Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Claire Cunningham, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Authorization of Change to General Assistance Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing modification to the rules and regulations of the General Assistance Program by establishing time limits of six (6) months of aid in a twelve (12) month period for General Assistance (GA) recipients who are determined employable.
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BACKGROUND:
State law requires counties to provide support for indigent county residents who do not qualify for other financial assistance. Counties meet this requirement by providing financial assistance through the GA program.
Pursuant to Section 2.30.050 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, the Human Services Agency (HSA) is responsible for formulating the rules and regulations concerning policies and procedures in the administration of all social service programs in the County of San Mateo. Such rules and regulations are presented for review to the Board of Supervisors for approval.
DISCUSSION:
GA program requirements in San Mateo County have not previously included time limits. HSA reviewed the San Mateo County GA program requirement amounts and conducted a comparative analysis with other counties within the state and found that forty-six (46) California counties currently impose time limits for their GA programs, including the nearby counties of Alameda and Marin.
The County seeks to change the GA program administration rules to implement time limits of six (6) months of aid in a twelve (12) month period on employable GA recipients receiving aid in San Mateo County. Currently, more than half of the aided individuals in any given month are employable.
Employable recipients who do not meet any exemptions are mandated to participate in HSA's Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) where they are assigned to various work activitie...
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