Agenda

Return

C. 65

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Date:	April 4, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Apply for Non-Competitive Allocation for the Department of Health Care Services Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/04/2023

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

ABSENT:

Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Suzanne Tavano, 925-957-5201

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: April 4, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to apply for a non-competitive allocation in an amount not to exceed $20,488,722, made available by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) through its Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program (BHBH) to fund and operate bridge housing settings to address immediate housing needs for people experiencing homelessness who have serious behavioral health conditions.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Upon final acceptance the County will receive allocated funds from DHCS through their administrator, Advocates for Human Potential, to develop bridge housing options. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the maximum allocation must be used for operating bridge housing. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the allocation may be used for capital development. There is no County match required, however ongoing facility maintenance, program costs and any debt service would be the County's responsibility. The department will provide any estimates for additional County contribution that may be required upon final award and contract approval.

BACKGROUND:

The State of California has made $907 million in one-time funds available to develop bridge housing to serve individuals with serious behavioral health conditions, including serious mental illness (SMI) and/or substance use disorders who are experiencing homelessness. Awarded funds may be used to address community needs. Proposed funding uses must include: voluntary supportive services, support or medication assisted treatment and psychotropic medications, prioritize Community Assistance, Recovery & Empowerment Act (CARE) Program participants, provide housing navigation and other supports, enable people to stay in their “home” communities to the extent possible and maximize other available funding sources including Medi-Cal. Counties may use funds for a variety of activities including program implementation, outreach and engagement, bridge housing including shelter/interim housing, rental assistance, funding for assisted living facilities, housing navigation and infrastructure development. Innovative models are encouraged to bring resources that can quickly be converted online within one year of contract execution. Program costs to support capital developments may also be supported from this funding.

Applications for this funding must demonstrate agreement to meet minimum administrative and reporting requirements. Administrative requirements include: designating a program lead; coordination with local continuum of care; include perspective from individuals with lived experience; submittal of policies and procedures for assistance funds, rental assistance and landlord outreach and mitigation funds as applicable, documentation of applicable infrastructure requirements; and a BHBH Program Plan.

Applications for this program will be accepted through April 28, 2023. Awards will be announced on a rolling basis beginning in June 2023. Programs, including capital investments, are expected to be fully operational within one year of contract execution.

If awarded, the Department will return to the Board for approval of final award acceptance and contract approval upon receipt of the contract from Advocates for Human Potential.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If this action is not approved, the County would not receive funds for the development of the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing program to create bridge housing options for individuals experiencing homelessness and living with serious behavioral health conditions.