Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homelessness topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Carlsbad reports fewer people served by city-funded programs in first half of FY 23–24, outlines outreach and housing efforts
Summary
City staff reported $2.47 million spent in the first half of FY 2023–24 on homelessness programs, a decline to 352 unduplicated people served (down 8% year-over-year), and described outreach, encampment cleanups, and partnerships that helped 55 people transition into permanent housing across city-funded and partner programs.
City staff told the Carlsbad City Council on June 26 that the city spent roughly $2,466,835 in the first half of fiscal year 2023–24 on homelessness action-plan activities and reported several indicators of progress and ongoing needs.
Housing and Homeless Services Director Mandy Mills and homeless services manager Chris Schilling said that city-funded programs served 352 unduplicated people in the reporting period — an 8% decrease from the prior year — and noted the city and partners helped 55 people transition to permanent housing when non-city programs are included. Staff also reported 18 encampment cleanups and 14 motel vouchers provided to people in crisis; of voucher recipients, eight later moved into permanent or longer-term placements (a 57% positive exit rate for that group).
Captain Jeff Smith of the Carlsbad Police Department described outreach and enforcement metrics: 3,785 homelessness-related calls for service in the first half of FY 23–24, of which 2,553 were officer-initiated proactive contacts. "These proactive calls for service are approximately 20% higher than the same time frame in the previous year," the captain said, noting officers work with social-service staff to prioritize safety and connection to resources.
Staff also discussed the annual point-in-time count for January 25, 2024. The city’s by-name list registered 147 unsheltered people around the count period and the point-in-time count found 112 people; staff said the city had additionally confirmed that 56 of those counted were living in vehicles. The presentation emphasized that point-in-time results can vary by methodology and that the city’s by-name list provides complementary information for tracking individuals engaged with services.
Mills and partners described upcoming work funded through a collaborative state award with Oceanside and use of opioid-settlement funding to pilot a substance-abuse outreach and education program starting July 1. Staff said a regional memorandum of agreement (more than $11 million over three years) will fund targeted outreach, health-street medicine, and shelter and rental-assistance pathways for people in encampments along the border area between Carlsbad and Oceanside.
Council members praised staff and volunteers, asked for continued public reporting, and emphasized a regional approach. The council had no vote on the report; staff said future updates and a data “story map” will be posted online as part of ongoing transparency efforts.
