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C. 83

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	William Walker, M.D., Health Services Director
Date:	November 7, 2017

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Changes to Council on Homelessness ByLaws and Seats

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 11/07/2017

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Lavonna Martin, 925-313-6140
cc:	Tasha Scott Marcy Wilhelm Jaime Jenett

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: November 7, 2017
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

1) ACCEPT and APPROVE the Contra Costa Council on Homelessness By-Laws (Rules for the Conduct of Business) revisions. 2) APPROVE the following seat changes: ADD Homeless Service Provider, Public Safety Representative #2, Reentry Services Representative, Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) Representative seats; DELETE Community Member Seat #1, Community Member Seat #2, Consumer/Consumer Advocate – ALTERNATE, Government Seat #2 and Philanthropy Representative seats; and RENAME Community Member Seat #3 to Community Member Seat; Government Seat #1 to City Government Seat; Homeless Housing Provider to Affordable Housing Developer and Public Safety Representative to Public Safety Representative #1.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The revision and endorsement of the Council on Homelessness By-Laws will allow the County to meet federal requirements for funding to prevent and end homelessness. There is no match requirement and no additional County funds are required.

BACKGROUND:

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program interim rule requires by-laws to be developed by the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) lead, the CoC, and the collaborative applicant. The by-laws must include:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

All of the policies and procedures that are required to comply with the requirements designated to the CoC in Subpart B of the interim rule;
All policies and procedures required to comply with the HMIS requirements; and
A code of conduct and recusal process for the board, its chair, and other persons acting on behalf of the board because some of the requirements in Subpart B of the CoC Program interim rule are new, the by-laws need to be updated to consider all additional requirements in Subpart B. Further, the CoC Program interim rule requires that the by-laws be reviewed annually and updated as needed. In March of 2017, the Advisory Board formed an Ad Hoc Committee to address these requirements and align the by-laws with the current goals of the CoC. On May 4, 2017 the Advisory Board moved to approve the suggested edits to the by-laws from the Ad Hoc Committee.

Summary of Proposed Changes
1. Community Engagement

Elimination of Healthcare for the Homeless as community/consumer advisory liaison.
Addition of Consumer Advisory Committee under standing committee section. This will provide a forum for broader community engagement.
All changes accommodate current seated members except one (Brenda Kain).

2. Areas of Representation

Nine (9) changes to enhance and diversify representation of stakeholders (see attachment).

3. Standing Committees: The following standing committees were enumerated in the bylaws for added clarity and transparency:

CoC Providers Committee
Consumer Advisory Committee
Coordinated Entry Oversight Committee
Performance Measures Committee

4. Minor changes include:

Revisions to acknowledge new department/County structure (Health, Housing, and Homeless Services); clarity in the excused vs. unexcused absence provision; and in how quorum is calculated.

Approval of the revised by-laws and seat changes by the Board of Supervisors will reaffirm Contra Costa’s goal of preventing and ending homelessness. A coordinated response to homelessness is in alignment with the requirements of federal funding sources for homeless assistance, and will effect change through improved outcomes for persons experiencing homelessness, as well as improved competitiveness in national competitions for federal funding sources.