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ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW DRAFT The homeless include persons living on the street, in emergency shelters, and in parks or public buildings. Those at risk of becoming homeless include persons staying with families and friends because they have no place to go, those on General Assistance or Transitional Aid for Needy Families, as well as those threatened with eviction or the loss of a housing subsidy. The inherent nature of homelessness makes it difficult to estimate the number of homeless persons in San Leandro. Moreover, year 2000 Census data on homelessness has not been released. In 1990, the Census reported 18 persons in emergency shelter in San Leandro and no persons visible on the street. However, the Census bureau acknowledged that this data was not a complete count of the homeless population. In 1997, the Alameda Countywide Homeless Continuum of Care Plan included an estimate of the homeless population in the County, broken down into north, mid, south, and east subareas. The Plan estimated 9,400 homeless persons countywide, including 1,500 in the "mid -County" communities of San Leandro, Hayward, Ashland, San Lorenzo, and Castro Valley. San Leandro represents 20 percent of the population of the mid -County area. Pro -rating the estimate of 1,500 persons suggests a homeless population of about 300 in the City. Survey data in the Continuum of Care Plan (on the cities in which homeless people have resided during the past six years) suggests that a majority of the mid -County homeless population identified Hayward as their last city of residence. A survey of 156 homeless persons in the County indicated that 3 had become homeless while living in San Leandro, and 2 had resided in San Leandro during the past year. Assuming this was a representative sample, the data suggest that the homeless population in San Leandro is somewhat lower than 300. In any case, the number exceeds the capacity of available resources for the homeless. In 1997, there were 834 shelter beds and 898 units (or beds) of transitional housing in Alameda County. This total included 39 beds in San Leandro, 30 of which were located at the San Leandro Shelter for Women and Children. Approximately 250 households a year are assisted by the San Leandro Shelter. About 20 percent of these households require continuing assistance after leaving the shelter. Occupancy is limited to 36 days. The other 9 beds identified in the Continuum Plan are provided through Sister Me Home. The City provides funding support for these facilities through its CDBG program. Additional resources for the homeless are located in nearby communities. These include the Human Outreach Men's Shelter in Hayward (18 beds), the Emergency Shelter Program (in Hayward) for women and children (40 beds), and the South County Homeless Project in Hayward for mentally disabled men and women (40 beds). The latter project was partially funded with CDBG funds from San Leandro. San Leandro has no dedicated transitional housing projects.' However, the City was a partner in the recent development of the 51-unit Bessie Coleman Transitional Housing development on the former Alameda Naval Air Station and a 28-unit transitional housing development near the Castro Valley BART Station. Additional transitional housing developments exist in other communities. These include Shelter 3 Transitional housing is defined as housing designed to assist residents in making the transition from homelessness to permanent housing. Occupancy typically varies from 6 months to 2 years. Housing is typically provided with on -site social services such as job training, financial planning assistance, child care, and mental health counseling. HOUSING ELEMENT 3-19 SAN LEANDRO GENERAL PLAN q3l EW