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: Amendment to the Agreement with Institute on Aging for Home Safe program services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to the agreement with Institute on Aging for Home Safe program services, extending the term by three months through September 30, 2025, and increasing the amount by $175,000, to a total amount not to exceed $875,000.
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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. In 2018, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) awarded funds to 25 grantee counties for a three-year pilot program. San Mateo County applied for, but did not receive, pilot funds.
The California Budget Act of 2021 appropriated a total of $92,500,000 for Home Safe in FY 2021-22, available through June 30, 2024. On October 15, 2021, CDSS announced noncompetitive allocations based on local need methodology for all 58 counties. San Mateo County accepted its allocation in the amount of $897,589, which was required to be spent by June 30, 2024.
On September 21, 2022, CDSS announced another $92,500,000 appropriation through the California Budget Act of 2022. The County accepted $897,589 in the second round of funding, which must be spent by June 30, 2025.
The Home Safe program is intended to provide housing-related supports 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 is 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. 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.
San Mateo County’s Home Safe program offers:
1. Intensive case management
2. Housing stabilization
3. Housing navigation
4. Housing direct financial assistance
5. Connection to longer-term supports
The Home Safe program was administered in house from January 2022 to October 2022, however, due to staffing needs, Aging and Disability Services (ADS) sought a contractor to take over the program. ADS conducted a Request for Proposals process and, in October 2022, selected 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 now seeks to add $175,000 from County General Funds to extend the program through September 30, 2025.
DISCUSSION:
The second round of funding from CDSS allowed IOA to continue serving Home Safe clients. Key goals were (1) increasing outreach efforts in Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Foster City, and Unincorporated San Mateo County, (2) increasing outreach to minority groups such as Pacific Islanders, Asians, and Hispanic/Latino populations, and (3) working more closely with County hospitals and emergency response teams. Home Safe will continue to integrate with the existing County Coordinated Entry System to provide housing connections to those experiencing homelessness.
To date, the program served 109 Home Safe clients:
• 33 connected to Enhanced Case Management
• 33 were supported with housing navigation
• 10 provided with rental assistance and relocation services
• 4 received respite supports
• 1 received deep cleaning assistance to maintain housing
• 2 had utilities paid for
• 5 received legal assistance
The three-month extension will allow the program to serve an additional 10 clients in critical need of services.
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).
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
It is anticipated that approximately 10 older adults or adults with disabilities will receive housing support through Home Safe because of the three-month program extension.
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
|
Number of older adults or adults with disabilities who receive housing support through the Home Safe program |
45 older adults or adults with disabilities |
10 older adults or adults with disabilities |
*Performance measure result is lower due to the expected program duration of only three months in FY2526
COMMUNITYIMPACT:
The Home Safe Program positively impacts County APS clients and prospective clients by aiming to improve their quality of life, living circumstances, and access to resources. APS’ partnership with IOA supports outreach and referral efforts to supportive housing for the most hard-to-reach populations. The Home Safe program has made progress with community engagement for multilingual communities by providing outreach materials for the program in Spanish, Russian, Tagalog, Cantonese, and Mandarin since the inception of the program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The funding term of the contract with IOA is from July 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. The amendment, which increases the contract by $175,000 for a total amount not to exceed $875,000, is funded by County General Funds. This amount will be included in the FY2025-26 Recommended Budget.