary homeless outreach teams are deployed on our system daily to assist people experiencing homelessness with resources for interim and permanent shelter.
Overview
The increase of homelessness in Metro’s transit system continues to challenge the agency, resulting in the need for more collaboration and coordination. With the adoption of County and City of Los Angeles strategies to address homelessness this year, Metro recognizes the need to address homelessness in and around the transit system that will align with County and City of Los Angeles priorities. Metro is creating a strategic plan to develop a coordinated and comprehensive approach that maintains a safe and clean environment for patrons, while connecting homeless persons in the transit system to services and resources.
FAQs
1. What is Metro doing when it comes to homelessness in and around the rail and bus system?
Metro is committed to prioritizing safety and excellent customer service, and is working to continuously address homelessness by maintaining a safe and quality environment for all its passengers. Metro works with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) to respond to homelessness by working with homeless individuals and families and connecting them to resources and services.
Metro convenes a homeless task force comprised of various partners such as agency staff, LASD, DMH, LAHSA and others to discuss and address homelessness throughout its transit system.
2. What are Metro’s plans to better address homelessness?
The increase in homelessness throughout Los Angeles County has had a significant impact on Metro’s transit system. To address the challenges of homelessness comprehensively, Metro has launched a strategic planning process
The planning process includes:
- Understanding the scope and scale of homelessness throughout the region
- Obtaining feedback from partners, community members and other stakeholders about what they see and what solutions they propose to address homelessness in transit areas.
- Drafting a comprehensive strategy to address homelessness.
3. How can I get involved in Metro’s Homeless Strategic Planning process?
Metro has contracted with the firm Communities in Motion, which is leading the strategic planning process. Communities in Motion is a consulting firm with expertise in strategic planning, social policy and community engagement with specific experience in homelessness and the social service delivery system in Los Angeles County. There will be different ways for the community to become involved from October 2016 to January 2017.
- Stakeholder groups will be formed, involving service provider and homeless coalition leaders.
- Communities in Motion will be attending local community meetings to talk about the planning process and obtain feedback.
- Surveys will be distributed for people to provide input from a variety of stakeholders and individuals.
- Metro will launch a portal on its website specifically for this plan. The website will provide information and provide details about opportunities to engage in this process.
4. How will non-City of Los Angeles agencies be involved in this process?
There will be a specific effort to approach and work with independent cities throughout the L.A. County. This will include convening a meeting with a team of cities interested in actively participating in this process, meeting with the Council of Governments, launching a survey and individual meetings with selected cities. The survey will provide Metro with data and information on the effects of homelessness in cities most impacted by transit and homelessness. This will assist in obtaining feedback on how to best form strategic partnerships with cities along transit corridors to address homelessness.
5. How will you get feedback from those who have been or are homeless?
This process will include facilitating focus groups of those who have been or are currently homeless to provide their input and suggestions.
6. How is this effort going to be integrated into already adopted strategies by the City and County of Los Angeles around homelessness?
This planning process will involve many stakeholders who participated in the development of local and regional strategies, including the City and County of Los Angeles. Metro’s focus on housing and services for homeless persons the agency encounters will be coordinated with existing strategies. Metro sees this process as an opportunity to also help implement and inform many strategies related to first responders and outreach coordination.
7. If I want more information, who do I contact?
You can email Metro at HomelessTaskForce@metro.net for questions or further information.
Strategic Plan Objectives
- Safety: Maintain a safe and clean environment for all Metro transit patrons.
- Outreach and Service Coordination: Solidify a coordinated homeless outreach service approach that reduces the incidence of homelessness in and around Metro’s transit stations and corridors.
- Quality Service: Create a culture of service when engaging and encountering homeless persons.
- Teamwork and Partnership: Build a network of community-based and government agencies who can provide support and leverage resources.
- Alignment with Regional Priorities: Align strategies with County and City of Los Angeles Homeless Strategies.
Getting Involved
Involvement of Local Government and Independent Cities
There will be a specific effort to approach and work with independent cities throughout the County. This will include convening a meeting with a team of cities interested in actively participating in this process, meeting with the Council of Governments and launching a survey specifically targeting cities.
The survey will provide Metro with data and information on the effects of homelessness in cities most impacted by transit and homelessness. This will assist in obtaining feedback on how to best form strategic partnerships with cities along transit corridors to address homelessness.
Getting Involved in the Planning Process
There will be different ways for the community and stakeholders to contribute and be part of the engagement process from October 2016 to January 2017.
- Stakeholder groups will be formed, involving homeless services experts and partner agencies that serve homeless individuals and families.
- Presentations with feedback sessions will be scheduled with community and business groups.
- Surveys will be distributed and posted online for people to provide input from a variety of stakeholders and individuals.
- Metro will launch a portal on our website specific to this plan. This will allow anybody to regularly get information about this effort and be informed about opportunities to engage in this process.
Documents
Contact Us
For more information, questions or comments please email us at:
For information on Communities in Motion, please visit Communities in Motion
