Editorial: New Marin strategy to address homelessness raises some red flags

With state funding for local homeless projects and programs expected to end soon, Marin county officials are focusing on coming up with strategies to address the nagging societal challenge.

Their plans to hire a consultant and launch a media campaign shouldn’t divert money needed to deliver short- and long-term help to those who need help.

Marin is lucky to have several long-experienced local organizations that are working on homelessness. They know the people and they know the challenges, from finding housing to trying to help those who resist offered assistance.

The county also has an ample team of workers experienced and involved in helping that population.

Creating a local task force with strong leadership could be more effective than writing a check to another consultant.

Launching a media campaign is an interesting idea based on an objective of bolstering community awareness of homelessness and what is being done about it.

The county says its statistics show that the local homeless population has decreased 16.7% since 2015. Despite this progress, the problem has become a lot more visible with large encampments in San Rafael and in Novato. Because they are not being closed down, people may have an attitude that the local government isn’t doing enough. The promised winding down of these encampments is slow and taking longer than some might think is necessary.

County staff also expect the need to provide supportive services to those who have been placed in permanent housing – the goal of Marin’s “Housing First” strategy – will skyrocket. In addition, local funds are paying a larger share of the temporary rental support that pays for housing. The federal government hasn’t issued any new housing vouchers in Marin since August and the state, which has been criticized for its spending, has stiffened requirements for getting its cash.

Is a media campaign going to change public perspective? Staff is pushing for a campaign to grow public support for the county’s efforts and addressing “a bit of a messaging problem” it has now.

Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters is right when she says more needs to be done to raise awareness “that we all need to be part of the solution.”

That doesn’t necessarily address concerns that encampments have been standing for months since the state ordered them removed from public land.

Local officials have struggled to come up with a permanent balance between compassionately addressing the needs of the homeless and protecting public health and safety. Because “Housing First” relies on the availability of permanent housing, the progress has been slow and has not caught up with the need.

In addition, the “messaging problem” is only part of the pushback the county and San Rafael officials have been getting over their plan to put up a temporary “tiny homes” village for homeless people at a site in the Rafael Meadows neighborhood. The criticism they are fielding from neighbors has to do with moving so far forward with plans without including nearby residents and businesses in the planning process. The city is poised to purchase the property and neighbors are restless and resentful.

How is a costly media blitz going to change that reality? The county and city face the tougher task of rebuilding trust. They aren’t going to advertise their way out of this dilemma, which likely was predictable.

Do these challenges require the help and expense of a consultant?

What are the county’s expectations from investing in a media campaign? The supervisors should be clear on that mission before they write any checks.

Overall, county officials are right to prepare for the coming years when federal and state assistance for homeless programs and projects is far from the level seen over the past three to four years. They are going to have to figure out how they will keep up with rising costs with local funds.

Finding housing for the homeless is a sizable challenge in our high-priced county. Figuring out how we are going to pay for it and the needed support services promises to be just as significant.