The 30-60 Housing First Campaign in Eureka has come to an end, and more than 70 people have been housed since August.
A joint venture between the City of Eureka and County of Humboldt, the campaign was launched Aug. 8, with the goal of housing 30 local homeless people in 60 days.
The goal was achieved in the first 38 days. By the 60-day mark the total of people housed more than doubled including 73 adults and children.
“So many agencies have worked together to make this happen,” said Sally Hewitt, a senior program manager with the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). “It’s very encouraging.”
The 30-60 Housing First Campaign was a recommendation from Sacramento-based consulting firm Focus Strategies which specializes in helping communities use local data to develop a systems approach to reducing homelessness.
In March, the Eureka City Council and Humboldt County Board of Supervisors passed a joint resolution to collaborate on homeless issues and adopt the Housing First model, which prioritizes rapid placement and stabilization in permanent housing and does not have service participation requirements or preconditions such as sobriety or a minimum income threshold.
“The 30-60 campaign is a vital component of the overall success in reducing homelessness in the greater Eureka area,” said Eureka City Manager Greg Sparks.
Sparks and Hewitt said local landlords and property managers and staff from Arcata House Partnership, DHHS, the Mobile Intervention & Services Team, Betty Kwan Chinn Day Center, Betty Chinn’s Blue Angel Container Village, Eureka Police Department, Redwood Community Action Agency staff at the Multiple Assistance Center, as well as funds from Measure Z all contributed to the campaign’s success.
The 30-60 Housing First Campaign has ended, but Hewitt said the city and county partnership will continue its effort to house the homeless, with a focus on engaging landlords.
“We’ve established some great relationships with landlords and property managers,” Hewitt said. “If you have units for rent, we would still love to talk to you.”
Landlords looking for more information about the program can contact DHHS Program Manager Jaclyn Culleton at 707-441-5526.
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Additional data available in the PDF version of the release.