ITEM 6-P

Council Meeting:  September 8, 1992

TO:        Mayor and City Council

FROM:      City Staff

SUBJECT:   Recommendation  to  Authorize  Submittal  of  Proposed
           Policy   Amendment   Relating   to   Homelessness  for
           Consideration at the National League of Cities  Annual
           Congress of Cities

INTRODUCTION

This report requests authorization by City Council  to  submit  a
proposed  policy amendment to the National League of Cities (NLC)
for  consideration  at  the  National  League  of  Cities  Annual
Congress  of  Cities  on  November  28  - December 2, 1992 in New
Orleans, Louisiana.

DISCUSSION

Prior to the annual meeting of the  National  League  of  Cities,
member  cities  are  invited  to  submit  proposed amendments for
possible adoption by the Congress of  Cities.   Those  amendments
which  are  adopted  typically  specify city positions on federal
roles and responsibilities, policy  goals,  purposes,  principles
and/or  program  characteristics  within  the broad subject areas
covered by existing  policy.   If  adopted,  the  amendments  are
incorporated into the NLC's National Municipal Policy which stays
in effect until amended or rescinded.   The  specific  guidelines
for separate resolutions are as follows:

    a.   They  shall--in  their  subject  matter--concern  shared
         policy  and  program  needs,  issues  or problems of the
         nation's municipal governments;

    b.   They shall be concerned with federal  government  policy
         and,  therefore,  be  addressed  to  federal  government
         policy-makers;

    c.   They shall neither contradict nor duplicate existing NLC
         policy  statements,  except  where  they are intended to
         amend or repeal such policy;

    d.   They shall not compromise the independence or  integrity
         of  individual  member  cities  to  pursue any course of
         action adopted by  appropriate  municipal  policy-making
         bodies;

    e.   They shall not  compromise  the  budget-making,  program
         determining  or  priority setting role of the NLC Board;
         and

    f.   Non-continuing separate resolutions shall be  considered
         only  when  they  do not conflict with or contradict the
         existing National Municipal Policy of the NLC.

The  proposed  policy  amendment  which  is  recommended  to   be
submitted  to  the National League of Cities Congress is attached
for Council review.   It  pertains  to  the  national  issues  of
homelessness.

This issue  represents  only  one  of  the  City's  major  policy
concerns  but  is  certainly  among the most significant national
issues which impact Santa Monica.

BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT

There is no budget or fiscal impact associated  with  this  staff
report.

RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that the City Council authorize  the  submittal
of  the attached proposed policy amendment to the National League
of Cities for consideration at the Annual Congress of Cities.

Prepared by:  Barbara Stinchfield, Community and Neighborhood
                Services Manager


                       PROPOSED RESOLUTION

  DECLARATION OF A "STATE OF EMERGENCY" REGARDING HOMELESSNESS

WHEREAS, communities  nationwide  are  experiencing  a   dramatic
         increase  in  the  numbers  of homeless persons residing
         within their boundaries; and

WHEREAS, these increasing numbers of homeless  persons  place  an
         enormous  burden  on  the  ability  of  cities and local
         networks of  non-profit  agencies  to  create  effective
         responses; and

WHEREAS, the  Federal  Government  has   in   the   last   decade
         substantially  decreased  its  funding commitment in the
         areas of employment and training, housing and  community
         development, health and human services; and

WHEREAS, since 1980, Budget Authority  for  all  federal  housing
         assistance programs has been cut significantly;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE  IT  RESOLVED  that  the  National  League  of
    Cities    declares  a "national state of emergency" regarding
    homelessness; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National League of  Cities  urges
    the President and all members of Congress to work quickly and
    cooperatively to respond to this national emergency with  the
    same  sense  of  urgency  accorded other natural and economic
    disasters facing the nation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National League of Cities  demand
    from  all  candidates for Federal office, their positions and
    plans for action regarding homelessness; and

BE IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED  that  the  National  League  of  Cities
    supports  the reauthorization and full funding of the Stewart
    B. McKinney Homeless  Assistance  Act,  including  amendments
    that  give  localities  increased flexibility to use McKinney
    Act funds to respond to the  unique  and  changing  needs  of
    their communities; and

BE IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED  that  the  National  League  of  Cities
    supports   all   legislation   that   restores   and  further
    strengthens the Federal Government's role in  providing  much
    needed   affordable   housing,  health,  and  employment  and
    training  programs  that   address   the   root   causes   of
    homelessness.

Submitted by: City of Santa Monica

Date Received:

Referred to: