HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2017-033WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2017_184
CLEARANCES
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Office
Agenda Date
Assi gned to:
Originator:
5/26/2017
5/30/2017
Council
Division Head:
Dept. Head:
Prosecutor.
7
Purchasing /Budget:
Executive:
TITLE OF DOCUMENT.
Res. Regarding homeless youth
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Should Clerk schedule a hearing ? ( ) Yes ( X ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Requested Date:
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public
hearing, you must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate.
Be clear in explaining the intent of the action.)
Resolution expressing support for efforts to reduce homelessness by investing in vocational programs for homeless youth and requesting the county
Executive provide financial support for a pilot project to create opportunities for low- barrier employment for homeless youth.
COMMITTEE ACTION:
COUNCIL ACTION:
5/30/2017: Approved 7 -0, Resolution 2017 -033
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Related County Contract #:
Related File Numbers:
Ordinance or Resolution
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Number: Res. 2017 -033
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing
on the County's website at: www.co.whatcom.wa.us /council. i
1 PROPOSED BY: BROWNE, BUCHANAN & DONOVAN
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3 INTRODUCTION DATE:
4
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6 RESOLUTION NO. 2017 -033
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8 EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS BY INVESTING
9 IN VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS YOUTH AND REQUESTING THE
10 COUNTY EXECUTIVE PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR A PILOT PROJECT TO
11 CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW- BARRIER EMPLOYMENT FOR HOMELESS YOUTH
12
13 WHEREAS, the 2016 Whatcom County Point in Time Count reported 15 per cent of
14 the homeless population were between the ages of 15 and 24; and
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16 WHEREAS, poverty and unemployment were the most commonly reported causes of
17 homelessness; and
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19 WHEREAS, in Washington State, the unemployment rate among youth ages 16 to
20 24 is 12.2 per cent, compared with 5.2 per cent for all age groups; and
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22 WHEREAS, homeless youth generally have no work experience, uncompleted
23 education (due to housing instability), and lack basic life skills such as money management
24 and job searching; and
`�.,
26 WHEREAS, without intervention, homeless youth often transition into the chronically
27 homeless because of these undeveloped skills and other effects of experiencing
28 homelessness while still developing emotionally and physiologically; and
29
30 WHEREAS, studies have found that the chronic homeless can cost taxpayers tens of
31 thousands of dollars a year per individual — stemming from medical needs, interaction with
32 the criminal justice system, emergency shelter, and other public services; and
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34 WHEREAS, a small amount spent over a few months on early intervention and job
35 skills training for youth to prevent them from ending up as chronically homeless adults will
36 over time reduce the much larger amount the community typically spends over a period of
37 years on services related to chronic adult homelessness; and
38
39 WHEREAS, any program that reduces the number of homeless youth that graduate
40 into becoming homeless adults will result in a reduction of the number of chronic homeless
41 adults within our community; and
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43 WHEREAS, the National Network for Youth has identified low- barrier vocational
44 programming as an effective strategy for ending youth homelessness and thereby reducing
45 the population entering chronic homelessness; and
46
47 WHEREAS, Whatcom County has an abundance of seasonal, low- barrier
48 employment because of its large agricultural sector; and
49
50 WHEREAS, homeless youth service providers in Whatcom County work to reduce
51 barriers to employment and support skill building through vocation; and
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WHEREAS, with the appropriate support, service providers can connect homeless
youth with employment in agriculture and other sectors to build the basic skills necessary
for successful long -term employment and thereby break the cycle of homelessness.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council recognizes
the importance of disrupting the transition of homeless youth into the chronically homeless
by providing low- barrier employment opportunities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council respectfully requests
the County Executive allocate $25,000 to be invested in a pilot project to facilitate homeless
youth employment.
ADOPTED this 30th day of May
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Dana Irowrr�i oft Council
APPROVED AS TO�EQRM,
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
2017
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
B rry Buc jai , Council Chair