REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 22, 2023
FROM
GEORGINA YOSHIOKA, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Non-Financial Memorandum of Understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino for the Mainstream Voucher Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Memorandum of Understanding No. 20-863, with the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino, to provide housing subsidies and support services for the Mainstream Voucher Program, updating standard contract language and extending the term for an additional two years, for the total contract period of September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2025.
(Presenter: Georgina Yoshioka, Director, 252-5142)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is non-financial. The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) provides support services as an in-kind service match for housing subsidies through the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino’s (HACSB) Mainstream Voucher Program (Program).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DBH provides mental health and/or substance use disorder services to San Bernardino County residents who are experiencing severe mental illness and/or a substance use disorder. HACSB provides decent and affordable housing to low-income families and seniors within San Bernardino County.
In August 2020, HACSB received grant funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Program. A requirement of the grant is to have an in-kind service provider to provide supportive services to individuals and families participating in the Program. DBH has been providing these in-kind services since that time. The in-kind services include case management, employment assistance, housing/counseling, life skills, mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, and transportation for the individuals and families participating in the Program.
Housing subsidies for approximately 372 Mainstream Vouchers are available. HACSB will work with DBH and other service providers to identify eligible individuals and families for the Program. HACSB will administer the housing subsidies and corresponding family obligation requirements, while DBH will provide supportive services, such as mental health and substance use disorder services, and refer eligible households for assistance with housing subsidies and the application process. DBH will also provide services to Medi-Cal or Medi-Cal eligible individuals who meet medical necessity for Specialty Mental Health Services.
On August 25, 2020, (Item No. 15), the Board of Supervisors approved MOU No. 20-863 between HACSB and DBH to provide housing subsidies and support services for the Mainstream Voucher Program, for the period of September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2023, with an option to extend the contract for three years.
The recommended amendment will extend the contract to the standard 5-year period. The amendment will also allow HACSB to continue to provide housing subsidies and DBH to continue to provide in-kind supportive services to individuals and families in need. DBH is responsible for turning in a quarterly report to HACSB. HACSB will review, monitor, and evaluate program outcomes to ensure adherence to requirements of the grant.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Behavioral Health Contracts (Ellayna Hoatson, Contracts Supervisor, 388-0858) on July 17, 2023; County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 19, 2023; Finance (Christopher Lange, Administrative Analyst, 386-8393) on August 3, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on August 7, 2023.