BREAKING: Humboldt County grand jury issues report on homelessness

From a Humboldt County grand jury press release:

The 2014-2015 Humboldt County Grand Jury has issued a final report entitled:

Homelessness in Humboldt County

The Humboldt County Grand Jury reviewed the efforts being made by local government entities and service providers to assist the homeless in Humboldt County.

The Humboldt County Grand Jury finds:

There is no coordinated, countywide approach that encompasses a single intake, assessment and distribution of services for the homeless in Humboldt County.

There is no oversight or coordination among the many dedicated homeless service providers throughout Humboldt County. Such oversight and coordination would decrease duplication of effort, increase efficiency, save tax dollars, cut costs for the providers, and create a revenue stream for affordable housing.

There is a lack of coordination and collaboration between Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and the Eureka City Council around the issue of homelessness.

There is a critical lack of affordable housing in Humboldt County.

The lack of coordination and collaboration between the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and the City of Eureka was a common theme and source of frustration among those interviewed by the Grand Jury.

Lack of coordination and organization was seen most recently in the implementation of Eureka’s Four Step Plan to ultimately house those currently living in the encampment behind the Bayshore Mall. The two week eviction notice given to the homeless in the encampment was withdrawn due to the fact that alternative camp areas had not been established and Coastal Commission approval had not been obtained.

The Humboldt County Grand Jury calls on the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and the Eureka City Council to form a housing trust fund structured as a Joint Powers Authority (JPA), which includes the current Humboldt County Housing and Homeless Coalition to coordinate and administer Humboldt County’s efforts to address and end homelessness. The Humboldt County Grand Jury also recommends the JPA include representation from all stakeholders in Humboldt County.

June 26, 2015

Eureka Times-Standard