Over my two terms as your County Commissioner, I have worked to increase services and resources addressing homelessness in East County. In my very first budget session, I introduced the amendment to fund the Sheriff’s Office Homeless Outreach Engagement Program (HOPE) Team. That team has remained a steady point of contact for residents living unsheltered in some of the most remote areas of our County. I have been impressed with their commitment to trauma-informed case management and their awareness of not only the intersecting issues of homelessness but the stigmas attributed to both those living unsheltered and those working in law enforcement who are doing outreach in homeless encampments.
As we’ve built out more capacity in East County to do this work, I am so pleased to announce that Jeff Woodward has joined our Joint Office of Homeless Services as our East County liaison. Jeff has a lengthy and valuable background in this field and has already hit the ground running by meeting with individual jurisdictions and service providers. He will continue to support our monthly service coordination meeting with all of the East County cities after I have transitioned to my next chapter of public service.
Jeff will also strengthen the connection between East County partners and our overall shelter strategy. I was honored to serve on the Shelter Strategy Steering Committee this past year as we grappled with the high acuity of needs in our community. Ultimately, we were able to reach critical system alignments and the ability to get to a by-name list of thousands of unsheltered residents who need our help. Chair Vega Pederson has unveiled the Homelessness Response Action Plan which highlights specific action plans, responsibilities, and outcomes. Thank you to the voters of our region for your shared values around supportive housing and the resources necessary to create paths of stability out of homelessness.