HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04112006 - D.2 2
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS "-
Contra
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FROM: Supervisors Mark DeSaulnier and John Gioia �`, lla,;�a.'r ;4 Costa
DATE: April 11, 2006 °°sr:; �oUK County
SUBJECT: Long-Term Planning For Continued Operations Of Programs That Provide An
Emergency System Of Care For Homeless Residents Of Contra Costa County
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
1. ACCEPT report from Contra Costa Health Services Homeless Program a 2-year interim plan
to fund operations for the following programs:
Family shelters
Single adult shelters
Outreach teams
Other
2. DIRECT the Chair of the Board and the Chair of the Family and Human Services Committee
of the Board of Supervisors to convene a scoping group to assess the long-term needs of
the homeless population, how to sustain programs that serve the population, researching
best practices for governance, and assessing the impact of homelessness on local
resources.
3. DIRECT the Chair of the Board to send an invitation to participate on the scoping workgroup
to the Mayor's Conference, Public Managers Association, Police Chiefs Association,
Homeless Interjursidictional, Interdepartmental Work Group members (HIJIDWG), Members
of the Interfaith Councils and Coalitions, and community residents.
4. APPROVE the allocation of funds in an amount up to $50,000 —from an appropriate County
budget source, or sources, to be determined by the Board —to support the discovery and
planning work of the scoping group.
FISCAL IMPACT:
To be determined.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES IGNATURE:
-- ---- --------------------------------- - ----- -------------------------- -----------------------
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF B ARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
WAie,9=
ACTION OF BOARD ON / APPROVE AS RECOMME D OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
K� AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE
AYES: NOES: SHOWN.
ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
ATTESTED
CONTACT: Lavonna Martin 5-6140 JOHN CULLEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
CC: County Administrator
Health Services Administration
Health Services—Contracts and Grants
Health Services—Homeless Program
BY � (/`.>`'—tel ,DEPUTY
Page 2
BACKGROUND:
In June of 2004 the Board of Supervisors approved Ending Homelessness in Ten Years: A
Countywide Plan for the Communities of Contra Costa County. It was hailed as the first of its
kind in the State of California.
On October 1, 2004 a County-wide Homeless Forum was convened by the nonprofit and faith-
based sector, with full participation by the county and the cities, to explore the implementation
activity required. The inaugural meeting of the Homeless Inter-Jurisdictional Inter-
Departmental Work Group (HIJIDWG) was held at the Forum.
HIJIDWG is the group charged in the Plan with implementing its provisions. Members were
appointed by: each Supervisor (staff representatives attend); staff from our Congressional
delegation; County Department appointees; federal department liaison; City mayors, council
members and departments; non-profit service providers; foundations and businesses; faith
groups; the Continuum of Care Board; and former consumers of homeless services.
HIJIDWG met monthly since October 2004, either as the full group or in subcommittee and
working groups, focused on implementation activity. HIJIDWG has developed implementation
action for nearly 1/3rd of the 10 Year Plan's priorities, strategies, and action steps. This critical
work has explored the existing housing, service and treatment programs responding to
homelessness within the County. HIJIDWG has considered mainstream and homeless
targeted funding sources, and been presented with considerable issues concerning the funding
gap. HIJIDWG has made policy decisions, frequently in conjunction with the Continuum of
Care Board in co-convened sessions.
Under the auspices of HIJIDWG, the 10 Year Plan is emerging a series of"signature
strategies" to end homelessness. These include:
• Providing integrated services to access and retain housing, including by transforming
the four multi-service centers in the county into Basic Housing Assistance Centers.
• Providing Integrated, wraparound services to facilitate long-term residential stability,
including by supporting Project Coming Home and the HOPE and HHISN teams.
• Helping Homeless People re-gain housing as soon as possible, using a Housing Now
philosophy for everyone. This includes transforming the county's shelters into interim
housing facilities that are service-enriched and not time limited.
