|
DATE: |
January 28, 2025 |
01 |
SUBJECT
Title
AUTHORIZE ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDING FOR THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM, HOUSING NAVIGATION AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM PLUS HOUSING SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM AND ADOPT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF ALLOCATION AWARDS (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency, Child and Family Well-Being Transitional Housing Program (THP) is comprised of the Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus) and the Transitional Housing Placement Program for Non-Minor Dependents (THPP NMD). Both programs improve outcomes for youth entering adulthood from the foster care system. Over the past two decades, the California legislature has made strides in addressing the transitional age youth housing crisis for those involved in the child welfare and probation systems. In 2001, California Assembly Bill 427 established the THP-Plus, which provides affordable housing and supportive services for aged out youth ages 18 to 24 years for up to 24 months as they transition out of foster care. Between 2001 and 2012, there have been numerous State laws, allowing for funding of THP that support youth in identifying and preventing homelessness. Most recently, in 2022, California Senate Bill 154 extended transitional housing services up to age 25 and provided 36 months of support for all youth involved.
Today’s actions request the San Diego County Board of Supervisors authorize the application for and acceptance of funding for the THP, Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program, and Transitional Housing Program-Plus Housing Supplement Program, adopt a resolution authorizing application for and acceptance of allocation awards, and apply for future funding for transitional age youth housing.
Today’s item supports the County vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all, specifically those communities and populations in San Diego County that have been historically left behind, as well as our ongoing commitment to the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities. This will be accomplished by enhancing the coordination of upstream prevention strategies and services between community resources and the child welfare system to ensure transitional age youth receive services and supports to secure and maintain a safe environment. Additionally, this item aligns with the County Framework for Ending Homelessness and the Housing Blueprint, promoting prevention and housing stability through equitable access to safe, affordable housing for current and former foster youth, helping to address youth homelessness.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Authorize the application for and acceptance of $1,545,738 in Transitional Housing Program funds from the California Department of Housing and Community Development for the anticipated funding period of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 through FY 2026-27 to reduce youth homelessness and authorize the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Health and Human Services Agency, to execute all required allocation award documents, including all amendments thereto.
2. Authorize the application for and acceptance of $413,630 in Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program funds from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, for the anticipated funding period of FY 2024-25 through FY 2026-27 to help youth secure and maintain housing, and authorize the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Health and Human Services Agency, to execute all required allocation award documents, including all amendments thereto.
3. Authorize the application for and acceptance of $1,032,773 in Transitional Housing Program-Plus Housing Supplement Program funds from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, for the anticipated funding period of FY 2024-25 through FY 2026-27 to help meet increasing housing needs and cost of rent demands, and authorize the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Health and Human Services Agency, to execute all required allocation award documents, including all amendments thereto.
4. Adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TO AUTHORIZE AN APPLICATION FOR, AND ACCEPTANCE OF, THE COUNTY ALLOCATION AWARD UNDER ROUND 6 OF THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM, ROUND 3 OF THE HOUSING NAVIGATION AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, AND ROUND 4 OF THE THP - PLUS HOUSING SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM.
5. Authorize the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Health and Human Services Agency or designee, to apply for future funding, including grants, supplemental funding and other funding to support transitional housing for youth and support youth secure and maintain housing and avoid homelessness.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency, Child and Family Well- Being (CFWB) Transitional Housing Program (THP), inclusive of Transitional Housing Program- Plus (THP-Plus) and Transitional Housing Placement Program for Non-Minor Dependents (THPP NMD), provides up to 36 cumulative months of subsidized housing for current and former foster youth ages 18-25 years. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24, 389 youth were served under the THP and 75% maintained and exited to safe and sustainable housing. In any given month, there are approximately 329 unduplicated youth participating in the THP. The goal of the THP is for participants and subgroups within to include Black, Indigenous, People of Color, native Spanish speakers, and LGBTQ+ youth, to secure safe and stable housing by program graduation, and make progress towards life goals, including educational attainment or employment achievement, physical and mental well-being, and connections to community. The ethnicity breakdown for the 389 youth served under the THP in FY 2023-24 includes: 27% African American; 1.5% Asian; 18% Caucasian; 38.5% Hispanic; 0.5% Native American; 0.5% Other Ethnicities/Unknown; and 14% Bi or Multi-Racial.
