To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Community Development Commission, Sonoma County Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Geoffrey Ross, x7505
Vote Requirement: Informational Only
Supervisorial District(s): 5th
Title:
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3:30 P.M. - Joe Rodota Trail
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Receive an update on the current status of the homeless encampment on the Joe Rodota Trail.
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Executive Summary:
This Board item provides an overview of the homeless encampment that has developed along the Joe Rodota Trail and an update on activities of County and City agencies as well as contracted service providers that are responding to the situation. The Community Development Commission has played a coordinating role in this effort and its outreach teams have actively deployed on the trail since the encampment was established. Regional Parks performed regular trail visits until recently, when staff felt the need to pull back, citing health and safety concerns. Regional Parks has posted advisements that the public use alternatives to the impacted trail segment. The Santa Rosa Police Department continues responding to calls at the encampment and remains committed to coordinating with County departments. Outreach efforts continued throughout the Kincade fire event and approximately 60 people have entered shelter and services to date.
Discussion:
The Joe Rodota Regional Trail (JRT) is an 8.5-mile paved, off-road pedestrian and bicycling trail that links Sebastopol to downtown Santa Rosa. Owned by Regional Parks, the trail passes through two cities providing a connection through unincorporated County areas, making it a multi-jurisdictional transportation and recreational corridor.
Over the past several months, a homeless encampment of approximately 140 people has developed along the trail. The encampment is located in the Roseland neighborhood incorporated into the City of Santa Rosa in 2017. Approximately 60% of those living on the trail are men, while 40% are women. About 5-10% are youth, ages 18-24 years old. The overall average age of those who call the JRT home each night is between 35-45 years old.
As of Friday, November 8, 2019, the number of homeless services providers maintaining a presence on the trail increased. To date, trained outreach workers from Catholic Charities Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST), Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) and Reach for Home, as well as staff from the Community Development Commission and the County’s Interdepartmental Multidisciplinary Team (IMDT) have all offered services to various populations on the trial. To date, approximately 60 people have come into services and shelter. This includes over 40 individuals alone during the week of October 27th as a result of enhanced outreach during the Kincade Fire.
As the encampment has grew, Catholic Charities HOST workers temporarily pulled back from the trail, but are now working in coordination with other outreach teams. Over the course of the last three weeks, the County Interdepartmental Multidisciplinary Team (IMDT), part of ACCESS Sonoma County efforts, has increased outreach to individuals on the trail and is working in coordination with HOST and other outreach teams. While the Santa Rosa Police Department will continue to respond to issues on the trail, the best practice is for outreach teams to conduct outreach without law enforcement.
Additionally, Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) outreach workers have provided targeted assistance to youth ages 18-24 on the trail. Enhanced outreach efforts will continue to provide multiple opportunities for shelter and permanent housing for those currently on the trail.
Regional Parks implemented a cleanup effort along the trail in early November and worked with the Supervised Adults Crews to remove 11 truckloads of debris and garbage from the trail. At its highpoint, the JRT had an estimated 150-170 individuals and Regional Parks was able to identify and mark approximately 140 campsites. Because people continue to set up campsites on the Trail, that number is fluid and varies daily.
For the time being, Regional Parks has cautioned trail users to avoid the encampment if possible, despite the trail remaining open along the section of Sebastopol Road where the encampment is located. As will be described at the Board hearing, CDC with its City and CBO partners, will be working over the next several weeks, to offer services and appropriate shelter options.
Prior Board Actions:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
1. Powerpoint Presentation
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
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