Special Notice / Hearing: None
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Lee Pullen, Director, Aging and Disability Services
Subject: Acceptance of Funding from California Department of Social Services and Agreement with Institute on Aging for Home Safe Program Services
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing:
A) Acceptance of Home Safe funding from the Budget Act of 2025 through California Department of Social Services for the Home Safe Program in the amount of $1,023,027, and
B) An agreement with Institute on Aging for Home Safe program services, for the term of January 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $650,000.
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BACKGROUND:
In 2018, AB 1811 established Home Safe, a locally administered, state-funded program that aims to prevent or address homelessness among seniors and adults with disabilities. Individuals are eligible for Home Safe if they meet the following criteria: 1) they are an Adult Protective Services (APS) client or in the APS intake process; 2) they are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness; and 3) they voluntarily agree to participate in the program.
Home Safe was administered by Aging and Disability Services (ADS) from January 2022 to October 2022, however, due to staffing needs, ADS sought a contractor to manage the program. ADS conducted a Request for Proposals process and, in October 2022, selected the Institute on Aging (IOA) to be its Home Safe service provider. The initial contract was in the amount of $700,000 through June 30, 2024. The second contract with IOA was for another $700,000 through June 30, 2025. ADS extended the program with an additional $175,000 from County General Funds through December 31, 2025, as approved during the annual fiscal year budget process. In November 2025, The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) announced new Home Safe funding from the Budget Act of 2025 available from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. San Mateo County received $1,023,027 for the program.
San Mateo County’s Home Safe program offers: intensive case management, housing stabilization, housing navigation, housing direct financial assistance, and connection to longer-term supports. It is intended to provide housing-related support to APS clients who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness as a direct result of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation. Clients whose immediate health and safety are threatened by homelessness qualify for Home Safe when their APS cases have been assigned for investigation, but their full intake has not yet been completed. IOA has three to five days to respond to a new Home Safe referral. Before that, APS may need to move clients to a hotel or pay their bills to get clients stabilized. Home Safe services are not contingent upon the outcome of the APS investigation. After an APS investigation is complete, clients may continue to qualify for Home Safe programs offering longer-term assistance from contracted partners and/or County programs.
DISCUSSION:
The new round of funding from CDSS will allow IOA to continue serving Home Safe clients. Key goals are (1) continuing to provide homelessness prevention and housing stabilization, (2) increasing outreach to underserved communities, and (3) solidifying collaboration with agencies that provide housing support or direct assistance, such as Health Plan of San Mateo and Center on Homelessness.
This agreement is coming to this Board at this time since the notice of funding allocation was received from the State in November 2025. The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
It is anticipated that approximately 72 older adults or adults with disabilities will receive housing support through the new CDSS funding for the Home Safe program.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2025-26 Estimated |
FY 2026-27 Projected |
|
Number of older adults or adults with disabilities who receive housing support through the Home Safe program |
36 older adults or adults with disabilities |
72 older adults or adults with disabilities |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Home Safe continues to demonstrate a significant positive impact on APS clients and individuals at risk of homelessness by strengthening housing stability, safety, and overall quality of life. Through its partnership with the IOA, APS has expanded its ability to identify and engage highly vulnerable older and dependent adults who are often difficult to reach. This collaboration has improved referral pathways to supportive housing and related services, ensuring that individuals with complex needs receive timely and appropriate assistance. The program includes all of San Mateo County, including coastal regions, thereby promoting more equitable access to services for communities that have historically faced barriers due to geographic isolation and limited local resources.
Home Safe continues its outreach to coastal residents to ensure individuals in these communities are aware of this critical safety net program. In addition, Home Safe has established a strong partnership with the Navigation Center, enabling targeted outreach to older and dependent adults residing in that facility. This collaboration supports early identification of housing instability, improves service coordination, and facilitates smoother transitions into long-term housing solutions for residents at heightened risk of homelessness. Home Safe aims to reduce the barriers that prevent older adults and individuals with disabilities, especially those at risk of or experiencing homelessness, from achieving stable and reasonable outcomes. The program does this by engaging with community partners to identify system gaps and by regularly reviewing data trends to guide informed decision-making.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The agreement with IOA is for a total amount not to exceed $650,000 for the 18-month term from January 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027. The total amount of funds accepted from CDSS for Home Safe is $1,023,027 from the Budget Act of 2025. There is no Net County Cost associated with accepting these funds or with executing the agreement with IOA. The State has waived County match requirements, and the costs to provide services are not expected to exceed the County’s Home Safe funding allocation in the amount of $1,023,027. This amount will be included in the FY 2025-26 adopted Budget.