CFWB partners with nonprofit entities to provide housing opportunities and services in the six County service regions to ensure youth in underserved communities have greater opportunities and access to safe and affordable housing. CFWB engages with program participants and providers to collect data and evaluate service outcomes to ensure positive outcomes for youth transitioning to adulthood and help them maintain safe and stable housing. Participating youth complete surveys quarterly, which identify areas within the program that are both beneficial and need improvement. The surveys provide information on the effectiveness and satisfaction of the program service delivery to ensure equitable service delivery and programming. Recent data show that in FY 2023-24, approximately 83% of youth surveyed within all available THPs reported being satisfied with the program services.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Today’s actions support the County of San Diego Sustainability Goal #2 of providing just and equitable access by expanding the availability of affordable housing to transitional age youth. Investments in concrete supports, such as housing, reduces economic and personal hardships on youth and provides the supports needed for youth to build resilience, independence, and long-term skills, which will lead to a reduction in youth homelessness and recurrence of generational maltreatment, and associated costs.
FISCAL IMPACT
Recommendation 1: Authorize the Application for and Acceptance of Transitional Housing Program Funds
Funds for this request are partially included in the Fiscal Years (FY) 2024-26 Operational Plan in the Health and Human Services Agency. If approved, this request will result in no costs and revenue in FY 2024-25, estimated costs and revenue of $772,869 in FY 2025-26 and $772,869 in FY 2026-27, for a total costs and revenue of $1,545,738 from FY 2024-25 through FY 2026-27 for the Transitional Housing Program. The funding source is Transitional Housing Program allocation of State General Funds. Funds for subsequent years will be included in future operational plans. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
Recommendation 2: Authorize the Application for and Acceptance of Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program Funds
Funds for this request are included in the FY 2024-26 Operational Plan in the Health and Human Services Agency. If approved, this request will result in no costs and revenue in FY 2024-25, estimated costs and revenue of $206,815 in FY 2025-26 and $206,815 in FY 2026-27, for total costs and revenue of $413,630 from FY 2024-25 through FY 2026-27 for the Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program. The funding source is Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program allocation of State General Funds. Funds for subsequent years will be incorporated into future operational plans. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
Recommendation 3: Authorize the Application for and Acceptance of Transitional Housing Program- Plus Housing Supplement Funds
Funds for this request are not included in the FY 2024-26 Operational Plan in the Health and Human Services Agency. If approved, this request will result in no costs and revenue in FY 2024-25 and estimated costs and revenue of $1,032,773 in FY 2025-26 for the Transitional Housing Program-Plus. The funding source is the Transitional Housing Program-Plus Housing Supplement Program allocation of State General Funds. Funds for subsequent years will be included in future operational plans. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
This item was presented as an informational item to the Child and Family Strengthening Advisory Board at its regular meeting on January 24, 2025.
BACKGROUND
In 2001, California Assembly Bill (AB) 427 was signed into law and established the Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus) to end homelessness for foster and juvenile justice youth. The program provided affordable housing and supportive services to former foster youth and out-of- home juvenile justice youth, ages 18 to 24 years for up to 24 months as they transition out of care. In 2010, AB 12 was signed into law and created California’s Extended Foster Care (EFC) Program, allowing eligible youth to remain in foster care until age 21. AB 12 also created the Transitional Housing Placement Program for Non-Minor Dependents (THPP NMD) to provide additional foster care placement options for non-minor dependents ages 18 to 21 years participating in EFC. In 2018, the Housing Navigators Program, now known as Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP), was created to provide housing navigator supports to help young adults ages 18 through 24 secure housing, with priority given to foster youth.
Additionally, in 2021, AB 153 and AB 164 implemented the Transitional Housing Program-Plus Housing Supplement Program (THPSUP) allocation, which significantly increased the housing assistance rate to meet increasing housing needs and cost of rent demands. In 2022, California Senate Bill (SB) 154 extended transitional housing services up to age 25 and provided 36 months of support for all youth involved, thus allowing youth access to the program for an additional year. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) has demonstrated a commitment to preventing youth homelessness by approving numerous rounds of allocation funding for the Transitional Housing Program (THP).
Recommendations #1 and #3: Authorize the Application for and Acceptance of Transitional Housing Program (THP) and Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus) Housing Supplement Program (THPSUP) Funds
On June 27, 2019, Governor Newsom signed SB 80, which provides funding to help reduce homelessness among foster care youth. To date, there have been five rounds of THP funding made available to counties. On January 23, 2024 (3), the Board authorized the application for and acceptance of the fifth round of allocations in the amount of $1,575,090 in THP funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 and adopted a resolution.
This fifth round of THP funding continued and expanded resources to young adults in the program with a higher risk of housing disruption and homelessness to include youth who are pregnant and/or parenting; youth with mental and behavioral health needs; and youth involved or overcoming substance use. The resources include, but are not limited to, intensifying integrated coordination of prioritized services and linkages to community resources to address specific and complex needs by pooling the resources and allowing contractors to apply for additional funds per youth to meet their individual needs. This could include items, such as specialized therapies or treatments to support at risk youth maintain stable housing. In FY 2023-24, 389 youth were served under the THP and 75% maintained and exited to safe and sustainable housing over the course of the fiscal year. In October 2024, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) informed the County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency, Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) that they would be receiving a sixth round of allocation of $1,545,738 in THP funds for FY 2024-25.
