SUBJECT
Title
ACTION RELATED TO HOMELESS HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
On July 19, 2021, the Governor signed California Assembly Bill (AB) 140, authorizing the allocation of $1 billion in a third round of funding through the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) grant program. HHAP is a block grant program that provides local jurisdictions with flexible funding to continue efforts to end and prevent homelessness. The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) currently administers HHAP round one and two funding.
Under AB 140 (Health & Safety Code § 50218.6, et seq.) jurisdictions applying for HHAP round three (HHAP-3) grant funds are required to create a Local Homelessness Action Plan and present it at a regular meeting of the governing board and include opportunity for public comment. This is a new requirement for HHAP-3. In alignment with the County’s Framework on Ending Homelessness (Framework) that the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved on November 2, 2021 (4), the County HHSA, Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities began the development of the County’s Homelessness Solutions Prevention and Action Plan (Plan). The initial draft of the Plan will be submitted with the State application to meet the new HHAP-3 funding requirement.
On February 8, 2022, (14) the Board authorized the receipt of the initial disbursement of HHAP-3 funds. Today’s action requests the Board to approve acceptance of the final disbursement of HHAP-3 funds and to authorize the Agency Director, Health and Human Services Agency to execute agreements, execute certification forms, prepare, and execute all necessary documents for the submittal, regulatory processing, and implementation of the third round of HHAP grant funds; and authorize a competitive solicitation for Housing Our Youth services.
Today’s item supports the County’s vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all, specifically those communities and populations in San Diego County that have been historically disadvantaged and demonstrates ongoing commitment to the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities. This item also aligns and supports the Framework by ensuring our most vulnerable community members, including youth experiencing homelessness, have access to housing, care coordination, and connections to healthcare and workforce opportunities.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Authorize application for and acceptance of the final disbursement of the State of California Interagency Council on Homelessness Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention round three grant funding.
2. Authorize the Agency Director, Health and Human Services Agency, or designee, to execute agreements, execute certification forms, prepare, and execute all necessary documents for the submittal, regulatory processing, and implementation, and take any other actions necessary as required by the State of California for the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention round three grant funding.
3. In accordance with Section 401, Article XXIII of the County Administrative Code, authorize the Director of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting to issue a competitive solicitation for Housing Our Youth services and upon successful negotiations and determination of a fair and reasonable price, award contracts for an initial term of one year with up to four option years and six additional months if necessary; and to amend the contracts to reflect changes in program, funding or service requirements, subject to the availability of funds and the approval of the Agency Director, Health and Human Services Agency.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The We All Count Point-in-Time Count identifies the number of individuals living on the streets or in emergency shelters on one specific designated day of the year. In the 2020 We All Count Point-in-Time Count, 7,638 individuals were identified as living on the streets or in shelters throughout San Diego County. Of those who were unsheltered, 58% reported having a disability, which includes 37% of the population who reported having a mental health condition. A youth count was conducted, and 659 youth were counted, of those youth 41% reported experiencing homelessness for a year or longer. Unified under a County of One approach, the County of San Diego is dedicated to addressing the root causes of homelessness and providing preventative and supportive services to the most vulnerable residents. The Framework for Ending Homelessness (Framework) outlines the path towards building the capacity to advance the San Diego County of Board of Supervisors’ priority of addressing homelessness.
People of color are disproportionally impacted among those experiencing homelessness, with 27.2% identifying as Black or African American, roughly five times the proportion of African Americans in the region; 3.4% identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native, which is nearly three times the proportion in the region; 2.8% identifying as Asian and 28% identifying as Hispanic. Individuals at-risk of or experiencing homelessness, impacted residents, community partners and other key stakeholders were engaged during the development of the plans outlined in today’s actions, and their feedback was sought and incorporated.
Ensuring racial and social equity in all aspects of homelessness prevention and response is one of the key principles that guide the Framework and all items that fall under its strategic domains. Additionally, securing equitable housing, supports, and funding will assist those who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness throughout San Diego County. Therefore, it is anticipated that the recommended actions will provide needed housing and supports to individuals countywide, including youth and those who are disproportionality represented in the homeless system including, justice involved individuals and individuals with a range of health and social needs, as well as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). In general, the incidence of Black, Native Americans, and other persons of color experiencing homelessness mirrors the disparities found at the broader community levels.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 CAO Recommended Operational Plan in the Health and Human Services Agency. If approved, this will result in estimated costs and revenue of $7.0 million in Fiscal Year 2022-23 and costs and revenue of $5.8 million in FY 23-24 for a total of $12.8 million. The funding source is the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Program round three grant. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
On July 31, 2019, the Governor signed California Assembly Bill (AB) 101, authorizing the establishment of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program, which made $650 million available statewide for a range of purposes to address California’s homelessness crisis, including emergency shelters, navigation centers, rental assistance, operating subsidies, and other innovative housing solutions and services. On February 11, 2020 (8) and June 8, 2021 (6), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved acceptance of round one and round two HHAP funding for approximately $14.6 million. Additionally, on July 19, 2021, the Governor signed AB 140, which established the third round of HHAP funding (HHAP-3). The Board approved acceptance of the initial disbursement of HHAP-3 funds on February 8, 2022 (8).
