Homelessness is a significant issue in Yolo County, with the most recent homeless count (conducted in January 2017) identifying 482 people experiencing homelessness in Yolo on a single night. The Board of Supervisors has expressed an ongoing interest in addressing homelessness and identified, in its 2016-2019 Strategic Plan, a priority focus area to "develop and implement strategies to reduce homelessness". Staff is working to achieve the vision of the Board relating to addressing homeless through the use of four distinct strategies, including:
- Growing funding for homeless services.
- Developing a robust Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and coordinated entry system.
- Establishing a full continuum of housing and services for the homeless that utilizes Housing First best practices.
- Providing coordination for the overall homeless system in Yolo County.
Staff provides periodic updates to the Board on efforts to address homelessness in Yolo County, and the last update was completed in September 2016. Since the last update, the County Homeless Team has focused on strengthening and expanding homeless services through the efforts described below. Additional information on progress made towards the Board’s vision of reducing homelessness can be found in Attachment A, the Homeless Services Work Plan for FY 16/17.
GOAL 1: GROW FUNDING FOR HOMELESS SERVICES
Currently there is not sufficient funding for homeless services in Yolo County. A significant portion of Homeless Services Team staff time is dedicated to pursuing new funding opportunities (and maintaining existing funding sources) to address this issue. The table below provides a log of the grants coordinated and/or authored by Homeless Services during FY 16/17:
| FY 16/17 Quarter 3 Grant Log |
| Grant |
Role |
Type |
Applied For |
Received |
| Bringing Families Home Grant |
Author |
New |
$225,000
(2.25-Year Period) |
TBD |
| Cooperative Agreements to Benefit Homeless Individuals |
Author |
New |
$2,399,328.57
(3-Year Period) |
$2,399,328.57
(3-Year Period) |
| 2016 Emergency Solutions Grant |
Coordinator,
Author |
Renewal |
$454,396
(2-Year Period) |
$454,396 |
| 2016 Continuum of Care |
Coordinator,
Author |
Renewal |
$495,065.52
(1-Year Period) |
$474,575 |
| Emergency Food and Shelter Program |
Coordinator |
Renewal |
$114,446 |
TBD |
| Proposition 47 Grant |
Co-Author and Coordinator |
New |
$6,000,000
(38-Month Period) |
TBD |
List of Funding Opportunities
In January 2017, staff finalized and publicly shared a comprehensive list of opportunities to fund homeless services. The list includes detailed information about each recurring grant opportunity, such as due date, funder, eligible entities, match requirements and purpose. Staff will update the list as needed to ensure the list remains current.
Proposition 47 Grant
In February 2017, HHSA staff worked in collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office, Probation Department and Public Defender’s Office to submit an application to the Board of State and Community Corrections for Proposition 47 grant funds. The proposed project, called Steps to Success, will use $6 million over a 38-month period to provide wraparound services for individuals who are eligible for a criminal justice diversion program, but unlikely to succeed without support due to their history of mental health issues and/or substance use disorders. Proposed support includes intensive case management, employment assistance, civil legal assistance and permanent housing assistance. If selected for funding, the County anticipates receiving notification in June 2017.
Bringing Families Home Grant
In February 2017, staff worked with Yolo County Child Welfare Services (CWS) on submitting a concept paper for Bringing Families Home (BFH) funding. In March 2017, the County received a formal invitation from the State to submit an application. The project proposed to use BFH funding to provide housing supports to CWS families experiencing homeless, with the goal of reducing the number of CWS families experiencing homelessness, increasing the number of CWS families reunifying when homelessness is the primary barrier to reunification, and preventing new foster care placements. If selected for funding, the County anticipates receiving notification in June of 2017.
GOAL 2: DEVELOP A ROBUST HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (HMIS) AND COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM
Vulnerability Index and Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT)
The Vulnerability Index and Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) is an evidence-informed tool that combines both medical and social science research to quantify the vulnerability of people experiencing homelessness with a numeric score. The score allows workers to link clients with appropriate services and housing, and also assists with prioritization of limited homeless resources based upon the acuity of a person’s needs.
The ultimate goal is to have all people experiencing homelessness in Yolo County assessed and scored using the VI-SPDAT. In FY 16/17, the County set a goal of having internal staff and contracted providers complete 200 VI-SPDATs. From January to March, local providers completed 77 assessments, including 65 single adults and 12 families. When adding this quarter’s total to the first half of the year, providers in Yolo County have completed 303 assessments, far exceeding the annual goal.
