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<br /> -- DRAFT --
<br />2025-2029 ConPlan & FY 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan
<br />Page 64 of 90
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<br />Programs like Building Futures’ outreach services, the Downtown Safety Ambassador Program, and
<br />partnerships with regional organizations ensure that residents can access wellness checks, referrals, and
<br />emergency assistance.
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<br />Food Security. The City also supports food security through efforts such as the Mercy Brown Bag program,
<br />the Spectrum Senior Lunch program, collaborations with Fresh Approach and 18 Reasons, and hygiene
<br />services via April Showers.
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<br />Victims of Domestic Violence and Veterans. The Alameda County Family Justice Center provides resources
<br />and supportive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and exploitation, child abuse, elder
<br />and dependent adult abuse, and human trafficking, including counseling, case management, self-
<br />sufficiency program, childcare, and public health clinic, among other resources. Additionally, the Family
<br />Violence Law Center, which provides services at the county level, offers programs for crisis intervention,
<br />legal services, and youth programs. The Domestic Violence Outreach and Mobile Unit, a 24/7-hour
<br />program by the Family Violence Law Center in collaboration with Building Futures and Safe Alternatives
<br />to Violent Environments (SAVE), offers intensive case management to domestic violence survivors.
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<br />The City Public Library also hosts a Veteran's Resource Center that offers assistance through trained
<br />volunteers. These volunteers connect veterans and their families to benefits and resources, including
<br />library materials, transitioning from military to civilian life, job searching, coping with change, accessing
<br />veterans’ benefits, and managing post-traumatic stress disorders. Veterans can also receive services
<br />through the Alameda County Veterans Service Office (CVSO), which helps with information regarding the
<br />US Department of Veterans Affairs, benefits across different programs, and claims for benefits.
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<br />However, despite these regional efforts, the City continues to face significant gaps in service delivery. The
<br />2017 Human Services Gap Analysis identified critical areas of unmet need that persist today, including
<br />insufficient communication about available services, limited access to culturally competent programs, and
<br />inadequate resources for specific vulnerable populations such as seniors, immigrants, and individuals with
<br />disabilities. Sheltered housing remains insufficient, with demand outpacing the capacity of programs like
<br />the Winter Warming Shelter and the San Leandro Homeless Shelter. This scarcity results in extended
<br />waiting lists, leaving many unhoused individuals without immediate support. The City’s Human Services
<br />Gap Analysis outlined a series of policy recommendations to guide the Human Services Department in
<br />addressing these challenges. These recommendations include articulating and communicating strategic
<br />priorities, improving awareness of regional services, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and increasing
<br />opportunities for diverse community engagement in planning and decision-making. Other priorities
<br />include creating formal food security programs, leveraging partnerships like the San Leandro Homeless
<br />Compact, and addressing the specific needs of unique populations such as grandparents raising
<br />grandchildren and people with disabilities. To address the ongoing gaps in the service delivery system, the
<br />City is focused on strengthening collaboration with multi-sector partners and increasing community
<br />engagement. Cross-departmental efforts, modeled after the San Leandro Homeless Compact, aim to
<br />integrate human services planning across all City operations. Additionally, the City recognizes the
<br />importance of adapting to federal funding uncertainties by convening stakeholders to strategize
<br />sustainable program development.
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<br />Overall, while the City has demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing homelessness and
<br />supporting special needs populations, further action is needed to realize the vision articulated in the 2017
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