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Anaheim, CA 92805
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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT
DATE: APRIL 18, 2023
FROM: HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: RATIFY SUBMISSION OF AND ACCEPT AWARD OF
CALOPTIMA HEALTH CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT FOR
ACCESS PILOT
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 23
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: YES
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Motion, 1) ratify the submission of the CalOptima Health Capacity Building Grant application and authorize the Housing & Community Development Director, or her designee, to submit the grant application 2) authorize the Housing & Community Development Director, or her designee, to substantially enter into a Grant Award Agreement with Orange County Health Authority dba CalOptima Health, for an award amount up to $200,000, to implement the Anaheim Collaborative Court-Evaluating Strategies & Solutions (ACCESS) pilot program for a three-year term beginning May 1, 2023, 3) increase the Housing & Community Development Department’s FY 2022/23 revenue and expenditures budget to commensurate with the grant award, and 4) authorize the Housing & Community Development Director, or her designee, to accept the grant, execute required grant documents, and take all other actions necessary to implement grant activities.
DISCUSSION:
CalOptima Health, Orange County’s managed care plan for state Medi-Cal dollars, released a Request for Proposals to solicit responses related to homelessness services in three priority areas: 1) equity, 2) capacity building and infrastructure, and 3) capital projects. The funding for this opportunity derives from the State’s Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program (HHIP), which prioritizes addressing the social determinants of health and health disparities for people at risk or currently experiencing homelessness.
Staff submitted a request for funding consideration for $500,000 under the Capacity Building and Infrastructure category in funding. The application was successful, however, the amount awarded represents a modified grant for $200,000. These funds will be used to provide transitional housing beds in sober living arrangements for participants in the Anaheim Collaborative Court Evaluating Strategies and Solutions (ACCESS) pilot program. The grant award term is May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2026.
CalOptima Health Capacity Building Grant
April 18, 2023
The ACCESS pilot program is a collaborative effort between the Anaheim City Attorney’s Office, the Orange County Courts, and numerous homelessness and recovery service providers and funders. The pilot aims to divert high-need individuals experiencing homelessness who have mental health and/or substance use-related conditions and frequently cycle in and out of the criminal justice system by offering the option to engage in services instead of possible incarceration.
The pilot program launched in January 2023 and has since enrolled 11 individuals into services under a personalized wellness and housing plan. Given that the ACCESS program is in the beginning phase of implementation, program staff continuously engages with service providers and City staff to learn about service gaps. Funding for a sober living facility placement is a readily identified gap as most federal and state housing funds do not include such accommodations under their eligible uses. Therefore, the award from CalOptima fills a difficult-to-address gap in funding for services that are often left unaddressed.
Impact on the Anaheim System of Care
The funding provided under the CalOptima Health capacity building grant is projected to serve roughly 20 individuals coming from the ACCESS pilot for 6-18 months in sober living.
Once participants are stabilized and following their stay in sober living, the ACCESS program seeks to provide rapid rehousing assistance as a bridge to long-term recovery.
The provision of rapid housing has been added to the program design with the goal of reducing the likelihood of a return to homelessness after recovery services are completed. Rapid rehousing assistance can generally be provided for up to 24 months.
The rapid rehousing component will be covered by other housing funds and programs administered by the Department.
When developing the proposal for submission to CalOptima Health, staff identified the following objectives as measurable outcomes for the ACCESS pilot. Enroll 20-25 known, service-resistant individuals experiencing homelessness in the diversion program
Create 20 or more slots of transitional housing/sober living placements for high- need individuals
Reduce calls for service and emergency medical responses associated with these high-need individuals
Secure funding to support 20 or more connections and placements into the rapid rehousing program (aftercare)
Sustain rapid rehousing placements for 20 participants enrolled in the dedicated rapid rehousing program for an additional year either through continued subsidy or through self-sufficiency
After engagement with the program, divert 4 people annually (20 total) from utilizing emergency services related to overdose or high-risk harm CalOptima Health Capacity Building Grant
April 18, 2023
Outlined below are the proposed activities funded under the grant.
Programming Funding
Direct Program Expenses $147,078
Direct Program Staff Salaries $19,610
City Staff Administration $33,312
Total $200,000
The complete CalOptima Health application submitted, and awarded without amendments per CalOptima Health guidance, is attached for review alongside the agreement with CalOptima Health.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The Housing & Community Development Department’s FY 2022/23 Homeless Housing and Emergency Rental Assistance Fund revenue and expenditures budget will increase by $200,000, commensurate with the grant funds received.
Respectfully submitted,
Grace Ruiz-Stepter
Housing & Community Development Director
Attachments:
1. CalOptima Health ACCESS Grant Award Agreement
2. City of Anaheim CalOptima Health Capacity Building Grant Application