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Consider Approving Modifications to the Good Neighbor Plan
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Staff:
Department:
Sarah Osmer Vi?as, Director
Affordable Housing and Community Connections
Nate Broman-Fulks, Assistant Director
Overview: The Interfaith Council for Social Service (IFC) board has approved modifications to the Good Neighbor Plan to bring IFC's Community House campus and operations in alignment with national best practices for shelters and local homeless system written standards, and to be consistent with the Town's values and commitment to equity and inclusion. This item is for Council to consider approving IFC's proposed modification to the Good Neighbor Plan.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council approve IFC's proposed modifications to the Good Neighbor Plan.
Background:
* The Town Council received an update from the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness on March 8, 2023 where Town Council expressed an interest in considering updates to the Good Neighbor Plan to improve consistency with best practices.
* Based on the procedures for amending the Good Neighbor Plan, recommendations to amend the Plan must be approved by the IFC Board of Directors before final consideration by the Town Council.
* IFC's Board of Directors approved the proposed updated Good Neighbor Plan in May 2023.
Key Issues:
* The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness has identified accessible, housing-focused shelter as one of the gaps in the homelessness service system in Orange County.
* The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recommends that emergency homeless shelters are accessible with low barriers to entry.
* HUD further recommends that shelters are fully integrated into a housing-focused homeless service system.
* Stipulations in the current Good Neighbor Plan agreement between IFC and the neighbors of Community House regarding the designation and programming at IFC Community House do not align with the national best practices or local standards and have lim...
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