Title
Chief Administrative Office and Health & Human Services Agency recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the attached 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. (Est. Time: 15 Min.)
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The County of El Dorado and the City of Placerville are committed to working collaboratively to address the issue of homelessness on the West Slope of the County. To that end, the parties propose to execute the attached Policy Statement identifying resources and potential locations to address the issues surrounding the homeless community. The Placerville City Council will be considering approval of this joint policy statement at their regular meeting on April 14, 2020.
In response to the homelessness crisis in California, the State has provided several grants to Continuum of Care (CoC) organizations and counties related to reducing or eliminating homelessness. A chart of funding available for the El Dorado County CoC is included in the Attachment B. Following is a summary of the recent grants made available to the El Dorado County CoC:
2018:
1) California Emergency Solutions & Housing (CESH 2018) for $474,717. This funding has been obligated for, the 2019 Point in Time (PIT) count and analysis through a contract with Applied Survey Research; Coordinated Entry Services through a contract with Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless; and development of a homeless strategic plan through a contract with HomeBase.
2) Housing Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) program for $1,448,324. This funding is currently obligated for transitional age youth support through contracts with Lilliput, Whole Person Learning, and Tahoe Youth and Family Services; and obligated for rental assistance and short-term housing through a contract with El Dorado County Probation Department. Additionally, the amount set aside for the purchase or renovation and operation of a shelter is approximately $850,000
2019:
1) California Emergency Solutions & Housing (CESH 2019) for $277,237. This is obligated for emergency housing interventions, additional coordinated entry staffing and case management for the West Slope, as well as flexible housing subsidies.
In 2019 the State also announced the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant, which provides funding for homelessness through both the CoC and the County. This funding opportunity provides $772,117 to the El Dorado County Continuum of Care and $668,990 to the County of El Dorado. This funding can be used on evidence-based solutions that address and prevent homelessness, including rental assistance, landlord incentives, delivery of permanent housing solutions, prevention and shelter diversion to permanent housing, and navigation centers or emergency shelters based on demonstrated need. Planning for specific priorities for this funding will be considered based on outcomes from the 5-year homelessness strategic plan, which is currently under development.
The City of Placerville will be considering approving this joint policy statement as well at their City Council meeting on April 14, 2020.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decide not to approve the policy statement.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
18-1522 10/16/18 CESH 2018 Grant
19-1762 12/4/18 HEAP Grant
19-0181 2/12/19 HEAP Grant Budget Transfer
19-0553 4/23/19 CESH 2019 Grant
20-0161 2/11/20 HHAP Grant
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
Don Ashton, Chief Administrative Officer
Don Semon, Director, Health & Human Services