GOAL:

The City Council adopts this ordinance towards reducing homelessness in ten years to its level in the early 1970's, with a one-fourth to one-third reduction of homelessness by the year 2000.

OBJECTIVES:

I. RESPECT

Specific Measures:

a.) Current by-right zoning provision in B-4 for nonprofit providers of shelter and services to homeless citizens to remain unaltered.

b.) Any organization which receives municipal funding to provide services to homeless individuals to establish a program for care providers to experience homelessness by living in the homeless situation for a minimum period 12-48 hours each year, unless the requirement is waived for good cause.

c.) Any organization which receives municipal funding to provide services to homeless individuals to perform with a Board of Directors consisting of at least one-third homeless or formerly homeless individuals, or obtain an annual waiver from City Council for good cause after a public hearing.

d.) All coordinating bodies, task forces, and similar bodies, created, sponsored, or funded by the City of Richmond to address homeless issues, to consist of at least one-third homeless or formerly homeless individuals and at least one-third service providers.

e.) Organizations which receive municipal funding to provide services to homeless individuals to establish an annual program to survey homeless people on the quality of the services.

f.) City Administration to be requested to develop a plan for available restrooms in Monroe Park, and to study and report on additional restroom facilities.

II. EMPLOYMENT

Specific Measures:

a.) The City of Richmond to study and report on the feasibility of nonprofit labor pool with a program to encourage the hiring of homeless and formerly homeless persons among the staff.

b.) The City of Richmond to study and report on ways and means for homeless citizens to be hired to restore abandoned buildings. The City of Richmond study and report on ways and means to restore voice mail's program for homeless persons seeking employment, and to implement action necessary to that restoration.

c.) The Department of Social Services to provide information to local restaurants on how to apply for state approval to provide hot meals to working homeless people for food stamps.

d.) The City of Richmond to seek the return of the Virginia Employment Commission to Richmond's downtown area.

e.) Any organization which receives municipal funding to have programs for hiring the homeless with standard jobs at standard wages in an effort to lead the way to ending homelessness.

III. RESOURCES AND ACCESSIBILITY

Specific Measures:

a.) Any organization which receives municipal funding to provide services to homeless individuals which receives funding under the McKinney Act to post notice to recipients of the organization process in compliance with the McKinney Act for redress to homeless persons who are refused services.

b.) The City Administration to seek all available federal and state funding for help to the homeless. The City Administration to seek available federal funding for homeless veterans centers, or encourage such applications. The City Administration to encourage nonprofit applications for funding for SRO's.

c.) The City of Richmond to seek all available funding and apply to all available sources to expand existing Rubicon and other substance abuse programs.

d.) The City of Richmond to seek all available funding and apply to all available sources to expand mental health facilities and to provide mental health care.

e.) Any organization which receives municipal funding to provide comprehensive services to homeless persons to have intensive case management and program outlines.

f.) The City of Richmond to study possible ways and means for a surtax on buildings left abandoned for a specified period of time with a gradual escalation of the tax.

g.) The City of Richmond to encourage community forums involving homeless and formerly homeless persons, care providers, and community representatives to discuss issues of mutual concern.

IV. HOUSING

Specific Measures

a.) The City of Richmond to provide overflow site shelter(s) to remain open at least during the winter months, and at a maximum all year round.

b.) The City of Richmond, in summer, to have an overflow site(s), or legalize sleeping in Monroe Park and other parks with restroom facilities with provision for of such facilities on a 24-hour basis.

V. ACCOUNTABILITY

a.) The City to make a public report each year on the cost-per-case of each organization receiving municipal funding to provide help to the homeless.

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