REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 28, 2023
FROM
DIANA ATKESON, Deputy Executive Officer, Community Revitalization
SUBJECT
Title
Homeless Initiatives Spending Plan
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve the County Homeless Initiatives Spending Plan supporting the 2022 Homeless Strategic Action Plan.
(Presenter: Diana Atkeson, Deputy Executive Officer, 382-3983)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). In total, it is recommended the County leverage an estimated $72,700,000 in federal, state, and County resources in support of the proposed Homeless Initiatives Spending Plan. This includes a recommended $15,000,000 allocation of Discretionary General Funding for a new County Housing Development Grant to support external County stakeholder’s homeless housing projects. Budget adjustments are not requested at this time but will be included in future Board of Supervisors (Board) action or recommended budgets, as needed.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Successfully addressing homelessness within the County will be predicated on effectively leveraging the significant funding available to develop a multi-faceted approach in close collaboration with external stakeholders. The proposed Homeless Initiatives Spending Plan seeks to allocate approximately $72,700,000 in available federal, state, and Discretionary General Fund resources towards six strategic initiatives.
|
Initiative |
Funding* |
Proposed Source |
Total* |
|
Pacific Village Phase II Expansion |
$14,700,000 |
State Community Care Expansion (CCE) |
$29,700,000 |
|
|
$15,000,000 |
County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) |
|
|
Kern Street Adult Residential Facility Expansion |
$2,500,000 |
Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 3 (HHAP 3) |
$2,500,000 |
|
Project Roomkey Continuance |
$3,800,000 |
County ARPA for Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funds (LATCF) |
$4,400,000 |
|
|
$600,000 |
HHAP 3 |
|
|
Social Work Action Group (SWAG) |
$3,400,000 |
County ARPA |
$3,400,000 |
|
County Housing Development Grant |
$15,000,000 |
One-time Discretionary Funding |
$20,000,000 |
|
|
$5,000,000 |
ARPA for LATCF |
|
|
HOME - American Rescue Plan (ARP) |
$12,700,000 |
HOME - ARP |
$12,700,000 |
|
Total* |
$72,700,000 |
*The figures in the table above have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand.
These initiatives support the County’s Homeless Strategic Framework and the 2022 Homeless Strategic Action Plan adopted by the Board on October 26, 2021 (Item No. 93) addressing the root causes of homelessness by increasing the supply of housing opportunities for at-risk populations.
The Pacific Village Phase II expansion is one of several collective impact approaches to address homelessness in the County. Each of the treatment and housing typologies at Pacific Village Phase II will provide individuals with semi-private or private housing rather than congregate dormitory beds. Private housing provides a stable, dignified living situation and can be tailored to fit the specialized needs of individuals who require high levels of social and behavioral health supports needed to accept and/or maintain housing. It is anticipated that Pacific Village will increase the number of individuals connected with housing and supportive services by 698 to approximately 726 annually.
The Kern Street Adult Residential Facility expansion will convert an existing Adult Residential Facility to a 30-bed facility that provides rooms, meals, supervision, distribution of medicine, and personal care assistance to individuals with chronic behavioral health issues and who are unable to live by themselves. The HHAP 3 grant funding provides local jurisdictions with flexible funding to continue efforts to end and prevent homelessness in their communities.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the County initiated agreements under the State funded Project Roomkey program with numerous hotels and motels to house homeless individuals on a temporary basis. This funding will end March 31, 2023, and there is a need to prevent this population returning to homelessness due to age and high medical risk factors. The Project Roomkey Continuance initiative will provide for the continued temporary housing support of 80-90 beds and the necessary components of housing, food, laundry services and security for an additional year as individuals transition from temporary to permanent housing.
SWAG performs Street Outreach, Engagement, Housing Navigation and Case Management services to individuals and families who are homeless by addressing the whole-person care approach. SWAG works in collaboration with the Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach and Proactive Enforcement (HOPE) team, Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) and community-based providers to provide services. In partnership with SWAG, the County engaged with 165 homeless individuals since December 2021, with 63 (38%) of those individuals being sheltered. A recommendation to extend the current contract with SWAG for an additional twenty-four (24) months will be presented for Board consideration on March 28, 2023.
The County Housing Development Grant initiative will have staff explore the development of a $20,000,000 County grant program that can be offered to third parties (primarily partner cities) to support homeless housing projects, with a focus on the construction of new units, that provide additional housing beds (which may include emergency shelters). The goal of this program would be to create and operate additional low-cost housing units for homeless and displaced individuals. This program is in the conceptual stage and specific program details and budget adjustments will be brought forward for Board approval at a future date.
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME-ARP Program allocated the County $12,700,000 to assist with addressing the region’s housing needs and provision of homeless services. As a requirement of the agreement, the County must provide an Allocation Plan by March 31, 2023, detailing for which categories the County intends to use HOME-ARP funding. A public hearing before the Board on the use of these funds is scheduled for March 28, 2023.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on March 2, 2023; Finance (Christopher Lange, Administrative Analyst, 386-8393 on March 20, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on March 2, 2023.