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:
title
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.
body
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 a...
Click here for full text