CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT
DATE: AUGUST 26, 2025
FROM: HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF PROPOSITION 47 MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC
DEFENDER’S OFFICE AND CITY OF ANAHIEM FOR THE
EXPANSION OF THE ANAHEIM COLLABORATIVE COURT
EVALUATING STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS (ACCESS)
PROGRAM
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 13
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Motion:
1. Approve the Memorandum of Understanding for the Anaheim Collaborative Court:
Evaluating Strategies and Solutions (“ACCESS”) Program between the Orange County Public Defender’s Office and the City of Anaheim (City), in the amount of $385,826, to establish the scope of work for a Public Defender Social Worker under the Proposition 47 grant and clarify reimbursement to the Public Defender’s Office for use of the Social Worker, for a term effective from October 1, 2024 to June 30, 2028; and
2. Authorize the Housing and Community Development Director, or her designee, to execute all agreements and other documents necessary to implement and administer the grant activities on behalf of the City, provided that the maximum compensation authority is not increased.
BACKGROUND:
On November 19, 2024, the City Council ratified the submission and funding acceptance of the Proposition 47 grant application to the California Board of State and Community Corrections and the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) grant application to the Department of Justice in the amount of $8,000,000 and $550,000, respectively. The two grant applications facilitate the expansion of the Anaheim Collaborative Court Evaluating Strategies and Solutions (ACCESS) program.
ACCESS, led by the City Attorney’s Office Prosecution Division (CAO) in collaboration with the Orange County Superior Court and the Orange County Public Defender’s Office, 201 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Tenth Floor
Anaheim, CA 92805
Tel: (714) 765-4300
Fax: (714) 765-4360
www.anaheim.net
Approval of Proposition 47 MOU with Orange County Public Defender’s Office for Expansion of ACCESS Program August 26, 2025
focuses on misdemeanor offenders with acute drug addictions and mental health issues, most of whom are chronically homeless and have been resistant to services. The program utilizes validated criminogenic risk-need assessments administered by a licensed clinician to create individualized diversion plans for participants. Individuals who agree to participate in the program must actively work with a case worker to fully engage in their treatment plans, which may include medical and/or psychosocial needs, drug rehabilitation, employment, and housing. The goal of the program is to reduce or possibly eliminate repeat offenses by providing the services necessary for participants to fully reintegrate into the community, thus keeping people from living in public spaces, reducing the burden on city resources, and improving community quality of life overall. As of June 2025, the ACCESS program has evaluated 527 participants and accepted 370 individuals into diversion plans. Of engaged individuals, 63 have graduated and most of whom have earned case dismissals further reducing barriers to housing and stability.
The Anaheim Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) has acted as a key partner in the pilot phase of ACCESS by leveraging existing HCD homelessness and public services contracts to support early efforts. A November 19, 2024, action by City Council authorized the entirety of the $8,550,000 in grants to be added to the HCD budget while waiving Council Policy 4.1 with the intent of entering into service contracts with named organizations and nonprofits that have been instrumental to the initial success of the ACCESS program.
On June 17, 2025, City Council approved five agreements and an MOU totaling $5,574,043 with the City’s Proposition 47 and the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) grant submission partner subrecipients for the expansion of the ACCESS program:
Mariposa Women and Family Center
Anaheim Community Hospital, LLC
JMh–Anaheim Foundation, Inc. dba Love Anaheim
Strength and Resilience Family Counseling Inc. Going Forward Justice Innovation, Inc.
City Attorney’s Office
The Memorandum of Understanding with the Orange County Public Defender’s Office was not ready at the time and is now being brought before City Council in finalized form.
DISCUSSION:
Since November 2024, staff from the City Attorney’s Office (CAO) and Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) have worked closely with state and federal agencies to execute grant agreements, complete required training on program regulations and reporting, and fulfill all compliance activities associated with the receipt of Proposition 47 and JMHCP grant funding. Concurrently, staff worked in partnership with the County of Orange (County) to finalize the scope of work, confirm budget details, and execute the MOU with the Orange County Public Defender’s Office to support the expansion of the ACCESS program.
Approval of Proposition 47 MOU with Orange County Public Defender’s Office for Expansion of ACCESS Program August 26, 2025
In collaboration with the County, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Anaheim and the Public Defender’s Office was presented to and approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors on August 12, 2025. This action formalized the County’s participation in ACCESS by dedicating a full-time Social Worker to support court- based diversion services.
The addition of a dedicated Social Worker from the Orange County Public Defender’s Office is designed to increase referrals and facilitate more efficient treatment plan implementation and tracking. The Social Worker will serve as a consistent presence in court, working alongside defense attorneys to screen cases for program eligibility and initiate timely referrals. This role is anticipated to reduce missed opportunities for diversion, improve continuity of care, and increase participation in the ACCESS program by connecting eligible individuals to treatment, housing, and support services at the earliest point of contact.
The following table outlines the proposed grant funding and amounts by organization that were named in the original November 19, 2024 City Council authorization for agreement execution. There is one outstanding grant for inpatient treatment services that is being negotiated by city staff that will be brought before City Council on a future date.
Organization Funding Source Amount Service Status
OC Public Defender’s
Office Proposition 47 $385,826 Social Worker Court
Administration
Ready
Subtotal of Finalized Grants $385,826
Inpatient Treatment
Provider
Proposition 47 $1,500,000 Inpatient Treatment and
Detoxification Pending
Subtotal of Pending Grants $1,500,000
Strength and Resilience
Family Counseling Inc.
Going Forward
Proposition 47 &
JMHCP $700,000 Mental Health Clinician
Services and Assessment Final
Mariposa Women and
Family Center Proposition 47 $2,100,000 Case Management and Housing Navigation Final
Anaheim Community
Hospital, LLC Proposition 47 $1,500,000 Acute Care and Intensive Outpatient Treatment Final
Love Anaheim Proposition 47 $288,750 Workforce Opportunities Final Justice Innovation, Inc. Proposition 47 &
JMHCP $640,000 Technical Evaluation and
Project Monitoring Final
City Attorney’s Office
Proposition 47 &
Opioid
Settlement Funds
$345,293 Court Coordination and
Program Administration Final
Subtotal of Subcontracts $5,574,043
Subtotal of Software Costs $425,000
Subtotal of Equipment Costs $75,000
Subtotal of Training Costs $221,000
Subtotal of Administrative Costs $468,724
Grand Total $8,649,593
These requests directly support the City’s Strategic Plan Goal B: Enhance Livability, Strategy 9: Maintain and expand services to address homelessness and its impacts.
Approval of Proposition 47 MOU with Orange County Public Defender’s Office for Expansion of ACCESS Program August 26, 2025
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The Housing and Community Development’s FY 2025/26 budget already includes funds for the proposed activities. There is no impact on the City’s general fund.
Respectfully submitted, Concurred by,
Grace Ruiz-Stepter Robert Fabela
Housing and Community City Attorney
Development Director
Attachments:
1. Proposition 47 Memorandum of Understanding for Orange County Public Defender Social Worker