Baton Rouge Mayor’s Homelessness Prevention Coalition Announces 2021 Goals

Press release from the City of Baton Rouge:

December 3, 2020

BATON ROUGE, La. – December 3, 2020 – The Mayor’s Homelessness Prevention Coalition (HPC) announced the rollout of goals during their fall meeting.

Coalition members have led stakeholder workgroups to provide the list of goals for 2021:

• Developing a Capacity Database – Real-time Inventory of Available Social Services
• Increasing City-wide Outreach and Case Management
• Identifying Additional Transitional and Permanent Affordable Housing
• Development of a Community Homelessness Educational Campaign
• Addressing Formerly Incarcerated Persons (FIPs) and Reentry Approaches
• Increasing Behavioral Health Training for Public Entities and Groups
• Creation of a Panhandling Taskforce
• Establishing a Peer-to-Peer Homeless Mentoring Program

The HPC has partnered with community stakeholders to establish Behavioral Health Crisis Outreach Teams to address trauma, encampments, littering, loitering, and panhandling throughout 2020. Recent actions have led to providing supportive assistance and temporary housing for youth, veterans, those suffering from behavioral health challenges, women, and families seeking housing.

Throughout 2020, the City-Parish has worked to address the issues impacting Baton Rouge residents. The Office of Community Development (OCD) and Build Baton Rouge have allocated over $6 million of HUD grant funds to community partners who have provided case management, shelter operations and other activities to assist both homeless individuals and those facing homelessness.

To decrease littering in high-traffic areas, the Department of Public Works (DPW) has increased litter crews and placed “No Littering” signs in areas with a high volume of litter. Law enforcement has been instrumental in collaborating with partners to immediately address key concerns throughout the city tackling outreach, after-hours intake, and public safety. The City-Parish and Capital Area United Way have activated the 211 number to address calls from the community in an effort to generate contributions to local nonprofits helping homeless individuals.

The HPC serves as a collective voice of Baton Rouge stakeholders working to convene, educate, collaborate with our residents and seeks to prevent eradicate homelessness in Baton Rouge. The coalition utilizes a holistic approach to address homelessness, and will continue to assist with the unveiling of formal community education campaigns on homelessness and provide guidance addressing concerns throughout the city.

This press release was produced by the City of Baton Rouge. The views expressed here are the author’s own.