• Bringing Housing and Services Resources to our communities, including by prioritizing
the production of new units of permanent supportive housing, and linking efforts with
the Housing Trust Fund and inclusionary zoning groups.
• Conducting outreach to link chronically homeless people with housing, treatment and
services.
• Preventing Homelessness from occurring in the first place.
HIJIDWG has considered how each signature strategy will be implemented, what the program
components will be, what is in place that requires transformation, and what action is needed to
complete the change, and what resources are needed to accomplish all that is needed.
In late Spring 2004, HIJIDWG reviewed the problem of funding support for the existing shelter
system, and services previously sustained by HUD. A series of presentations were made in
outside venues, seeking resources and support for a new way of doing business. This year,
when these issues arose again, HIJIDWG members and staff decided to establish a Finance
Committee to review all existing funding sources for homeless programs and housing, and to
create a system-wide financing strategy. In addition, there was wide support for an even more
formal operating structure, such as a Joint Powers Authority between the County and each
City, that would include a mechanism for committing financial support to implement the 10
Year Plan.
Addendum to D.2
April 11, 2006
On this day the Board considered accepting a report from the Health Services Department
on a two-year interim plan to fund operation of homeless shelters, and directing the
Chair, Board of Supervisors, and Chair, Family and Human Services Committee to
convene a stakeholders group to study needs of the homeless population and how best to
address them.
Chair Gioia asked for public comment on this item. There were no speakers.
Chair Gioia introduced the report, saying it addresses an immediate crisis and furthers the
goals of the 2004 ten-year Countywide Plan to end homelessness.
Cynthia Belon, Homeless Program Director, presented the report. Ms. Belon noted the
importance of having all the stakeholders at the table, including the cities.
Supervisor Uilkema said she would rather the $50,000 be spent to provide services rather
than for planning. She asked if there is a way to do the planning without spending the
$50,000, which could then be used to provide services for the homeless.
Chair Gioia stipulated that there is an immediate need to address these issues rather than
face the possibility of closing the Homeless Shelters every year.
Supervisor DeSaulnier said the ten-year plan is a good planning document and in regard
to the $50,000, he suggested he would ask for any allocation of funds to come back to the
Board. He pointed out the County is not mandated to provide these services but have
historically done it. He said there is a potential for foundation money, and additionally
that he would be more than happy to direct surplus for this year's budget from his office
budget to this program.
Supervisor Glover pointed out funds are necessary to make a planning process happen
but agreed he would like to see it come back to the Board to identify how the dollars will
be spent and to make sure the County has a sustainability plan in place.
Supervisor Piepho said she would like to support Supervisor Uilkema's remarks that
$50,000 may be better spent on direct services or service delivery to the homeless as
opposed to more studies or review,but said she does recognize the need for these two
efforts to come together. Supervisor Piepho offered to assist in taking it off the table
every year for budget discussions and elaborated this issue should be addressed in a
comprehensive way not short-term but long term.
By a unanimous vote with none absent, the Board of Supervisors took the following
action:
1
ACCEPTED report from the Health Services Department on a two-year interim
plan to fund operation for Family Shelters, Single. Adult Shelters, Outreach
Teams, and Other shelters; DIRECTED the Chair, Board of Supervisors, and
Chair, Family and Human Services Committee to convene a scoping group to
assess the long-term needs of the homeless population, how to sustain programs
that serve the population, researching best practices for governance, and assessing
the impact of homelessness on local resources; DIRECTED the Chair of the
Board to send an invitation to participate on the scoping workgroup to the
Mayor's Conference, Public Managers Association, Police Chiefs. Association,
Homeless Interjurisdictional, Interdepartmental Work Group members
(HIJIDWG), Members of the Interfaith Councils and Coalitions, and community
resident; and DIRECTED the Sub-Committee and staff to report back to the
Board with a work plan regarding potential funding sources.
After the vote was taken, Supervisor Piepho suggested a press release be issued to allay
some of the public concerns and provide some accurate information to the communities
on the County's proactive stance. .
2