Title
a. Receive a presentation on two (2) proposed projects for the Encampment Resolution Funding Round Three (ERF-3-R) opportunity offered through the California Interagency Council on Homelessness;
b. Approve the submission of the Encampment Resolution Funding Application to assist with housing of people living in Salinas River encampments in the City of Soledad;
c. Approve the submission of the Encampment Resolution Funding Application to assist with housing of people living in Salinas River encampments in the City of King City; and,
d. Authorize the County Administrative Officer, or designee to execute all necessary documents required to be awarded for one or both Encampment Resolution Funding allocations.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
a. Receive a presentation on two (2) proposed projects for the Encampment Resolution Funding Round Three (ERF-3-R) opportunity offered through the California Interagency Council on Homelessness;
b. Approve the submission of the Encampment Resolution Funding Application to assist with housing of people living in Salinas River encampments in the City of Soledad;
c. Approve the submission of the Encampment Resolution Funding Application to assist with housing of people living in Salinas River encampments in the City of King City; and,
d. Authorize the County Administrative Officer, or designee to execute all necessary documents required to be awarded for one or both Encampment Resolution Funding allocations.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The County Administrative Office, Homeless Services Program (CAO-HS) recommends the Board of Supervisors approve the submission of two (2) ERF-3-R applications to assist with the housing of people living along the Salinas River in Soledad and King City as outlined in the presentation (Attachment A).
In March 2023, Encampment Resolution Funding Round 3 (ERF-3-R) was authorized through Senate Bill (SB) 197 (Chapter 70, Statutes of 2022), and enacted under Chapter 7 of Part 1 of Division 31 of the California Health and Safety Code (HSC) (sections 50250 et seq.) The ERF Program was established in 2022 to increase collaboration between the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (CAL-ICH), local jurisdictions, and continuums of care (CoC’s) to accomplish the following:
• Assist Local Jurisdictions in ensuring the safety and wellness of people experiencing homelessness in encampments.
• Provide grants to Local Jurisdictions and CoCs to resolve critical encampment concerns and transition individuals into safe and stable housing.
• Encourage a data-informed, coordinated approach to address encampment concerns.
The $400 million allocated by the 2023-2024 State budget for ERF-3-R was appropriated by SB 101 (Chapter 12, Statute of 2023) for initial disbursement to be allocated to jurisdictions that applied for ERF-2-R who met all the program requirements but were unable to receive awards due to insufficient funds. The Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) of ERF-3-R makes the remaining $298,747,574 available for awards through a rolling application process. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 30, 2024, or until funds are depleted, whichever occurs first. Up to 50 percent of the $400 million appropriated will be prioritized for proposals that serve people living in encampments on state right of way. If awarded, funding is available for 2 years and must be fully expended no later than June 30, 2027.
The ERF-3-R program will fund actionable, person-centered local proposals that resolve the experience of unsheltered homelessness for people residing in encampments along the Salinas River in both Soledad and King City. Resolving these experiences of homelessness will address the safety and wellness of people within encampments, resolve critical encampment concerns, and transition individuals into interim shelter with clear pathways to permanent housing or directly into permanent housing, using data-informed, non-punitive, low-barrier, person-centered, Housing First, and coordinated approaches that is required per the NOFA (Attachment B).
The Salinas River encampments in Soledad and King City were considerably impacted by the 2023 January storms, a federally declared disaster (DR-4683). The people living along the Salinas riverbed were displaced for several days and lost most of their personal belongings, leaving significant amounts of trash and debris, including two abandoned vehicles in the riverbed. These are two significant encampments that overlap unincorporated areas of the County, city jurisdictions, and on public and private lands. Both encampments pose health and safety risks for people living in and surrounding the sites and are being proposed as potential sites for the ERF-3-R project proposals as described in the presentation.
The Community Health Engagement (CHE) outreach team has been working with individuals living along the Salinas River in both Soledad and King City to understand the varying level of needs the encamped occupants are experiencing. The Cities of King and Soledad have identified nearly 80 individuals interested in participating in the ERF program, should the County be funded. The CAO-HS is actively seeking service provider partnerships to include in the ERF proposals in partnership with the City of Soledad and the City of King City (Cities).
The Cities’ encampments continue to be a major health and safety concern and is subject to clean-ups annually to protect people living in the river and surrounding communities from the threat of flood. Homeless services in S. Monterey County are limited and the people often return to the river once the rain season subsides.
Therefore, it is recommended the Salinas River encampments in Soledad and King City be the target focus of the ERF-3-R application window one (1) to be submitted by January 30, 2024. and will be reviewed after all applications have been submitted by January 30, 2024. ERF-3-R window one (1) awards will be announced no later than March 2024.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrative Office anticipates collaborating with the Water Resources Agency,
Department of Social Services, Sheriff’s Department, partner city municipalities (including Police and Fire departments), Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, and other community-based organizations.
FINANCING:
This action does not impact the General Fund. The total project expenses funded by ERF-3-R are estimated for each project proposal to between $6,000,000 and $8,000,000. The total project expenses estimated for both project proposals are between $12,000,000 and $16,000,000 of which the County could earn a 5% administrative fee between $600,000 and $800,000 for both proposals. These proposed projects include temporary shelter, a path to permanent housing, and outreach. The total proposal amounts are determined based upon site selection, availability of leveraged resources near the encampment, and overall project design. The County will administer the grant but will hold no responsibility for the sustainability of the project after the grant term expires. The Cities agree to assume responsibility for expenses incurred after the grant is fully expended for their respective project proposal. Both the County and Cities will work with a Managed Care Provider to identify additional funding resources for each project.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This initiative correlates to the Health & Human Services Strategic Initiative adopted by the
Board of Supervisors by working collaboratively to address and develop a plan for ending homelessness.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
X Health & Human Services
__ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Sarah Federico, Management Analyst II, x5341
Roxanne Wilson, County Homeless Services Director, x5445
Approved by: Deborah Paolinelli, Assistant County Administrative Officer, x5309
Attachments:
A. Presentation on Encampment Resolution Funding 3-R Proposed Sites
B. Encampment Resolution Funding 3-R program NOFA