Title
Receive an oral report from EOC Care and Shelter Branch regarding Occupancy and Vacancy Data for COVID-19 Incident Housing Programs.
Presenters: Lauren Suwansupa, Community Affiliation Manager and Debra McAlahney, Management Analyst III, Department of Social Services.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Health, Housing, and Human Services (HHHS) Committee of the Board of Supervisors receives an oral report from EOC Care and Shelter Branch regarding Occupancy and Vacancy Data for COVID-19 Incident Housing Programs.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Since March 2020, the Department of Social Services, through the Care and Shelter Branch of the Emergency Operations Center, has been responsible for staffing and managing the COVID-19 Monterey County Alternate Housing Site (MCAHS) Program. The Care and Shelter Branch currently supports operations of three distinct COVID-19 alternate housing sites:
1. Project Oasis: On 6/24/2022 the MCAHS Program officially closed for new referrals. The last guest left on 6/30/22 and Operation Oasis at San Lorenzo Park (operating since March 2020) officially started the demobilization process. All cleanup and close out duties are scheduled to end no later than 8/5/22. Demobilization is navigating several outstanding complications such as trailer repairs and invoice reconciliation. The remaining staff are working thru these issues with the EOC team and are preparing the travel trailers for storage.
Demobilization Staffing includes:
• 1 Program Manager
• 2 Unit Leads
• 1 Site Manager
• 3 County Temps
The MCAHS Program team is training Project Roomkey service contractors to take over the new referral system and state reporting requirements.
2. Housing for the Harvest: Ended operations on 4/30/22. Staff has assisted with final invoices and state reports necessary for program close out.
3. Project Roomkey 3.0 (restarted in January 2022): No changes - operations are scheduled to continue through June 30, 2023.
Project Roomkey is a state-wide program that provides rooms for the purpose of providing protection and shelter from the exposure of COVID-19 for medically fragile people experiencing homelessness. The program is specifically intended for homeless residents who are presumed COVID-19 negative and are determined medically fragile due to a specific CDC prioritized medical diagnosis that is known for increased risk for complications should they contract COVID-19. This program has undergone three iterations, management by County DSS, management by Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, and currently management by the City of Salinas.
This program has a maximum capacity and has a waitlist. Services provided include, but are not limited to, wrap-around case management, behavioral health referrals, general accommodations support, and housing navigation services. The City of Salinas has reengaged the partners from the CHSP operations and both CSU Monterey Bay and Central Coast Centers for Independent Living are providing the direct services for this operation. The program is using a scattered-site motel model but plans to transition to a master lease model pending the development of the City’s Project Homekey 2.0 awards. Currently, PRK 3.0 is serving 95 individual guests.
The Monterey County Alternate Housing Site Program provided a critical resource to our community by housing COVID-19 impacted individuals that do not have a space to safely isolate during their COVID-19 isolation periods and to protect people who are experiencing homelessness and are at high risk for medical complications should they become infected. Providing safe alternatives for self-isolation for individuals mitigates the spread of COVID-19 in the community, protects human life, and minimizes strain on the health care system.
The oral presentation will provide an overview and current data for the program and a link to the published public-facing internet-based display of aggregated data from the alternate housing efforts for all three (3) programs within the larger Monterey County Alternate Housing Site Program.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Office of Emergency Services (OES), Department of Social Services (DSS), Human Resources Department, Monterey County Health Department, and Monterey County Information Technology.
FINANCING:
There is no effect to the County General Fund resulting from the receipt of this presentation.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This action correlates to the following Strategic Initiatives adopted by the Board of Supervisors:
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 health environments in collaboration with communities.
Prepared by Lauren Suwansupa x8492 and Debra McAlahney x3398, Department of Social Services, assigned to EOC, Care and Shelter Branch.
Approved by:
________________________________ _________________________________
Nick Chiulos Lori A. Medina
Assistant CAO Director of Social Services