After an almost two-month summer hiatus, the Santa Clarita City Council reconvened Tuesday to discuss homelessness and a proposed housing development in Saugus.

To open the meeting, the council honored three residents and two Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies who intervened when a suicidal man was standing on the ledge of a Canyon Country bridge.

“This is what makes our Santa Clarita community so special—citizens that are willing to risk their lives for a perfect stranger— and without any hesitation come to the aid of our deputies,” said Shirley Miller, spokesperson for the Santa Clarita Station.

The council also honored the William S. Hart U14 girls softball team, which recently placed in a national competition.

Following the recognition, city council members took public input on the Bouquet Canyon Project, a new housing development that would bring 461 new residential units to the Saugus community.

The council approved a contract for the compiling of an environmental impact report (EIR), which is expected to be completed in about 12 months, according to City Manager Ken Striplin.

After the EIR is completed, the housing project is set to be discussed by the planning commission and the city council, Striplin said.

See Related: New Bouquet Canyon Housing Development To Be Discussed By Santa Clarita City Council

The Santa Clarita City Council also received a presentation on proposals to address the growing level of homelessness in Santa Clarita.

The city currently has 331 homeless individuals accounted for based on the 2017 annual Los Angeles County Homeless Count.

This represents a 5 percent increase from the 2016 count. And while this figure may seem low, officials stated that the city is struggling with those individuals that are considered “hidden” homeless residents, according to the draft plan.

The “hidden” homeless population includes homeless college students or families sleeping in their cars, homeless family members that are couch surfing, or families “doubling up” in residences, said city staff.

Local school districts, businesses, COC and other service providers have voiced concerns over the increasing number of “hidden” individuals, saying that their populations may not be included in the annual count.

“In fact, one public school district in the city reported that they have over 300 homeless students in their school district alone,” reads the report.

See Related: Santa Clarita City Council To Discuss Homelessness

The plan details areas of “greatest need,” where stakeholders discussed the gaps in services available to the homeless and residents at-risk for homelessness.

The needs included a year-round emergency shelter, affordable housing options, enhancing available addiction and mental health services, a more accurate homeless count, information sharing and centralized leadership.

“Every day in the United States, families and individuals who have never been homeless lose their housing and are left with no other alternatives than to enter a shelter or find themselves on the streets,” reads the plan.

The full draft of the Community Plan to Address Homelessness can be found here.

The council is now set to direct a community task force of stakeholders to implement the plan and work with community stakeholders, according to the agenda.

The Santa Clarita City Council adjourned the meeting by taking time to honor Los Angeles County fire captain, Wayne Habell, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound earlier this month.

Capt. Habell served at Station 73 in Newhall and was a 13-year veteran with the LACoFD.

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