So you think ending chronic homelessness is impossible? West Hollywood is leading the way, in doing just that by creating “WeHo Cares: Ending Chronic Homelessness.” Joining a national effort called “Housing First,” the City of West Hollywood is using Federal Shelter Plus Care rental assistance certificates to house people who are chronically homeless. Thirteen people have been housed through the Shelter Plus Care program so far, and four more are in the process of obtaining a Shelter Plus Care certificate.

The “Housing First” model, places homeless people directly into a stable housing environment rather than moving them through a series of transitional housing situations. The goal of this program is to increase housing stability for homeless people and their families, increase their skills and/or income, and to help them obtain greater self-sufficiency.

“Our City’s commitment to finding solutions to difficult problems is reflected in this effort to end chronic homelessness,” said West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang. “The strong partnership between service providers and the Sheriffs’ Department, with the help of housing assistance certificates from the County, will help us reach this goal,” continued Mayor Prang.

“The City of West Hollywood has a long history of commitment to finding innovative solutions to the challenges of homelessness,” said Mayor Pro Tempore Abbe Land. “This program allows us to collaborate across regions and organizations, to partner with our County Supervisor’s office, and really make significant steps forward to end chronic homelessness in our community.”

Shelter Plus Care is a federally funded program that grants the City of West Hollywood 20 rental-assistance certificates to enable disabled homeless residents and their families to move into permanent supportive housing. A key component of the Shelter Plus Care program is the provision of wrap around services to ensure that people remain successfully housed. The program is designed to reach the traditionally hard-to-access homeless population, including those with serious mental illness, chronic substance abuse, and/or HIV/AIDS and related illnesses.

Since its inception in 1984, the City of West Hollywood has taken a collaborative approach to solutions for homelessness. The City regularly convenes a homeless collaborative group that includes service providers, law enforcement, City staff, community volunteers, representatives of the business community and local clergy. The group serves to keep everyone informed about individual situations and problem areas. The group regularly conducts a homeless census and coordinates Homeless Connect Days, which is an opportunity to bring people who are homeless to a central location so they can access an array of City, County and non-profit services.

For more information on the Shelter Plus Care program, please contact the Social Services Division at (323) 848-6510. For the deaf and hard of hearing, please call (323) 848-6496.