Cole Calls for ‘Functional Zero’ Street Homelessness in Pasadena

Councilmember Rick Cole is calling on the city to make street homelessness “rare, brief and non-recurring,” arguing that Pasadena has reached a critical moment requiring greater political will and additional resources.

“Ending street homelessness in Pasadena is not only possible, it’s urgently necessary,” Cole said in a statement released late last week. “I am not naive. It is a hellishly complicated problem: socially, economically and politically.”

Cole said Pasadena should pursue what is known as “functional zero,” a condition in which homelessness is not eliminated entirely but becomes uncommon, temporary and unlikely to recur.

His comments followed a contentious meeting Monday of the City Council’s newly created Housing, Homelessness and Planning Committee. Mayor Victor Gordo said during the meeting that the city had reached “a tipping point” in dealing with homelessness.

“The friction between unhoused people and their neighbors is untenable,” Cole said.

Cole acknowledged that he and Gordo disagreed over whether city officials had focused sufficiently on homelessness in the past. However, he said they agreed that addressing the issue must now be a priority.

The committee unanimously approved Cole’s motion directing city staff to return with proposals and identify any resources needed to protect the safety and quality of life of both housed and unhoused residents.

The debate comes as parents at St. Philip the Apostle School advocate for the creation of “safe zones” around Pasadena schools. School officials and parents have raised concerns about people loitering, camping or behaving erratically near campuses.

Cole said he supports the campaign’s goal but cautioned that adopting a new law would not, by itself, resolve the underlying problem.

“I agree with the goal — but I’ve learned passing a law isn’t the same as solving a problem,” Cole said.

The city has already designated the establishment of a year-round homeless shelter and transitional housing as one of its five highest budget priorities, according to Cole.

The City Council unanimously approved that priority in December and has set aside $2 million toward the effort.

“A place is urgently needed to take people to ensure we get the right people the right help right now,” Cole said.

Cole said the community should not accept encampments, public urination and defecation, or fear arising from encounters with people experiencing untreated mental illness or substance abuse. He added that residents also should not tolerate the harm suffered by people living on the streets.

“This is a regional and national problem,” Cole said. “But Pasadena has the resources if we have the political will.”

Cole said he has worked on homelessness since organizing what he described as California’s first homeless count while serving as Pasadena’s mayor in 1993.

He warned that Pasadena should not take comfort in conditions being less severe than those in Los Angeles, where he previously worked in city government.

“We can’t make that mistake,” Cole said. “I ask you to join me in urging we do all we can together to make street homelessness in Pasadena ‘rare, brief and non-recurring.'”