Under AB 140 (Health & Safety Code § 50218.6, et seq.) jurisdictions applying for HHAP-3 grant funds are required to create a Local Homelessness Action Plan and present it at a regular meeting of the governing board and include opportunity for public comment. Each jurisdiction’s Local Homeless Action Plan shall include: (1) Landscape Analysis of Needs and Demographics; (2) Landscape Analysis of People Being Served; (3) Landscape Analysis of State, Federal and Local Funding; (4) Outcome Goals; and (5) Strategies to Achieve Outcome Goals (Attachment B).
The County of San Diego (County) identified the need for a strategic approach in addressing homelessness. In alignment with the County’s Framework for Ending Homelessness (Framework) that the Board approved on November 2, 2021 (4), the County HHSA, Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities (HSEC) began to develop the Homelessness Solutions Prevention and Action Plan (Plan). Homebase, a nationally recognized expert on system redesign, homelessness and capacity building was selected to assist with developing the Plan around the key components of the Framework. The initial draft of the Plan (Attachment A) will be submitted to meet the new HHAP-3 funding requirement. To build upon this initial draft, the consultant will continue to engage external partners and stakeholders to ensure community input is captured in the subsequent more comprehensive versions that are anticipated to be completed by Fall 2022.
Today’s action requests the Board to approve acceptance of the final disbursement of HHAP-3 grant funds and to authorize the Agency Director, Health and Human Services Agency; to execute all necessary documents for the submittal, regulatory processing, and implementation the third round of HHAP grant funds.
Utilization of HHAP-3 Funding
HHAP-3 funds will be used to fund a variety of programming aimed at reducing homelessness. Each of these efforts are discussed in greater detail below.
Housing Our Youth
The HHAP-3 grant funds include a statutory requirement for each applicant to spend at least 10% of the funding to address youth homelessness. In alignment with this requirement, the County has utilized HHAP round one and two to fund Housing Our Youth (HOY) to support homelessness prevention and intervention activities for youth and young adults.
HOY is a youth-centered, fully integrated care coordination program that was designed to provide youth experiencing homelessness with immediate housing and wraparound support grounded in positive youth development principles, with the goal of permanent housing placement. HOY services include housing, peer support, care coordination, service navigation, transportation, childcare, employment services, education assistance, tenant support, and other supportive services as needed to help youth remain stably housed and prepared for self-sufficiency.
The HOY program began serving youth and young adults in February 2021 with the goal of permanently housing a total of 100 youth and young adults. The program has demonstrated tremendous success by serving 267 youth and young adults, and permanently housing 108 youth and young adults as of March 2022, exceeding its two-year goal in just over a year. The initial two-year pilot program will end in November 2022.
In order to meet HHAP-3 funding requirements, today’s action requests the Board to authorize a competitive solicitation for HOY. If approved, this will allow continuation and expansion of HOY, which otherwise would end in November 2022.
Community Harm Reduction Team (C-HRT)
The County collaborated with the City of San Diego to deepen partnerships regarding the vital behavioral health support and shelter for people experiencing homelessness. Through this collaboration, the Community Harm Reduction Team (C-HRT) was identified as a critical effort to support with HHAP-3 funding. The C-HRT team was launched on December 15, 2021 and includes harm reduction focused outreach and engagement in the Midway and East Village areas of San Diego. The purpose is to connect individuals within San Diego, who are suffering from substance use conditions and co-occurring mental health issues and who are experiencing homelessness, to interim shelter options, case management, system navigation, permanent housing, and behavioral health services.
Community Harm Reduction Safe Haven (C-HRT Safe Haven)
C-HRT Safe Haven is part of the continuum of harm reduction strategy and includes the expansion of short-term and bridge housing through the addition of Safe Haven housing capacity. Safe Havens provide transitional housing designed around key harm reduction principles, including lowest barrier accessibility, variable lengths of stay, and navigation to permanent housing. This is a collaborative effort with City of San Diego in ongoing efforts to address homelessness and deepen partnerships regarding vital behavioral health support.
Department of General Services (DGS) Consultant - Evaluation of Potential Emergency Housing Sites
The County has retained a consultant familiar with the development of shelter sites to further evaluate each viable location. The consultant’s evaluation includes conducting due diligence on environmental, land use and preparation of project development plans for each potential shelter site.
This item supports the County’s vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all, specifically those communities and populations in San Diego County that have been historically disadvantaged and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities. This item also aligns and supports the Framework by ensuring our most vulnerable community members, including youth experiencing homelessness, have access to housing, care coordination, and connections to healthcare and workforce opportunities.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s actions support the County of San Diego’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan initiatives of Sustainability, Equity, and Community, by ensuring resiliency through adding capacity to respond to immediate needs for individuals and families, creating initiatives that reduce and eliminate poverty by promoting economic opportunity; creating programs that value health, and housing; and by improving the quality of life for individuals experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness through increased availability of services and resources.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN N. ROBBINS-MEYER
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - County of San Diego Homelessness Solutions and Prevention Action Plan: Phase One - Local Homeless Action Plan
Attachment B - Local Homeless Action Plan Data Tables