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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04121988 - MR.2 ' { � BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM; C mtrd Phil Batchelor, County Administrator DATE: ( O * April 12, 1988 v "'� �` SUBJECT; Update on Homelessness Services SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) a BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION This is to provide an update to your Board of Supervisors on the progress in providing services to the homeless in our .County. Housing Crisis Hotline - This service will continue to be provided to the homeless. The Contra Costa Crisis and Suicide Intervention Service will continue to respond to telephone inquiries and will refer callers to on-call Social Services Department intake worker supervisors. During the period of the Winter Shelter Program, Contra Costa Crisis and Suicide Intervention Service volunteers not only answered the call but placed the caller in a shelter and followed up with necessary documentation including voucher payments. This additional service placed a burden on the volunteers and will be ended by Contra Costa Crisis and Suicide Intervention Service within the next two weeks to allow for a smooth transition of the program to the Social Service Department. Volunteers of America Drop-In - Center - This service has to be discontinued- due to an agreement between the Volunteers of America and the City of Richmond. Case workers have been counselling clients as to alternatives available to them. This service was able to be provided during the winter months because of the Board' s commitment to funding. Transitional Housing - The Volunteers of America and Housing Alliance of Contra Costa County have joined to establish an eight unit transitional housing facility in Richmond. $414,000 in Federal HUD funds were approved in January for this project over. a five-year period. These family units will serve up to four persons each and will have available budgeting classes, apartment search techniques, nutrition, child care exchange, and so forth. SHELTER, Inc. Pias acquired an eight unit facility in Pittsburg at a cost of about $300,000 with funding blended from several sources. A HUD grant is being pursued to provide programs such as those at the Richmond site. Discovery .House is being expanded by six beds for homeless substanceabusers. n CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator, and James A. Rydingsword, Director of the Social Service Department , commented on various components of this report.. THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY. cc : County Administrator Director, Social Service Dept . Health Services Director Auditor-Controller -2- The Community Development Department has a consultant who is available to assist any community agency in preparing funding applications. Health Services - The Public Health Division has received $168,000 with which two outreach teams will provide health care to the homeless. One team is operating in West County and the team for Central and East County is imminent. Services brought to various non-profit agencies serving the homeless include mental health, substance abuse, health care, and information and referral. This is a unique program which we are proud to provide - taking health services to the streets to reach the homeless where ever they may be. Homeless Coordination - The Social Services Director has created a position of Homeless Coordinator to bring the much needed coordination of homeless programs into County government. Furthermore, the Department is providing staff services to the Homeless Management Team beginning Wednesday to strengthen and support that group created by your Board at Supervisor McPeak' s request. Funding - All funds will reach the agencies to which you designated them next week. The necessary appropriation adjustments and contracts are on your April 19 agenda for approval. It should be noted that all programs and services are closely monitored at the weekly Homeless Management Team meetings and that no programs targeted for matching funds were in jeopardy because of this process. As a matter of fact, you may recall just last week you reallocated funds from an earlier earmarked project to the Housing Crisis Fund at the request of the Homeless Management Team as they saw priorities changing. The Team will continue to monitor programs and advise your Board as to the needs itsees for the Homeless.