Title
Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board:
1) Approve a contribution of $20,000, from salary savings in the Board's budget, to the El Dorado Community Foundation for the use in the Opportunity Knocks process in decreasing homelessness in El Dorado County by funding a single point of entry for homeless individuals who need services; and
2) Make a determination that providing $20,000 for the use in a single point of entry for homeless individuals provides a public benefit to residents of El Dorado County.
FUNDING: General Fund (100% local).
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Approve the use of $20,000 of salary savings in the Board of Supervisors budget to the El Dorado Community Foundation for the use in the Opportunity Knocks process in decreasing homelessness in El Dorado County by funding a single point of entry for homeless individuals who need services. In addition, make a determination that providing $20,000 for the use in a single point of entry for homeless individuals provides a public benefit to residents of El Dorado County.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On October 26, 2016, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors received a presentation on homelessness in the County. During that presentation, the Board gave conceptual approval to give $20,000 to the organization known as Opportunity Knocks. The funding would go to help create a single point of entry for homeless individuals who need services. In addition, the single point of entry would help in the effort to compile data about who in our community is homeless. This data is required by the Federal government for the County to be eligible for some funding (e.g. CDBG, etc.). In addition, data can help the community know what services the homeless population needs by knowing who is homeless.
Over the last three years, what is known as Opportunity Knocks has met to talk about effectively fighting homelessness in El Dorado County. This process started with the different homeless service providers meeting and talking about service and coordinated response issues. The Center for Violence Free Relationships facilitated meetings designed to develop a unified vision for addressing homelessness. Matt Huckaby, from the Center for Violence Free Relationships, and Jana Pingle helped to facilitate a process called the Theory of Change, which help to map out the process to provide a coordinated effort to more effectively help the homeless population. Although, the group is looking for long-term solutions to decreasing homelessness in El Dorado County (e.g. identifying the homeless population, obtaining meaningful statistics to obtain Federal and foundation funds to help fund homeless programs, etc.), it has obtained grants in the last two years to help the homeless population (e.g. Housing Support Program grant of $475,000 and Emergency Solutions Grant $50,000). The collaboration that has occurred in the group was one of the main reason for obtaining the grants.
The Opportunity Knocks group is made up of diverse representatives and organizations from around El Dorado County. There are representatives from local nonprofit providers, faith-based community, homeless community, education, business sector and government agencies working together. These organizations are located on the western slope and in the Tahoe Basin.
Currently, the group has made presentations to the City of Placerville, Marshall Medical Center and community groups in an effort to fundraise. In the near future, the group hopes to present to the City of South Lake Tahoe, Barton Memorial Hospital and the El Dorado Mental Health Commission.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board can decide to not provide the $20,000 dollars for the coordinated entry effort. The County can continue with the same services that it provides to the homeless population. The outcome of continuing the same strategy is unknown.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Health and Human Services, Sheriff's Office and Probation.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
$20,000 of salary savings from Supervisor Veerkamp will be used to fund this request.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities and Public Safety
CONTACT
Don Ashton, Chief Administrative Officer
Creighton Avila, Principal Analyst