The City of Beverly Hills has been awarded the City Livability Award from the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) for its Ambassador Program. The national award was presented to Mayor John Mirisch at the USCM annual meeting in Indianapolis this past Saturday.

The Livability Award honors city governments for developing programs that enhance the quality of life in urban areas. Out of a pool of 150 applicants, the City of Beverly Hills received first place honors in the small city category (max 100,000 population). The Ambassador Program was developed by the Human Relations Commission and is administered and monitored by the Human Services Division.

“The City of Beverly Hills is thrilled to receive the 2016 City Livability Award and we thank the U.S. Conference of Mayors for such a distinguished honor,” said Beverly Hills Mayor John Mirisch.

“I am especially pleased that more communities will learn about the good work we are doing in Beverly Hills to provide for the needs of people who live, work and visit in Beverly Hills, including our homeless population,” he added.

The Ambassador Program is proffered as a solution to a common conundrum faced by cities across the nation – how to strategically coordinate local government, private and non-profit entities to address homelessness and improve community quality of life.

Beverly Hills’ ambassador team provides services seven days a week, 21 hours a day in the business triangle and on South Beverly Drive. The team focuses on hospitality and safety services, and coordinates closely with the City’s Changing Lives and Sharing Places (CLASP) homeless outreach team. Referrals from Ambassadors helps the CLASP team quickly link homeless individuals with the local and regional social services available to address their needs.

“Our Ambassadors’ consistent presence and knowledge of those in need has allowed for efficient coordination of outreach and services to the homeless, producing a 50 percent decrease in the number of people found in our annual homeless count this past year,” Mayor Mirisch explained. “The Ambassadors’ presence on our City streets has led to a reduction in aggressive panhandling and provides a sense of safety and enhanced quality of life.”