Agenda

Return

C. 51

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Kathy Gallagher, Employment & Human Services Director
Date:	March 31, 2020

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Housing and Disability Advocacy Program

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/31/2020

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:

Elaine Burres 608-4960

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: March 31, 2020
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to apply for and accept grant funding in an amount of $988,511 from California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to provide Housing and Disability Advocacy Program services for the period of award anticipated in spring 2020 through June 30, 2021.

FISCAL IMPACT:

County to receive $988,511 from the California Department of Social Services, Housing Bureau (100% state). There is a required 1:1 cash or in-kind match by applicants, which Employment and Human Services, Adult & Aging Services, will draw from GA/GR staffing and Contra Costa Health Services, Health, Housing and Homelessness (H3) funds as eligible match as needed.

BACKGROUND:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The goals of the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) are to provide outreach, benefits advocacy, housing subsidies, and case management to house homeless individuals who are assessed as having potential eligibility to any of the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Program (SSI/SSP), Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI), veterans, or Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) benefits. The housing assistance includes help with housing navigation, housing case management and housing subsidies throughout HDAP participation. Both interim and permanent supportive housing will be sought.

This grant funding will be used to:
1. Conduct outreach activities that actively seek out potentially eligible HDAP clients.
2. Provide intensive case management services to coordinate multiple HDAP service components including outreach, disability advocacy, and housing assistance.
3. Establish and expand housing navigation and placements for participants served by HDAP, from the point of outreach engagement through the disability income application determination client is placed in stabilized permanent housing.
4. Provide benefits advocacy services for SSI/SSDI, CAPI, veterans benefits, and other disability benefit programs.

EHSD’s Aging and Adult Services will partner with Contra Costa Health Services, H3 and contracted partners to deliver the housing prevention and interventions outlined in the proposal application to CDSS Housing Bureau. Additional partners may be identified and added as needed.

Pros and cons of request:
Pros:
-Leverages existing Coordinated Entry services and housing partners to address gaps in services for SSI eligible individuals
-Focuses on providing integrated services to support homeless individuals from the point of outreach and engagement through housing stability and disability benefits determination
-Builds upon existing partnerships between local agencies including local homelessness Continuum of Care, housing partners, health services, behavioral health care, and SSI advocacy services.

Cons:
-Sustainability of program funding beyond end of grant term, June 30, 2021.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Without funding, the community will continue to face an increasing number of chronically homeless clients who do not have access to housing subsidies and aftercare to remain stably housed.