Title
A Resolution adopting a Statement of Common Purpose among cities in Eastern Jackson County, Missouri to address homelessness.
Body
Issue/Request:
Through the Eastern Jackson County Shared Services Initiative which is supported and promoted through the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), the five partnering communities of Eastern Jackson County (Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Independence, Grandview and Raytown), have conducted research and developed a Suburban Homelessness Action Plan for Eastern Jackson County communities (attached to this packet). The purpose of this Resolution is to acknowledge or affirm various factors related to homelessness, and to continue to collaborate with the Eastern Jackson County Shared Services Initiative to identify cooperative strategies to respond and address homelessness in Eastern Jackson County. Each of the Eastern Jackson County communities intend to pursue adoption of the resolution through their governing bodies to continue these collaborative efforts.
Key Issues:
Adoption of this Resolution does not commit any financial resources toward this continued work, however recognizes and acknowledges the benefit of continued collaboration and cooperation amongst various staff and partners of the five represented communities.
Proposed City Council Motion:
I move for approval of Resolution 23-
Background:
In November of 2020, discussions regarding concerns related to homelessness began at the Community and Economic Development Committee. As a result of those discussions, a "Community Coalition on Homelessness" was created involving two Councilmembers, city staff members from multiple departments, and community stakeholders. The Coalition held multiple meetings during the course of 2021 and collected available data, reviewed existing tools and approaches to responding to homelessness, and consulted with a number of non-profit and religious organizations in an effort to become more educated about the existence of homelessness within Lee's Summit, and the level of response and collaboration that was occurring within the community. In 2022, the Eastern Jackson County Shared Services Initiative began work on a regional approach to homelessness, therefore the efforts and work of the Community Coalition on Homelessness in Lee's Summit was rolled into the regional effort. The work performed by the Community Coalition on Homelessness in Lee's Summit was of great benefit to the work pursued by the Eastern Jackson County Shared Services Initiative.
The Eastern Jackson County Shared Services work entailed identifying shared challenges that cross jurisdictional boundaries regarding the needs of the unhoused population in Eastern Jackson County. The group worked together to conduct research, evaluate best practices in responding to homelessness, and draft an action plan to better address suburban homelessness with the assistance of a consultant (Vireo). On January 13, 2023, the shared services group participated in a collaborative discussion to review the action plan and explore what resources and efforts can best be accomplished by working together to address homelessness. Each city was asked to identify 2 - 3 thought leaders from their respective communities with expertise in housing and homelessness to provide guidance and concurrence with the draft plan. The group found there is strong potential to create a shared services approach by which the various partners pool resources and share governance and decision-making, to jointly pursue and invest in approaches to better respond to homelessness.
Impact/Analysis:
This Resolution authorizes staff to continue to collaborate and cooperate with the Eastern Jackson County Shared Services Initiative to further identify cooperative strategies to respond and address homelessness in Eastern Jackson County.
Presenter
Mark Dunning, City Manager