Draft Of Malibu's 'Strategic Plan on Homelessness' Presented

MALIBU, CA – A draft of Malibu's "Strategic Plan on Homelessness" was presented to the public at a town hall meeting last Thursday by Public Safety Manager Susan Dueñas for the first time. The city's plan was developed with the help of a $50,000 grant from Los Angeles County, and listed seven goals to help alleviate homelessness in the city with 40 specific actions to accomplish these goals, according to The Malibu Times.

The homeless dinners were also addressed the meeting, and Susan Ng of LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s office said that the county courthouse will start serving dinners in "about a month," according to the newspaper. The city received a grant from the county Board of Supervisors' Homeless Initiative to offer the meals at the old courthouse in March, just a month after Malibu United Methodist Church was forced to end their meal services to low-income residents, citing pressure from the city.

“One homeless man was arrested 26 times in one year,” Lt. Jim Royal of the Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff’s Station said, according to The Malibu Times. “The criminal justice system is not designed for small offenses committed by the homeless. That’s why you keep seeing the same people over and over—they just come back to Malibu the next day.”

Homelessness is among the community's top concern, according to results are in from an online survey on homelessness conducted by The City of Malibu in late January – over half of respondents (318 out of 565) believe homelessness is a very serious problem in Malibu. What was more surprising was that 33 of 570 respondents said they have been homeless at some point in their lives, according to survey results.

Related: Malibu Receives Grant To Address Homelessness

The Strategic Plan on Homelessness draft goals are:

1. Reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in Malibu by providing access to
   temporary and permanent housing solutions within Los Angeles County.
2. Prevent and mitigate any public health and public safety impacts on the community stemming from
   homelessness.
3. Implement programs to prevent homelessness among residents of Malibu.
4. Provide coordinated outreach and supportive services to homeless individuals and families that
   promote self-sufficiency and personal stability.
5. Increase community awareness of the Malibu homeless initiative, it’s progress, and successes.
6. Advocate for systemic change at the county, state, and federal levels that will strengthen efforts to
   prevent and reduce homelessness.
7. Develop an administrative and governance infrastructure to facilitate collaboration, provide
   oversight, and support implementation of the homelessness strategic plan.

To read more about the goals and actions laid out to accomplish them, click here.

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