Title
Receive a presentation on the Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau Hope Housing Marina Program.
Presenters: Melanie Rhodes, Behavioral Health Bureau Chief, Lara Clayton, Behavioral
Health Services Manager II and Fabricio Chombo, WOC Assistant Bureau Chief
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Health, Housing, Homelessness, and Human Services Committee of the Board of Supervisors:
Receive a presentation on the Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau Hope Housing Marina Program.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) is a California statewide initiative launched in September 2022 under Assembly Bill 179 (AB 179). Administered by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the program provides interim, short-term housing paired with wraparound behavioral health services for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness who also face serious mental illness (SMI) or substance use disorders (SUD). BHBH provides approximately $1.5 billion statewide in operational and supportive services funding through June 30, 2027, facilitating a variety of housing models such as tiny homes, interim housing, rental assistance programs, and assisted living environments. The purpose of the initiative is to support recovery, promote stability, and help participants transition toward permanent housing.
In September 2023, the County of Monterey Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau (BHB) was awarded $11.3 million in BHBH funding to implement local behavioral health bridge housing. This award included $2.8 million for capital improvements and the remainder for program operations and services. Funding was used to establish Hope Housing Marina, a 55-unit, 110-bed facility located on the former Pueblo Del Mar campus at Fort Ord in Marina. This investment responds to the significant local need. The 2024 National Point-in-Time (PIT) Count estimated that California accounts for 24% of the nation’s homeless population and nearly half (45%) of all unsheltered individuals. Locally, the 2024 Monterey/San Benito PIT Count found that 74% of the 2,704 individuals experiencing homelessness in the region were unsheltered.
Hope Housing Marina is a collaborative partnership between BHB, Sun Street Centers (SSC), Interim, Inc. (Interim), and the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey (HACM). The property is owned by HACM and is deed restricted as recovery housing. BHB holds the primary lease for the property and subleases units to program participants and families. Referrals to the program began on July 1, 2024, with the first leases signed on August 28, 2024. By June 2025, all available units were occupied and there is a waiting list as units are in high demand.
The program provides 55 two-bedroom, one-bath units, structured as follows:
• 30 family units accommodating up to 120 beds
• 24 shared individual units providing 48 beds
• 1 flexible unit available for specialized placement
Hope Housing Marina is currently serving 121 individuals, including 79 participants, 2 spouses, and 40 minors. Rent is set at 30% of household income, and the program follows a Housing First Recovery Model with low-barrier access.
Eligible participants must be 18 years of age or older, reside in Monterey County, and be homeless or at risk of homelessness. Participants must also have an SMI and/or an SUD diagnosis, or be enrolled in the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court program. To ensure the safety of all residents, individuals are not eligible if they are registered sex offenders, have a history of fire starting or arson, have a recent pattern of unsafe or exploitative behavior, or are unwilling or unable to comply with program agreements and lease responsibilities.
Participants in Hope Housing Marina receive a combination of housing services and specialty behavioral health services.
• Housing Services are provided by SSC and include individualized housing plans, life skills coaching, referrals to wraparound services, housing navigation, daily on-site staffing with evening security, and meal support when needed. Transitional housing is provided for 12 to 24 months.
• Specialty Services are provided by Interim and SSC. Interim serves adults with a primary diagnosis of serious mental illness and provides care coordination, medication support, counseling, activities, and crisis intervention. SSC serves adults with a primary substance use disorder diagnosis, offering individual and group counseling, sober living support, and recovery-focused activities.
The overarching goal of Hope Housing Marina is to help individuals experiencing homelessness who have behavioral health needs overcome barriers to long-term housing stability by providing safe transitional housing and supportive services.
Overall, the program has been a success. Since opening, Hope Housing Marina has housed and served over 140 community members, including 98 adults and 42 minors/children. More than 40 adults served are survivors of domestic violence. To date, 15 households have been discharged, with 7 obtaining permanent housing, demonstrating early program impact and community benefit. It is the first program of its kind in Monterey County.
As the first BHBH program in Monterey County and the first partnership between BHB and HACM, the program faces several challenges:
• Ensuring effective and efficient communication among all key partners—including BHB, HACM, SSC, and Interim—remains a priority.
• There has been a learning curve for all partners in this effort due to differences in housing and behavioral health program procedures, language, mandates and reporting requirements.
• Sustainability beyond grant funding remains an ongoing concern.
• Although CARE Court participants are prioritized for BHBH placements based on the grant, Hope Housing currently has no CARE participants, as those individuals thus far have required more support and placement in higher levels of care.
There are still items to be worked through. In order to maintain community safety and leverage HACM’s expertise, we are actively working to finalize a MOU with HACM regarding the handling of Hope Housing Marina evictions. Furthermore, we are considering contracting out the property management functions as this is not Behavioral Health’s area of expertise or the best use of BHB staff time. Additionally, there is a pending request from HACM regarding rent for the use of the Nancy Dodd Community Center where all programming for Hope Housing Marina is based.
Hope Housing Marina demonstrates what is possible and the positive impact of state-funded bridge housing in addressing the homelessness crisis in Monterey County. With continued support from BHBH funding through June 2027, the program will remain a critical resource for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and behavioral health needs, however long-term program sustainability beyond current funding remains unclear. Staff will continue to monitor progress, assess challenges, and report back to the Board on outcomes and future needs.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
No other departments were involved.
FINANCING:
There will be no impact on the General Fund in receiving this report.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
☐ Economic Development:
• Through collaboration, strengthen economic development to ensure a diversified and healthy economy.
☐ Administration:
• Promote an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management and is recognized for responsiveness, strong customer orientation, accountability and transparency.
☒ Health & Human Services:
• Improve health and quality of life through County supported policies, programs, and services; promoting access to equitable opportunities for healthy choices and healthy environments in collaboration with communities.
☐ Infrastructure:
• Plan and develop a sustainable, physical infrastructure that improves the quality of life for County residents and supports economic development results.
☐ Public Safety:
• Create a safe environment for people to achieve their potential, leading businesses and communities to thrive and grow by reducing violent crimes as well as crimes in general.
Prepared by: Fabricio Chombo, Assistant Bureau Chief (WOC), 755-4578
Melanie Rhodes, Bureau Chief, 796-1742
Approved by: Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health Services, 755-4526
Attachments:
Staff Report
Presentation