First, I'd like to say that I fully support the Vision Statement of the Homeless Strategic Plan, of which this report is a part:

"The City of Concord envisions a community where every person has a safe, affirming, and stable place to live. This vision endeavors to reduce homelessness through community involvement, collaboration with partner agencies (government and nongovernment), and enhanced services that are carried out in a dignified, compassionate, and equitable manner."

The DRAFT Background Report catalogs where we are with respect to that vision. Here's a very brief summary.

Key Findings

• The number of people experiencing homelessness in Concord has increased significantly in recent years. In 2022, there were an estimated 430 people experiencing homelessness on any given night, up from 319 in 2020.
• The majority of people experiencing homelessness in Concord are single adults (73%), male (68%), and white (59%).
• The most common causes of homelessness in Concord are lack of affordable housing (46%), job loss (23%), and mental illness (17%).
• People experiencing homelessness in Concord face a number of challenges, including accessing food and shelter, finding employment, and obtaining healthcare.

Recommendations

The report makes a number of recommendations for addressing homelessness in Concord, including:

• Increasing the supply of affordable housing
• Expanding access to mental health and substance abuse treatment services
• Providing more job training and employment opportunities
• Improving coordination among service providers

Conclusion

The Background Report on Homelessness provides an important starting point - a valuable overview of the state of homelessness in Concord. The report's findings and recommendations will be an essential part of the path to coordinating the city's efforts to address homelessness in the coming years.