Plumas Crisis Intervention and Resource Center has had success in the past with submitting and being awarded ESG funding through the California Department of Housing and Community Development. The PCIRC worked with HHSA to develop a portion of the grant activities to be completed in Shasta County by HHSA staff. The HHSA will implement an effective strategy based on the capacity of PCIRC’s history and experience to create a replicable Rapid Re-Housing model and engage with the COC to provide Rapid Re-Housing Assistance and data entry in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
The funding for the ESG will provide services and items to support housing efforts in Shasta County and will be used to provide assistance with utility payments, rental deposits, rental payments, and other supportive services to help place clients into housing . The HHSA will utilize current housing staff to provide these services and the entire grant amount will be used for housing support.
The HHSA added Housing Programs in April 2015 to address homelessness in our community. To date, the HHSA has received over 1,000 referrals from Shasta County residents who are homeless or near homelessness. The HHSA Housing Programs currently consist of six social workers with more than 250 homeless individuals waiting for assistance.
The HHSA’s Programs target both unsheltered adults and families with children who are currently homeless or at immediate risk of homelessness. The programs are based on reaching clients where they are, assisting with barriers to housing, bridging the gap with landlords, assisting with housing placement, and follow-up case management services. ESG funding will expand the program to assist individuals in a timelier manner by including financial assistance such as credit check fees, security deposits, utility deposits, and time-limited rental subsidy assistance. Financial assistance will be provided up to a six to 12-month span, depending on the need.
Resolution 2016-050 provided authority for HHSA Regional Services Housing Programs to procure goods and services necessary to overcome barriers to housing including rental payments, utility payments, deposits, educational materials, kitchen and cleaning items and other services or materials. A new resolution is requested to include this ESG project activities as well as the Whole Person Care activities previously approved by the Board of Supervisors.