Title
Supervisors Parlin and Thomas, as the Board’s representatives on El Dorado Opportunity Knocks (EDOK), requesting the Board’s approval to send a comment letter on the draft 5-year Countywide Homeless Strategic Plan.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On February 22, 2022, the Board of Supervisors received a presentation by El Dorado Opportunity Knocks (EDOK) on the 5-year Countywide Homeless Strategic Plan, which was developed by gathering local data, stakeholder and community engagement as well as identifying gaps in services with those experiencing homelessness. The Plan identified that there are roughly 600 people experiencing homelessness in El Dorado County and approximately 80% of those individuals are unsheltered, according to the most recent Point-In-Time Count. The Strategic Plan, entitled “Collectively Building: A Community Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in El Dorado”, seeks to build a system-wide approach to direct the strategies and investments toward a common goal of preventing and ending homelessness in El Dorado County.
The presentation on February 22, 2022 was the first opportunity the Board of Supervisors had to both review the Plan as well as discuss it among themselves and with the community. Recognizing that homelessness impacts the entire community, this issue is critically important in both meeting the needs of unhoused individuals as well as the larger community which remains extremely concerned about issues such as fire danger and impacts to businesses and the local economy.
On February 15, 2022, District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin and District 3 Supervisor Wendy Thomas were elected to represent El Dorado County on the board of El Dorado Opportunity Knocks (EDOK). As representatives, they felt it was important to document the collective voice of the Board of Supervisors as well as the community who engaged during the February 22 presentation. The attached letter, which represents an overview and summary of that discussion, including strategic priorities, is presented to the Board of Supervisors for their consideration and approval before submitting it to the board of El Dorado Opportunity Knocks (EDOK).
ALTERNATIVES
The Board of Supervisors could choose not to submit a comment letter on the draft 5-year Countywide Homeless Strategic Plan.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
1) 13-1132, November 5, 2013, CAO update on homeless sheltering locations
2) 17-0741, Version 1, August 15, 2017, presentation on Opportunity Knocks and the CoC
3) 17-0741, Version 2, December 5, 2017, a presentation on HUD’s CoC’s, and the return on investment of existing CoC’s in other counties
4) 18-1522, October 16, 2018, California Emergency Solutions and Housing 2018 (CESH 2018)
5) 18-1762, December 4, 2018, Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) Application
6) 19-0181, February 12, 2019, Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) acceptance
7) 19-0553, April 23, 2019, California Emergency Solutions and Housing 2019 (CESH 2019)
8) 19-1208, September 6, 2019, A Joint Meeting of the Cities of Placerville and South Lake Tahoe, and the County of El Dorado, on Homelessness: Presentation overview and update of El Dorado Opportunity Knocks and Launch of countywide strategic plan
9) 19-1317, October 22, 2019, Funding Agreement 4244 with The Center for Common Concerns, Inc. (DBA HomeBase), for a Strategic Planning Document and first-year Implementation Plan to the Opportunity Knocks Continuum of Care
10) 20-0161, February 11, 2020, HHAP Round 1 Grant
11) 20-0235, March 10, 2020, MOU with Barton Healthcare System, Inc., to provide financial support towards strategic and technical assistance, and guidance to the Opportunity Knocks Continuum of Care
12) 20-0490, April 14, 2020, CAO and HHSA sign Joint Policy Statement on Homelessness that documents a commitment between the County and the City of Placerville and provides direction to staff from both organizations in regards to homelessness activities
13) 20-1163, November 10, 2020, a presentation of the status of the Housing and Homelessness Program in the County of El Dorado.
14) 21-1000, July 13, 2021, Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Round 2 Program (Agreement 21-HHAP-00019) and HHAP Round 2 Program (Agreement 21-HHAP-00020)
15) 21-1366, August 31, 2021, Presentation and update on HHSA Homeless Programs and El Dorado Opportunity Knocks CoC programs
16) 21-1720, November 16, 2021, HHAP Round 3 funding
17) 22-0181, January 25, 2022, CAO recommending the Board discuss the current El Dorado Opportunity Knocks (EDOK) Board application period and identify who should serve as the County's representative on EDOK for a two-year term, effective February 4, 2022
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Chief Administrative Office
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Obtain Chair’s signature on letter and forward to the EDOK Board.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities, Public Safety and Good Governance
CONTACT
Supervisors Parlin & Thomas