NEWSOM CITES MILESTONES TOWARD ENDING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS

From the Mayor's Office of Communications

October 5, 2005

Major Gavin Newsom today standing on the rooftop terrace of the newly refurbished and recently re-opened Raman Senior Hotel, announced two significant achievements in his efforts toward ending chronic homelessness.

Newsom's "Care Not Cash," now referred to as the "Housing First" program, has been successful in getting more than 1000 homeless city residents into permanent supportive housing.

The Human Service Agency, which oversees the city's housing and homeless programs, reports that as of September 16, 2005, Mayor Newsom's "Care Not Cash" housing initiative has resulted in 1025 fewer people living on the street.

These individuals have received housing opportunities and are now residing in many of the permanent supportive units as a part of the city's Housing First Program.

Additionally today's announcement gave the Mayor a chance to officially recognize the Raman's re-opening as the city's newest permanent supportive housing facility dedicated solely to housing homeless senior citizens. The 85 unit senior hotel was establish as a result of a directive from the Mayor in his effort to assist all homeless seniors living in emergency shelters to transition to permanent supportive housing. Newsom cites the statistic that 8% of all single adult shelter beds are occupied by persons over the age of 60.

"The emergency shelter system is inherently flawed and unsafe for seniors. They are often part of a vulnerable population that should be afforded housing opportunities with the appropriate supportive services, including access to primary care," said Mayor Newsom.

Housing First and permanent supportive housing for any homeless individual, whether they are young or a senior, allows for stability in their lives and creates a platform for addressing the underlying cause of their condition- mental health problems, substances abuse addictions, or lack of job skills," continued the Mayor.

Studies show that between 80% and 90% of the chronically homeless placed in supportive housing stay in that housing for more than 2 years, further reducing use of more expensive City services.

Today's announcement also included a generous donation of $100,000 dollars from Washington Mutual, (formerly Providian Financial as a result of a recent buyout.) The money will go toward the Mayor's Homeless Fund to expand the number of supportive units.

Joseph Saunders, CEO of Washington Mutual, was on hand to help with the announcement of the donation, which is to establish supportive housing for the chronically homeless that will be used specially for raising private dollars to expand the Mayor's Housing First and DPH Programs.

Both programs have been designated as national best practices. This award program offers statewide recognition for the creativity and leadership demonstrated each day by county governments with similar Care Not Cash initiatives.

Newsom noted that the donation would enable the City to launch a greater fundraising effort by highlighting Washington Mutual as a pioneer in creating better private/public partnerships in the challenge to end chronic
homelessness in the city.

Recently the Mayor's Housing Fund has received other generous donations from the private sector ranging from $25,000 to $480,000 bringing the total to over $600.000 dollars in private sector donations.

The City anticipates another 80 units to come online with the opening of the Coronado which will house individuals coming directly from the streets as placed by the Street Homeless Outreach Teams.

Furthermore the Human Services Agency anticipates that 1, 276 permanent supportive housing units will be on-line by the end of fiscal year 2006, exceeding the goals of the Ten Year Planning Council to end chronic homelessness in the city.