Title
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board receive a presentation and update regarding the El Dorado Opportunity Knocks Homeless Continuum of Care Program (EDOK) and related HHSA homeless grants, program outcomes, and upcoming opportunities, including an update on the steps remaining to finalize the EDOK Homeless Strategic Plan.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The El Dorado Opportunity Knocks Continuum of Care (EDOK) is responsible for coordinating the community’s policies, strategies, and activities geared toward ending homelessness for households served. As the Continuum of Care (CoC) is a federal program implemented on the local level, there are a number of unfunded requirements that must be maintained in order to apply for and gain access to both federal and state grant funding. These requirements include but are not limited to: establishing and maintaining a formal governance and structure, Coordinated Entry System operations and planning (countywide intake into programming), annual community applications and grant reporting to receive funding, designating and operating the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and strategic planning to improve system performance. Additionally, throughout the year, CoC’s are responsible for submitting a number of ongoing reports to both the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the State, including: Housing Inventory Count, Point in Time Count (PIT), System Performance Measure Reports, Annual Homeless Assessment Report, Grant Inventory Worksheet, and Consolidated Applications for funds on behalf of the community. Due to the depth of responsibilities that fall upon the CoC, as well as the attention and expertise needed to produce an effective system, the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) was designated as both the Collaborative Applicant and Administrative Entity, on behalf of EDOK, to ensure that grant funding can be leveraged to benefit El Dorado County residents. Since the time of these designations, EDOK and HHSA have significantly increased federal and state grant funding and have had continued successes through these programs.
HHSA, as well as EDOK representatives and consultants, will provide the Board with an overview of grants received since 2017, program outcomes and improvements on a year-by-year basis, upcoming grant opportunities to continue adding new programs and tools to support residents, and an update on the final upcoming steps to complete the homeless 5-Year strategic plan that EDOK had paused the development of in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to receive the presentation and update.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
12/05/2017; Item #17-0741 - CoC presentation and update
09/06/2019; Item #19-1208 - EDOK presentation and update
11/10/20; Item #20-1163 - Homelessness Program update
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
El Dorado Opportunity Knocks Continuum of Care (EDOK)
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact related to this item. The information referenced during the presentation reflects grant funding received through both the Federal and State Governments.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities: Achieve sufficient and attainable housing for all El Dorado County residents; Implement solutions to address and reduce homelessness in El Dorado County; and Encourage and support policy and resources in the pursuit of local, state and federal, private and public funding opportunities to support and promote healthy communities.
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director, Health and Human Services Agency