DATE: November 18, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Creation of the Office of Housing and Homelessness
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Authorize the County Administrative Officer to create the Office of Housing and Homelessness within the County Administrative Office consisting of the assignment of operational management for the identified homelessness programs and associated positions to the County Administrative Office from the Department of Social Services; and
2. Direct staff to return to your Board within 12 months for an update on the Office of Housing and Homelessness.
REPORT
Approval of the first recommended action will authorize the creation of the Office of Housing and Homelessness (OHH), consisting of the transfer of operational control of the identified homelessness programs and associated positions permanently from the Department of Social Services (DSS) to the County Administrative Office (CAO). Approval of the second recommended action will direct staff to return to your Board within 12 months with an update on the OHH. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If your Board were not to approve the recommended actions, the transfer of operational management for the identified homelessness programs would remain with DSS and the role of the Collaborative Applicant and Management Entity would likely be reconsidered by the Fresno-Madera Continuum of Care (FMCoC). The development of the OHH is intended to centralize housing and homelessness efforts and responsibilities through three phases. Not approving the recommended actions would prevent the CAO from centralizing the County's homelessness efforts which have historically been the responsibility of several County departments.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommendation transfers the operational management of the identified DSS homelessness pro...
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