DATE: November 3, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Update on the state of the Office of Housing and Homelessness
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Receive update on the state of the Office of Housing and Homelessness; and
2. Authorize the Office of Housing and Homelessness to assume operational management for the identified homelessness and housing programs and associated positions to the County Administrative Office from the Departments of Behavioral Health and Public Works and Planning; and
3. Direct staff to return to your Board within 12 months for an update on the Office of Housing and Homelessness.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will authorize the Office of Housing and Homelessness (OHH), to assume operational control of the identified housing and homelessness programs and associated positions permanently from the Departments of Behavioral Health and Public Works and Planning (Departments) to the County Administrative Office (CAO) and to return to your Board within 12 months with an update on the state of 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 housing and homelessness programs would remain with the Departments. The creation of the OHH by your Board was 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 housing and remaining 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 housing and homelessness programs in the Departments. The OHH would return to your Board at a later date wi...
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