Note about the document type: The Continuum of Care (CoC) program is a key initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The CoC involves a collaborative effort between local governments, nonprofit organizations, and other community stakeholders to ensure that people experiencing homelessness have access to the services they need. It is structured to create a continuum of care that allows individuals to move through different stages of housing stability, starting from emergency shelter to permanent housing, with the right support services in place. Cities and counties participating in the CoC program publish reports that provide information about their local programs, funding, population statistics, performance measures, etc.
Addressing Homelessness
Homelessness is a major challenge for cities, especially in California, which accounts for nearly a quarter of all unsheltered people in the U.S. According to a 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda County area alone, over 9,747 individuals were counted as homeless. [Footnote 1]
California jurisdictions are mandated by the State Government Code § 65583 to analyze housing needs for all economic segments in the housing element portion of their general plans. Beyond this, many jurisdictions have published reports on homelessness that often cover issues such as:
-
The Scope: Quantifying the number of homeless people and factors that attract them to an area.
-
Economic Impacts: Assessing the financial effects on local economies, particularly in retail and tourist areas.
-
Root Causes: Investigating underlying issues like mental illness, substance abuse, and veteran status.
-
Proposed Solutions: Outlining strategies for providing housing, support services, and shelter access.
-
Community Concerns: Addressing negative impacts on the wider community, such as panhandling.
-
Prevention: Exploring measures to help at-risk individuals avoid becoming homeless.
Legal and Historical Context
Recently, many cities in the U.S. have adopted an aggressive enforcement strategy, including camping bans. This approach was reinforced
by the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which allows local governments to fine and remove people for sleeping in public.
To understand these trends, it's helpful to look at historical approaches. The IGS LoCAL Digitization Project from Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) Library has a digital archive of documents from California jurisdictions like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Mateo County that show how they've addressed homelessness over the years. These range from comprehensive care plans to reports focused on specific populations, like homeless youth.
Navigating the Collection
The California Local Government Documents digitization project is a valuable resource for researchers. To effectively search this collection, try these strategies at the Internet Archive’scollection page:Use Flexible Terminology: Agencies may use different terms.
Use Common Keywords: Search with terms often used in public and media discourse.
Search by Jurisdiction: Look for documents by city, county, or state agency.
Verify the Publishing Agency: Confirm the source to understand the level of government it represents.
Keywords: “Homelessness”
Keywords: “Low-income housing”
Keywords: “Homeless persons”
Keywords: “Housing element”