Moreover, the THPSUP, administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), makes supplemental funding available to up to 11 counties if the fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the county is one of the 11 most expensive in the state. San Diego County meets this criteria as a qualifying county to receive HCD supplemental funding. To date, there have been three rounds of allocations made available to counties.
Since 2022, CFWB has received three rounds of THSUP funding, totaling $3,113,115. In October 2024, CDSS informed CFWB they would be receiving a fourth round of $1,032,773 in THPSUP funds for FY 2024-25. The fourth allocation of funding will allow for a rate at $3,710.00 per youth, per month, prorated on a daily basis. As of September 30, 2024, 151 of the 230 available placements were occupied. Of the providers currently receiving the increased rate, there has been a 35% increase in the number of youth placed in safe and stable housing. Approximately 30 youth remain on the waitlist for housing, for reasons including, but not limited to, not following up with contractors or housing availability not aligning with work or school locations. Contractors routinely review the waitlist and actively reach out to youth to offer housing opportunities. It is estimated that more available housing assistance can be utilized with the increase in rate afforded by the THPSUP.
Today’s actions request the Board authorize the application for and acceptance of $1,545,738 in THP and $1,032,773 in THPSUP funding from the HCD, for the anticipated funding period of FY 2024-25 and to adopt a resolution to authorize the application for and acceptance of the County allocation award.
Recommendation #2: Authorize the Application for and Acceptance of Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP) Funds
On September 27, 2019, Governor Newsom signed SB 109 to help reduce homelessness among foster care youth. SB 109 provides $5 million in funding to county child welfare agencies for the support of housing navigators to help young adults ages 18 to 24 secure and maintain housing, with priority given to young adults in the foster care system. CFWB received the initial two rounds of allocations (FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22) under the Housing Navigators Program totaling $425,130, which was renamed the Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP) in July 2022. Since 2022, CFWB has received two rounds of HNMP funding, totaling $940,025. In October 2024, CFWB was informed by CDSS that they would be receiving a third allocation in HNMP funds in the amount of $413,630 for FY 2024-25. The proposed total FY 2024-25 HNMP funding will continue to support housing navigator activities for youth who meet the funding age requirement (18 to 24 years old) in the various CFWB THPs. Housing navigator activities include, but are not limited to:
• Identifying and addressing any needs and/or barriers which may lead to potential disruption in housing;
• Providing support and resources to youth experiencing transition in housing or who are experiencing potential housing disruption to minimize risk of homelessness; and
• Assisting in connecting youth with services, resources, and supports to enable easier access to housing and promote housing stability.
Since the program’s inception in March 2021 through June 2024, housing navigation services have been provided to 139 youth. The program has successfully helped participants secure stable housing, with many maintaining it for six months or longer, while also developing self-sufficiency skills. Youth benefit from a range of support services, including personalized case management, assistance in finding affordable housing, connections to education and employment opportunities, and training in independent living skills, significantly improving housing retention rates.
Today’s actions request the Board to authorize the application for and acceptance of funding for the THP, Housing Navigation Maintenance Program, and Transitional Housing Program-Plus Housing Supplement Program, adopt a resolution authorizing application and acceptance of allocation awards, and apply for future funding for transitional age youth housing Additionally, today’s actions support the Housing Blueprint, a broad policy document approved by the Board on August 27, 2024 (14), structured around five essential policy goals known as the 5 Ps, focused on addressing the root causes of the housing crisis. This program supports the Blueprint’s policy goals to Promote Equity, Inclusion, and Sustainability and Produce Housing for All by promoting prevention and housing stability, ensuring equitable access to safe, affordable housing for current and former foster youth, and working to reduce youth homelessness.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the County of San Diego 2025-2030 Strategic Plan initiatives of Sustainability (Economy and Resiliency), Equity (Housing and Economic Opportunity), and Community (Engagement, Quality of Life, Communications, and Partnership) as well as the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe and thriving communities. This is accomplished by providing equitable opportunities for transitional age youth to receive services and supports to secure and maintain a safe environment, advance their goal of self-sufficiency, and prevent homelessness.
Respectfully submitted,
ebony n. shelton
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TO AUTHORIZE AN APPLICATION FOR, AND ACCEPTANCE OF, THE COUNTY ALLOCATION AWARD UNDER ROUND 6 OF THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM, ROUND 3 OF THE HOUSING NAVIGATION AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, AND ROUND 4 OF THE THP - PLUS HOUSING SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM