Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Jei Africa, Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Subject: Agreement with Samaritan House for Transitional Housing Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Samaritan House for transitional housing services, for the term of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $339,158.
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BACKGROUND:
Samaritan House provides a full range of transitional residential services that includes comprehensive, personalized case management and services; counseling; Redi-clinic care; meals; job search assistance; financial coaching and assistance; transportation assistance; permanent housing placement; and various community gatherings to encourage socializing and to build clients’ self-esteem.
Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) manages the placements in this and other residential service facilities within the total budgeted amount for mental health residential services. BHRS has contracted with Samaritan House since 2007.
DISCUSSION:
Samaritan House is a shelter that offers emergency and short-term housing options for clients coping with co-occurring illnesses who are not in alcohol and drug recovery programs. Many of the shelter beds in this County require prospective residents to be clean, sober, and in good behavior. Samaritan House is the only known shelter in the County that provides “wet” housing for individuals under the influence of alcohol or drugs and has a drug and alcohol program on site.
Residential treatment programs like Samaritan House have established expertise in serving clients with a serious mental illness. There continues to be a shortage of facilities in San Mateo County that specialize in residential services for clients with seriously mental illness, leading BHRS to consider contracts with any and all qualified providers. These Housing Services and Related Supports are exempt from the competitive procurement process under the Administrative Memorandum B-1.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form and is on the Continuing Resolution.
It is anticipated that at least 35% of all admissions will be discharged to stable (permanent or transitional) housing.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
|
Percentage of clients discharged to stable (permanent or transitional) housing |
35% 12 clients |
35% 12 clients |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
This agreement advances our goals of supporting individuals with severe mental illness who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. By combining shelter placement with behavioral health case management, services provided through this agreement offer a cost-effective, community-based alternative to acute institutional care, helping clients stabilize and pursue long-term housing. This partnership reduces barriers to care and supports sustainable recovery. Recent data underscores the need: in 2022, 17.9% of County residents reported mental or emotional challenges, up from 10.8% in 2019, and homelessness rose to 3.6%, more than doubling since 2013. Samaritan House plays a vital role in addressing these growing needs by providing person-centered, culturally, and trauma-informed support for the County’s most vulnerable residents.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028. The maximum amount of the agreement is $339,158 for the three-year term. Of that amount, $112,949 is included in the BHRS 2025-26 Recommended Budget. It is anticipated that 100% will be funded by Mental Health Service Act funds. Similar arrangements will be made for future years.