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Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 014-2022 to add one (1.0) Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Social Worker Supervisor I/II allocation and delete one (1.0) FTE vacant Housing Program Coordinator allocation in the Health and Human Services Agency.
FUNDING: 43% Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) and 57% Housing and Homeless Services Program grant funding.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On June 22, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 Personnel Allocation Resolution #064-2021, thereafter amended September 28, 2021 by Resolution 124-2021 which reflects HHSA’s personnel allocations for FY 2021-22.
The Community Services Division of the El Dorado County (EDC) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recently created a new Housing and Homelessness Services unit to establish a more robust continuum of services for unhoused and precariously housed individuals and families in El Dorado County. This new unit brings together the EDC Public Housing Authority (PHA) with Homelessness Services and programs administered through HHSA, to create a comprehensive system of seamless referrals and service delivery for housing needs.
The timing for the creation of the Housing and Homelessness Services unit is, in part, due to recent additional funding and resources for housing and homelessness in El Dorado County. In October of 2020, HHSA received Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funds through the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). PLHA is a permanent funding stream created by the Building Homes and Jobs Act (SB 2, 2017), intended to “assist persons who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including, but not limited to supportive/case management services that allow people to obtain and retain housing.” In addition to providing direct services to clients, El Dorado County Health and Human Services was able to hire two new Social Workers to focus on homeless services. Additionally, the PHA received 70 new Emergency Housing Vouchers through the Federal Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The two Social Workers were hired in August 2021 and are counseling and assisting individuals and families with complex health and other needs, coordinating resources, assisting with housing searches, facilitating rapid rehousing, and referring those eligible for housing assistance vouchers to the PHA.
The PHA provides safe and affordable housing for qualified residents through housing assistance vouchers that pay a portion of the rent directly to the landlord. PHA staff currently includes a Housing Program Coordinator, Housing Program Specialists and a Program Assistant, whose focus is the issuance of housing assistance vouchers to individuals and families, conducting housing quality inspections, landlord engagement, coordination of services with housing partner agencies, etc. Several months ago, the PHA’s Housing Program Coordinator located in the Placerville office left her position in the program, creating a vacancy that has not been filled through multiple recruiting efforts. During this time, the Program Manager of the Housing and Homelessness Services assessed staffing needs for both the PHA and the Housing and Homelessness Services unit as a whole.
Due to the failed recruitments, coupled with the staffing needs assessment conducted by the Program Manager, HHSA is subsequently requesting to fill the vacant Housing Program Coordinator position in Placerville with a Social Worker Supervisor position. Working directly with the Human Resources Department, HHSA has developed the attached Personnel Allocation Resolution which was approved by County Counsel on December 15, 2021.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decline to adopt and authorize the Chair to sign the attached Personnel Allocation, thereby retaining the current allocations.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
June 7, 2021, File ID: 21-0922; Agenda No. 1 “CAO Budget Hearing”
June 22, 2021, File ID: 21-0994; Agenda No. 4 “Personnel Allocation”
September 28, 2021, File ID: 21-1519; Agenda No. 2 “CAO Budget Adoption”
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Human Resources and County Counsel review and approval.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no Net County Cost associated with change in classifications. The Social Worker Supervisor allocation will cost at most $43,300 more a year than the Housing Program Coordinator allocation. The position will be funded with a combination of grant funding for housing and homeless services and PHA funding.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain signature of Chair on attached Resolution 014-2022.
2) Provide one (1) certified Resolution to HHSA-Contracts at 3057 Briw Rd and one (1) certified Resolution to Heather Andersen in Human Resources at 330 Fair Lane.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities goal of achieving sufficient and attainable housing for all El Dorado County residents.
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director, Health and Human Services Agency