General Plan - Moreno Valley

CHAPTER 8 – HOUSINGHomeless providers identified somedisturbing trends. The most alarming trendis that providers are serving younger men(eighteen to thirty years old) with drug andalcohol problems and no previous workexperience. Also, providers reported moreyouths among the homeless populationbeing served. Due to overcrowdedconditions in the juvenile system, youthsdeemed not violent are released and end upin homeless shelters. Homelessnessamong young adults ranging in age fromeighteen to twenty-one years of age, manyof who are coming out of foster care areending up in homeless shelters. Althoughthere has been a push to pass legislationthat would extend the foster careemancipation age from eighteen to twentycareyouth an additional three years hasone, the cost associated with housing fosterslowed progress of legislation.8.3.14 Homeless Survey in MorenoValleyIn February 2000, NeighborhoodPreservation staff and officers from theCity’s Problem Oriented Police teamconducted a homeless field survey in theCity of Moreno Valley. The survey wasconducted over two days and at two timeframes (5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 8:00p.m. to 10:00 p.m.). The survey teamsvisited numerous locations in the city anddocumented the number of homelesspersons, their gender (male, female,children) their location and the type oftemporary shelter, if any.The teams counted a total of eighteenhomeless persons. Fifteen of the homelesswere men and three were women. One ofthe men lived in his car and two other menhad built a makeshift shelter from discardedMORENO VALLEY GENERAL PLANwood, while the rest did not have makeshiftshelters.The profile of the homeless populationprovided by service providers seems to fitthe persons identified in the survey. Basedon the teams’ observations the homelessidentified in the survey seem to be thechronically homeless. It was apparent fromthe police observations that most had somesort of chemical dependency or mentalillness. Also, those identified in the surveywere disproportionately younger men(eighteen to thirty years old).Based on the ongoing dialogue between theCity and homeless service providers, theCity has worked to focus its homelessresources on services that meet theidentified needs of Moreno Valley and itsneighboring communities. Consequently,the City has consistently funded shelterservices, homeless and counseling servicesfor youths, homeless services for victims ofdomestic violence including children, as wellas homeless prevention services.8.3.15 Commitment to HomelessServicesDuring the seven years of the currentHousing Element reporting period, the Cityof Moreno Valley has provided $221,790 ingrant funds to local homeless serviceproviders, for an average of $32,000 peryear. Of the funds provided by the City forhomeless services, $28,920 were forhomeless prevention in the form ofemergency rent, mortgage assistance andcredit counseling.Table 8-15 is a listing of the homelessservices funded by the City of MorenoValley during fiscal years 1991-1998.Page 8-27 July 11, 2006