Judy Vaughan’s response to the attached handouts that were sent to the cluster chairs.

Re. to the “Causes” sheet

- Change to “active drug and alcohol addiction” (rather than abuse

- Eliminate gambling (or just make the previous one “active addictions”

- Add: evictions

- Add: human trafficking

Re. to the “Housing Affordability and Homelessness”

- Second paragraph, communities had “a supply” of affordable housing. (There hasn’t been plenty in decades)

- “they could OFTEN”

- Effectively end homelessness

  • This MAY be true in some smaller cities maybe; though LA has put in a lot of money especially for the “rapid rehousing” model, homelessness has significantly increased. It is safe to say that both have failed (1) because little or no money has been out into staffing to provide supportive services, and it is next to impossible to become financially and emotionally stable in three months or even six given the current housing crisis, lack of jobs or lack of jobs that pay enough to match the rising cost of rent
  • The recidivism rate of those who become homeless again is extremely high when rent subsidies are provided for three months because people just haven’t been able to earn enough to pay rent once these subsidies are cut off.

- In the “When Work is Not an Option” section ; “Many of those who experience homelessness find it difficult to work due to a disability, limited job opportunities, or supportive services that would make employment possible.”

- All the programs listed in this section take time to apply and be approved: they all have a number of restrictions.

- It is important to note that the waiting list for Section 8 vouchers is now closed for four years. People can’t even get ON the waiting list, and once on the waiting list it can take another 4 – 5 years for your number to come up. For the approximately 21 agencies that receive Section 8 vouchers through the Homeless Program we are anxiously waiting and advocating for a release of additional vouchers but HACLA (Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles) is waiting to see what direction HUD takes, and also has focused their primary attention to housing veterans.

Re. the Section on Health, it is important to note that homelessness can lead to a physical or behavioral health crisis as well as the other way around.