Title
a. Consider approval of Expansion of the Role and Responsibilities of the Board of Supervisors Health and Human Services Committee (“HHS Committee”) to include the review of requests and the making of recommendations on policies and programs related to housing;
b. Consider change of name of HHS Committee to Board of Supervisors Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee; and
c. Consider approval of Board of Supervisors Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee Role and Responsibilities; and
d. Provide direction to staff. (ADDED VIA ADDENDA)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Consider approval of Expansion of the Role and Responsibilities of the Board of Supervisors Health and Human Services Committee (“HHS Committee”) to include the review of requests and the making of recommendations on policies and programs related to housing;
b. Consider change of name of HHS Committee to Board of Supervisors Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee;
c. Consider approval of Board of Supervisors Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee Role and Responsibilities; and
d. Provide direction to staff.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION
The Board of Supervisors Health and Human Services Committee (“HHS Committee”) met on July 19, 2018. As part of the meeting agenda, Supervisor Alejo led a discussion “to add the Housing Element to the HHS Services Committee.” Supervisor Alejo observed that currently there is no committee on which a Supervisor is a member that specifically addresses the issue of housing. At the conclusion of the item, Supervisor Alejo and Supervisor Salinas, who chairs the HHS Committee, concurred that an item be placed on the agenda of the full board to vote on a change to the role of the HHS Committee, i.e., to address not only the health and human services needs of residents of Monterey County, but specifically the housing needs of County residents.
The HHS Committee currently receives reports on items pertaining to health, medical services, veterans’ services, efforts to address homelessness, gang violence prevention, governing for racial equity and other items deemed appropriate by the committee. A committee with express oversight by the Board of Supervisors of items pertaining to housing does not exist at this time.
As described in the attached board report and order, on January 15, 2008, the Board of Supervisors expanded the purview of the former Board of Supervisors Health Committee to include human services and thus renamed the committee the Health and Human Services Committee. As described in the 2008 board report, even ten years ago housing was an issue of priority of the HHS Committee. Today, the lack of available, affordable, safe housing for the County’s residents remains a critical concern. The need for a Board of Supervisors standing committee that expressly addresses the problem is therefore essential.
Accordingly, it is the recommendation of the HHS Committee that the Board of Supervisors approve the expansion of the HHS Committee’s purview to include review of and the making of recommendations on housing policy and programs, and to change the name of the Committee to the Health, Housing and Human Services Committee.
The Proposed Roles and Responsibilities of the HHS Committee reflect language modification to describe the purview of the HHS Committee to provide review and recommendations on issues as they relate to health, housing and human services as discussed, on the September 18, 2018 Board of Supervisors consent agenda.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
The County Administrative Office prepared this report with review by County Counsel.
FINANCING
Approval of the recommendations contained in this report will not result in additional General Fund contributions.
Prepared by: Rosemary Soto, Management Analyst III
Approved by: Nicholas E. Chiulos, Assistant County Administrative Officer
___________________________________________ ____________________
Nicholas E. Chiulos, Assistant County Administrative Officer Date
Attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board
Date: October 2, 2018
Attachments:
1. [Proposed] Board of Supervisors Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee Role and Responsibilities, dated September 18, 2018
2. Board of Supervisors Health and Human Services Committee Role and Responsibilities, approved January 15, 2008 (redlined)
3. January 15, 2008 Board Report and Board Order