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Accept the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Round 5 grant award of $1,655,549 from the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide supportive housing services to assist behavioral health clients in maintaining independent community housing upon the Department of Housing and Community Development’s approval of the agreement through June 30, 2029; and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the agreement and other related documents necessary to receive the grant funding
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS) recommends that the Board of Supervisors accept the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Round 5 grant award of $1,655,549 from the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide supportive housing services to assist behavioral health clients in maintaining independent community housing upon the Department of Housing and Community Development’s approval of the agreement through June 30, 2029; and delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the agreement and other related documents necessary to receive the grant funding.
SUMMARY:
On July 10, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 129 into law, authorizing $1 billion for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Program Round 5. This fifth round of funding is aimed at continuing county efforts to address homelessness by providing essential resources to implement effective solutions and support vulnerable populations. The application requirements for HHAP Round 5 included submission of a local homelessness action plan and outcome goals to be achieved by 2026 to meet specific State measures. Behavioral Health’s regionally coordinated homelessness action plan included a landscape analysis that assessed the current number of people experiencing homelessness, system performance measures, existing programs, and funding that addresses homelessness within Solano County’s jurisdiction. The plan emphasizes coordination of efforts within a jurisdiction, efforts to ensure racial equity in providing services and outcomes, and key actions to improve performance.
On January 16, 2025, the Department of Health and Social Services, Behavioral Health Division was notified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development of the HHAP Round 5 disbursement allocation of $1,655,549.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Per the HHAP Round 5 award agreement, H&SS, Behavioral Health Division, must contractually obligate no less than 75% of the award, or at least $620,831, by June 30, 2026. Additionally, no less than $413,887 (50% of the initial $827,775 in base allocation) must be expended by June 30, 2026. H&SS will return to the Board at a later date to appropriate the funding.
The costs of preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS), Behavioral Health Division, previously applied for and received Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) Rounds 1 through 4 funding allocations. HHAP Round 1 was received from the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH), formerly the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC). HHAP Rounds 2, 3 and 4 funding allocations were received through award agreements with the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Authority.
The Board accepted HHAP Round 1 funding of $1,256,129 on May 12, 2020, to support developing 16 board and care beds for individuals experiencing mental illness. The funding was applied to the Beck Campus board and care units, completed in late 2023.
HHAP Round 2 funding of $574,231 was awarded on May 28, 2021, to provide supportive services to no less than 22 No Place Like Home (NPLH) unit residents annually. NPLH units include a 20-year requirement for supportive services. The FY2022/23 Adopted Budget included two mental health specialists that are funded with HHAP Round 2, to provide supportive services to a portion of the 34 NPLH units at the Fair Haven Commons in Fairfield. Fair Havens Commons provides 34 NPLH units and 10 Whole-Person Care units, supporting residents with high needs.
HHAP Round 3 funding of $1,607,846 was accepted by the Board on January 24, 2023. Building on the foundation established with HHAP Round 2, Solano County allocated a significant portion of its HHAP Round 3 award to ensure the continued provision of supportive services for residents of the 34 NPLH units and 10 Whole-Person Care units at Fair Haven Commons. These critical services, currently contracted out to Caminar, provide support to the residents at Fair Haven Commons with maintaining stability and support for long-term housing success. Additionally, HHAP Round 3 funding was allocated to the Behavioral Health Division’s flexible rental subsidy pool, operated through Abode Services, to provide rental assistance and housing stability support to individuals with complex mental health needs.
The Board accepted HHAP Round 4 funding of $1,470,396 on December 6, 2022. A portion of these funds, $873,703, has been obligated to Abode Services to sustain the mental health rental subsidies, ensuring continued housing stability for individuals with mental health needs. The remaining funds have yet to be obligated, allowing flexibility for strategic investments in housing-related services and supports that align with the Department’s needs and funding priorities.
All four HHAP rounds required detailed responses to questions about the current homelessness status in Solano County. Applicants were also required to demonstrate regional coordination and provide a plan specifying the alignment of funds, goals, strategies, and services, both short-term and long-term, to reduce homelessness and make it non-reoccurring.
On September 29, 2023, California Interagency Council on Homelessness announced a fifth round of $1 billion in HHAP Round 5 as authorized by Assembly Bill 129.
HHAP Round 5 funding will be used to maintain and strengthen housing supports and resources that Solano County Behavioral Health initially established through one-time grants that are now approaching expiration. The HHAP Round 5 funding will help sustain critical services and ensure continued tenancy support for individuals with mental health needs. Many of these services-such as assistance with maintaining independent housing, landlord engagement, and securing affordable units-were made possible through one-time grant funding. HHAP Round 5 funding will bridge this gap, allowing these essential housing stability services to continue. This strategic investment will ensure the uninterrupted provision of these critical services, bridging the funding gap until additional resources become available. With the passage of Proposition 1 on March 5, 2024, 30% of Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) funds will be allocated toward housing resources, significantly expanding Behavioral Health’s capacity to sustain these services for the long term.
The State requires that no more than 7% of HHAP funds may be allocated to administrative costs. Additionally, at least 10% of the allocation must serve youth and young adults,12 to 24 years of age. Behavioral Health will serve families and young adults eligible for the identified housing resources.
Behavioral Health coordinated the development of the required application components with Community Action Partnership JPA (CAP Solano JPA), which also submitted an HHAP Round 5 application on behalf of the Solano County Continuum of Care (CoC), locally known as Housing First Solano for its allocation of $1,655,549. Homebase, a nonprofit organization that provides administrative and technical support to CAP Solano JPA and the CoC, conducted the required landscape analysis and facilitated community input through multiple listening sessions, forums, interviews, and presentations held from December 2023 to March 2024, gathering stakeholder feedback for the local homelessness action plan. The community forum was widely announced, and participants included city representatives, homelessness service providers, Solano County staff, community advocacy representatives, healthcare representatives, and consultant staff.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose to decline the State HHAP Round 5 allocation. This is not recommended, as HHAP Round 5 will provide funds to assist Solano County with delivering a broad array of supportive housing services to behavioral health clients.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
H&SS, Behavioral Health Division, worked with CAP Solano JPA, cities within the county, and community homelessness stakeholders to develop the required HHAP Round 5 application documents.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION