City Commission Hears Five Areas of Focus for Proposed Pasadena Homelessness Plan

The Northwest Commission heard details of proposed updates to the City’s plan to address homelessness. When finalized, the document will serve as a guiding document for the city’s response to homelessness in the coming years.

During the meeting, local policy and planning consulting firm CityWise provided the findings that came out from surveys it conducted concerning the city’s current programs for homelessness.

The report was based on 216 survey responses CityWise received in July to its survey offering feedback on system priorities, goals and areas for improvement.

From June-July, it conducted nine interviews with 10 system and regional partners, eight focus group interviews that allowed for in-person engagement with 57 people with lived experience of homelessness, and eight listening sessions with city commissions. 

Anna Jacobsen, a former City employee who founded CityWise, said the surveys have identified five areas of focus for the Pasadena Homeless Plan, which include equity and respect, emergency support system, pathways to permanent housing, inflows to homelessness and systemwide planning. 

Through the survey, the consultant has found that many people with lived experience of homelessness feel discriminated against or treated unfairly.

Black people exit permanent housing at lower rates than other participants, pointing to racism in the private housing market.

“While Black people are accessing services at comparable rates, Latinos are underrepresented across almost all program types,” added Jacobsen.

In response to these findings, the CityWise has developed five draft goals including responding to reports of unfair or discriminatory treatment within the homelessness service system and reviewing of written policies and practices with and equity lens, conducting racial disparity analysis on a quarterly basis, and ensuring people with lived experience play a leadership role in overseeing programs related to homelessness. 

According to Jacobsen, participants also expressed that the existing response and referral system to address homelessness has room for improved coordination, accessibility and transparency. 

In addition to the need for a strengthened response and referral system, people experiencing homelessness reported that emergency shelter was one of the most valuable services the Continuum of Care (CoC) could provide but they stressed there is need for diversity of shelter options.

People with lived experience reported that the supply of emergency shelter beds does not meet demand. 

Participants also expressed that essential services provided to homeless people need improvement. 

In response to the findings, the draft goals recommended developing a more accessible, transparent and timely response coordination and referral system, investigating options to maintain/expand shelter beds and promote dignity and respect by ensuring the safety, security and cleanliness of shelters.

The draft also recommended the continued funding of essential services such as showers and the adding of a multi-service center.

According to Jacobsen, by early 2023, CityWise will be convening planning workgroups with experts in each of the action areas to define actionable strategies for each of the goals recommended.

In the last three years, homelessness in Pasadena has steadily decreased, according to data provided by the City’s Housing Department. 

The number of homeless individuals in Pasadena was down to 512 in the latest count of 2022, from 904 in 2012.