Coordinated Entry Planning
During the 2015 Continuum of Care funding, round the Yolo County Homeless and Poverty Action Coalition (HPAC) received a $15,752 planning grant to establish and implement a permanent coordinated entry system. HPAC will use the money to hire the nonprofit consulting company, HomeBase, to facilitate an initial half-day planning session followed by two 2-hour sessions and ongoing technical assistance over a 3-month period. Given that the federal government recently published guidance requiring local communities to have a fully operational coordinated entry system established by January 23, 2018, this process will be critical. In March of 2017, staff executed an agreement with HomeBase and began the process of scheduling the initial workshop. Staff expects the first half-day planning session to occur in late-May or early-June.
Annual Homeless Assessment Report
In December 2016, staff submitted local data for the federal government’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR). Presented to the U.S. Congress, the AHAR provides national estimates of homelessness, including information about the demographic characteristics of homeless persons, service use patterns, and the capacity to house homeless persons.
Since the AHAR relies primarily on information from HMIS, communities must meet high data quality standards in order to have their local data incorporated into the report. This year marked Yolo County’s first time participating in the AHAR. Out of 14 categories, the federal government used 8 of Yolo County’s reports in its national projections.
GOAL 3: DEVELOP A FULL CONTINUUM OF HOUSING AND SERVICES
Extended Hope Project
In February of 2017, staff executed a 3-year contract with Fourth and Hope, marking the start of the Extended Hope project. Funded by a Cooperative Agreement to Benefit Homeless Individuals grant, the project provides intensive wraparound care to persons experiencing homelessness with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. The project’s key components include: (1) identification, assessment and triage, (2) intensive case management and treatment, and (3) housing navigation and permanent placement. Fourth and Hope is currently working on hiring staff for the project, and officially began providing services to clients in April.
Pathways to Employment Project
In March of 2017, the City of Davis, Davis Community Meals and Housing (DCMH), Davis businesses, HHSA and the local faith community launched the Pathways to Employment project. The project employs five people experiencing homelessness to complete various jobs such as landscaping, sidewalk cleaning, trash removal, and other tasks related to beautification in downtown Davis. The project pays participants $12 per hour and anticipates a workload of approximately 12 hours per week. DCMH employs a supervisor to provide guidance, teach job skills, and assist with establishing permanent employment opportunities for the project participants.
I SEE YOU Art Engagement
In January of 2017, the I SEE YOU project concluded its 10-week course in West Sacramento with a culminating exhibit. The project, a partnership between YoloArts, the Yolo County Library and HHSA provides free art classes to people experiencing homelessness in each of our major cities. The final 10-week course began in Woodland at Fourth and Hope in March. Classes occur each Monday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., running from March 13 through May 15.
GOAL 4: PROVIDE SYSTEM-WIDE COORDINATION
2017 Homeless Count and Housing Inventory Count
In January 2017, HPAC conducted its annual homeless count and housing inventory count. The count conducted this year required both a sheltered and unsheltered count. Staff convened five planning meetings to establish an organizational structure, select a methodology and develop a survey instrument. In addition, this year, staff created an instructional guide meant to serve as a training resource. The guide featured messaging points for count organizers and step-by-step instructions for count enumerators. The final report for the 2017 count is provided in Attachment B, and indicates a very small (3%) decline in homelessness since the previous count in 2015.
Sutter Health Getting to Zero Initiative
In February 2017, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in support of the Sutter Health Getting to Zero initiative. The initiative aims to align public, private, and philanthropic programs and resources with the goal of attaining functional zero in Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties within the next three years. The initiative also embraces the principles of a Housing Crisis Resolution System that utilizes coordinated entry, low/no barrier housing, the Housing First model, a continuum of housing options and supportive services. In March of 2017, the Davis City Council and Woodland City Council also passed resolutions in support of the Sutter Health Getting to Zero initiative.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Homeless Team’s intended next steps are outlined in the FY 16/17 Work Plan (Attachment A). Several of the highest priority activities will include:
- Begin coordinated entry system planning and development
- Coordinate the local Emergency Solutions Grant competition for both state and federal funds
- Develop plan for No Place Like Home technical assistance funding request
- Execute an HMIS infrastructure improvement contract with Sacramento Steps Forward
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