DATE: June 4, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Jean M. Rousseau, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Homelessness Priorities 2019
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt Resolution establishing the Homelessness Priorities for Calendar Year 2019, which will serve as the basis to address homelessness countywide.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will adopt priorities to reduce homelessness in the County. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may amend the list; however, the 15 incorporated cities and the Directors of the Departments of Behavioral Health, Public Health, and Social Services compiled the priorities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. County services are provided to homeless individuals through various resources. Since FY 2016-17, the Board has allocated $100,000 annually to offset the costs associated with homeless cleanup activities.
DISCUSSION:
On November 6, 2018, the Board received a presentation from the Fresno Housing Authority regarding a report entitled A Framework for Action authored by Barbara Poppe and Associates, which provided strategic recommendations to end homelessness in Fresno County; however, the report lacked input from the County’s rural communities. The Board also directed the County Administrative Officer and designated Supervisor Nathan Magsig to participate as members of the Street2Home (S2H) Fresno County Planning Committee toward the development of a comprehensive plan to address homelessness, with input from the Directors of the Departments of Behavioral Health, Public Health, and Social Services.
On December 4, 2018, the Board adopted Resolution No. 18-0421 declaring a shelter crisis pursuant to Senate Bill 850 (Chapter 48, Statutes of 2018) and Government Code, section 8698.2 as required by the California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council for the Homeless Emergency Aid Program grant funding distributed to the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care. The related agreements are pending Department of Social Services review, as the Administrative Entity, and are expected to be brought before the Board in June 2019. The shelter crisis resolution noted that the County had taken multiple efforts at the local level to combat homelessness and was developing a homeless plan.
As the S2H Fresno County Planning Committee works toward the establishment of the S2H Board, the County has met with cities and used the input provided by city representatives and the County’s Departments, to create a list of priorities to strategically address homelessness countywide.
Approval of the recommended action will adopt the County’s Homelessness Priorities for Calendar Year 2019, which address jurisdictional boundaries, transportation, outreach, housing, data, direct services, and the preservation of public health and public safety. The recommended priorities, as outlined below, are intended to be a comprehensive list (County and 15 incorporated cities), which is a living document, updated as necessary based on data-driven outcomes or at least once a calendar year. The 15 cities are Clovis, Coalinga, Firebaugh, Fowler, Fresno, Huron, Kerman, Kingsburg, Mendota, Orange Cove, Parlier, Reedley, San Joaquin, Sanger, and Selma.
1. Address jurisdictional overlaps (local, State, Federal, and private) collaboratively.
2. Increase transportation to outpatient programs and regular prenatal/medical care for pregnant and parenting women and children who are homeless.
3. Roving formalized coordinated community outreach and in conjunction with law enforcement, through Fresno Madera Continuum of Care or otherwise, to ensure that efforts are aligned and data is tracked.
4. Assistance to build housing stock, increasing safe overnight housing (24-48 hours), and a centralized approach to single room occupancy units.
5. Priority access to emergency housing for pregnant and parenting women and their children also families with children with significant medical issues as it is difficult to manage the continuum of care when the family is homeless.
6. Real time accurate number of shelter beds available and increase the number of non-faith based shelters.
7. Additional “wet” shelters that do not require the person to participate in a program, person can be high or drunk to use the facility and not be turned away.
8. Education regarding available services and shareable system to track linkages
9. Improved data on the homeless such as length of homelessness (acute vs chronic), cause of the homelessness, is it a family, individual, minor without family support.
10. A formalized assessment of housing and shelter needs in rural communities.
11. Strong centralized structure for homeless funding and service decisions and expanded distribution of funding opportunities.
12. Comprehensive case management for homeless clients and improved access to primary healthcare and medication for chronic diseases; perhaps partnering with Federally Qualified Health Clinic or UC San Francisco.
13. Increased substance use disorder services and mental health services throughout county.
14. Enforce ordinances that address hazardous or unsanitary conditions, which constitute fire, health, and/or safety risks.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The priorities were shared and reviewed by representatives of the 15 incorporated cities; it is anticipated the cities will adopt the priorities through city council action.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #8, December 4, 2018
BAI #5, November 6, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa