Services for People Experiencing Homelessness in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones

CEO - Homeless Initiative

County Spending Category
3.3 Support the Sustained Public Health Response to COVID-19
Federal Expenditure Category
Housing Support: Other Housing Assistance
Project Launch Date
07/03/2023
Anticipated End Date
04/01/2024
Project Contacts Indicators & Metrics Target Populations Project Description Goals & Objectives

Project Contacts

Indicators & Metrics to Date

  • Number of VHFHSZ specialty trainings provided by LASD and HOST teams.
    6
  • Provide monthly progress reports on services provided to PEH and a quarterly analysis of resources needed to sustain efforts.
    9
  • Conduct studies on fires that have been linked to encampments inside VHFHSZ to help prevent future fires.
    4
  • Develop outreach and awareness curriculum and provide regular events to educate stakeholders on homeless encampment resolution protocol and heightened risk of fire in VHFHSZ.
    8
  • Number of engagements and comprehensive assessments of homeless encampments completed.
    279

Target Populations

  • People Experiencing Homelessness

Project Description

The Chief Executive Office, in collaboration with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST), works to address homeless encampments in Los Angeles County. As a result of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and State guidance, people experiencing homelessness (PEH) in encampments across Los Angeles County have been allowed to shelter in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, there has been a significant growth in encampments across the county. However, targeted outreach is needed in areas that pose significant risk such as mountainous very high fire severity zones (VHFHSZs). The vast geographical area and mountainous terrain poses challenges to ensure Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZs) in unincorporated County remain free of encampments. Although LASD-HOST has utilized deputies from nearby stations within these areas to supplement encampment outreach and clean-up. To strengthen effectiveness with identifying new encampments, outreach, and ensuring unincorporated County designated VHFHSZ areas remain free of encampments, capacity building must be considered. The funding for this project will be used to expand LAHSA and LASD HOST and resources needed to conduct engagement at homeless encampments that have been identified in very high fire hazard severity zones. Educational materials about the dangers of habitating in high fire severity zones will be developed and distrubuted at homeless encampments. HOST will assist in connecting people to supportive services by bringing the engagement efforts to them. HOST is a co-response model that is centered to provide support to our vulberable homeless neighbors without any criminalization.

Goals & Objectives

Goal Description By December 2024, conduct outreach and provide access to services to at least 120 people experiencing homelessness in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) thereby reducing encampments and fires in VHFHSZ.

Objective Description Ensure that VHFHSZ's in the county remain free of PEH encampments through person-centered outreach by HOST teams.

Activity Description Conduct outreach and comprehensive assessments of homeless encampments in all VHFHSZs.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Performance Number of engagements and comprehensive assessments of homeless encampments completed. 60.00 120.00

Activity Description LASD and LAHSA HOST to conduct specialized trainings for outreach teams and first responders. LASD and LAHSA HOST teams are a co-responsive model specially trained in outreach techniques to engage hard-to-serve PEH through navigation of rugged terrain and difficult to reach encampments.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
15 Performance Number of VHFHSZ specialty trainings provided by LASD and HOST teams. 6.00 12.00

Objective Description Communicate the heightened risk of fire in VHFHSZ with PEH and community stakeholders.

Activity Description Work with community stakeholders such as County Departments, Council of Governments, elected officials, contract cities, community business leaders, first responders, local law enforcement, and PEH to provide education on the homeless encampment resolution protocol and heightened risk of fire in VHFHSZ.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Performance Develop outreach and awareness curriculum and provide regular events to educate stakeholders on homeless encampment resolution protocol and heightened risk of fire in VHFHSZ. 4.00 6.00

Outcome Description Prevent and mitigate the loss of or damage to life, health, and property of PEH and those who reside in or near VHFHSZ areas.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Provide monthly progress reports on services provided to PEH and a quarterly analysis of resources needed to sustain efforts. 4.00 12.00
1 Program Outcome Conduct studies on fires that have been linked to encampments inside VHFHSZ to help prevent future fires. 6.00 12.00