Agenda Information Sheet
DEPARTMENT: Community Development
CM/ ACM: John Cabrales, Jr.
Date: October 18, 2016
SUBJECT
Title
Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding a six-month progress report of the jointly funded Homeless Coordinator position including local efforts to provide assistance to the homeless and those at-risk of becoming homeless.
Body
BACKGROUND
The United Way of Denton County's Community Impact Coordinator has been asked to provide a report on coordinated initiatives being implemented to address and end homelessness in Denton to the City Council.
A citizen task force organized by the Mayor of the City of Denton, Chris Watts, explored resources and activities that could improve and expand housing solutions for the homeless in Denton. The task force presented a plan with key recommendations that would assist homeless citizens in finding and keeping a safe, stable and permanent home. These recommendations for implementing a coordinated community-wide effort to address homelessness included a recommendation for funding a homeless coordinator positon to provide leadership in implementing the plan. The outcomes of the position will be to increase and improve the effectiveness of community funding, ensure multi-faceted affordable housing options are available, and support the implementation of innovative programs. This proposal was accepted and the City Council agreed to fund the positon in the amount of $40,000 per year.
Since the position was not fully funded the City approached the United Way of Denton County, Inc., because of its proven track record of seeking collaboration and community-wide solutions to community issues. The United Way agreed to partner in the project by providing additional funds as well as to take on the responsibility of hiring, training, supervising, and organizing the position utilizing its successful collective impact initiative model.
As a result, an agreement was made between the City of Denton and t...
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