Homeless Strategic Plan Overview

Concord City Councilmember Laura Nakamura

Written by
February 10, 2023

In 2022 the Concord City Council committed to creating a Homeless Strategic Plan during 2023. The City is committed to addressing homelessness and helping people experiencing homelessness to get and stay housed. The Homeless Strategic Plan is a roadmap for achieving this goal.

An ad-hoc committee was appointed to facilitate this work. I am serving as the Chair of the Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group, with Vice Mayor Edi Birsan as the second committee member.

I will be posting updates on the progress of the working group here. Please check back periodically for new information. You can also visit the webpage of the Plan on the City of Concord’s website, click here.

Concord’s Homeless Strategic Plan has the following goals:

  • Prevent homelessness: Reduce the number of people who become homeless in the first place by providing early intervention and support services.
  • House people experiencing homelessness: Increase the number of people who are housed and supported in permanent housing.
  • Provide coordinated services: Improve the coordination of services for people experiencing homelessness, so that they can receive the support they need to get and stay housed.
  • Reduce the negative impacts of homelessness on the community: Address the negative impacts of homelessness on the community, such as public health and safety concerns.

The plan also includes a number of specific objectives and measurable performance targets, such as:

  • Reduce the number of people sleeping on the streets in Concord by 50% by 2025.
  • Increase the number of people housed in permanent housing by 25% by 2025.
  • Reduce the number of people who experience multiple episodes of homelessness by 10% by 2025.
  • Increase the number of people who receive coordinated services by 20% by 2025.
  • Reduce the number of complaints about homelessness to the City by 15% by 2025.

The plan is being implemented by a Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group, which is made up of representatives from the City, community organizations, and people with lived experience of homelessness. The Working Group is meeting regularly to develop and implement the plan's recommendations.

The City of Concord has also set aside $5.4 million in one-time funds to support the implementation of the Homeless Strategic Plan. These funds will be used to support a variety of programs and services, including:

  • Affordable housing development
  • Homeless outreach and engagement
  • Rental assistance
  • Mental health and substance abuse treatment
  • Job training and placement services

The City of Concord is committed to addressing homelessness and helping people experiencing homelessness to get and stay housed. The Homeless Strategic Plan is a roadmap for achieving this goal.

For information on the Working Group, click here.