Fiscal Year 2020–2021 Action Plan Implementation Progress Report

Implementation Progress Report for Fiscal Year 20-21 November 2021 Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council Lourdes M. Castro Ramírez Gail Gilman Secretary, Business Consumer Services and Housing Chief Strategy Officer, All Home, California Agency Council Chair Jody Ketcheside Deputy Regional Director, Turning Point of Central Emilio Ramirez California, Inc. Housing Director, City of Oxnard, CA Council Vice Chair Jennifer Loving Chief Executive Officer, Destination: Home Amy Anderson Senior Vice President, Housing Affordability Gary McCoy Philanthropy, Wells Fargo Community Member and Congressional Aide, Office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Russell Atterberry Undersecretary, California Department of Veterans Toks Omishakin Affairs Director, California Department of Transportation Alexis Barries Rebecca Ruan-O’Shaughnessy Advocate Vice Chancellor of Educational Services and Support, California Community Colleges Gina Buccieri-Harrington Assistant Director, Grants Management, Victim Lindsay Tornatore, PhD Services Program, Governor’s Office of Emergency Director, Student Achievement and Support Services Division, California Department of Education Corrin Buchanan Joseph Uchishiba Assistant Director of Housing and Homelessness, Retired Police Officer, City of Fairfield Police California Department of Social Services Department Donald Cavier Gustavo F. Velasquez Chief Deputy Director, California Housing Finance Director, California Department of Housing and Agency Community Development Jacey K. Cooper Chief Deputy Director of Health Care Programs, California Department of Health Care Services HCFC staff involved in the creation of this report Julie Lo, Executive Officer Cody Zeger, Statewide Action Plan Specialist Giselle Sanchez, Council Specialist Evan Joseph-Pinero, Staff Services Analyst Special thanks to HCFC consultant Matthew Doherty for his significant contributions to this report. i Introductory Letter This past year has been one of both uncertainty and immense opportunity. Throughout this time, California has worked in partnership with federal, state, local and community partners to advance a collective and comprehensive approach towards preventing and ending homelessness in California. Under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom, the state has made substantial progress through investments in our work across state systems. In doing so, we've taken bold strides to increase transparency and accountability within our shared work. In March 2021, the Council adopted California’s first ever comprehensive action plan to address homelessness. The Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness in California includes commitments from all state departments and agencies on the Council for Fiscal Years 2020-21 through 2022-23. The Action Plan serves as the framework to make homelessness in California a rare, brief, and one-time occurrence. This report details actions state departments took in FY 2020-21 to further our shared goals. In it, you will find information on the Action Plan, data on homelessness to be used as benchmarks for measuring future progress, and detailed progress reporting on the Action Plan activities themselves. Council member departments contributed to this report through updates to the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC), and we thank them for their hard work and dedication. One of the key principles within our Action Plan is shared responsibility, accountability, and efficiency. With this report we intend to demonstrate the state’s commitment to those ideals by bringing transparency to our actions addressing homelessness and drawing attention to examples of great progress throughout state government, of which there are many. Between March 2020 and October 2021, California showed urgency of action in protecting people experiencing homelessness from COVID-19 by standing up 16,000 non-congregate shelter rooms and serving over 48,000 individuals through Project Roomkey. The state also launched Homekey, which has helped local governments create nearly 6,000 housing units for people experiencing homelessness—including over 4,800 units of permanent housing—through the purchase of hotels, motels, and other buildings. At the same time, California enacted significant protections to keep people housed, committed more than $22 billion for housing and homelessness programs over the next two years, and stood up its COVID-19 Rent Relief program—which has assisted over 75,000 households through October 19, 2021. These are only a few highlights of efforts the State of California has taken in the past fiscal year toward preventing and ending homelessness. While this report serves as a record of key actions taken in FY 2020-21 by member departments within our Council, the work ahead is just as important. HCFC will update our Action Plan in FY 2021-22 to include newly planned activities and fresh data for performance measurements. We hope you will appreciate the hard work that helped create this report, and we thank you for taking the time to read it. In partnership, Lourdes Castro Ramírez, Council Chair Secretary, Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency ii Table of Contents Introductory Letter ................................................................................................ ii Action Plan Development and Reporting ......................................................... 1 Vision and Intent of the Action Plan ................................................................................................. 1 Development of the Action Plan ...................................................................................................... 2 Driving Progress Across Five Action Areas ........................................................................................ 3 Focus and Structure of this Implementation Progress Report ......................................................... 5 Highlights from FY 20-21 Implementation Progress .......................................... 6 Key Measures for Defining and Assessing Progress ......................................... 9 Fiscal Year 20-21 Key Measures ....................................................................................................... 10 Comparison to National and Regional Data and Trends ............................................................. 11 Equity Analysis ................................................................................................................................... 11 Implementation Progress Reporting ................................................................ 13 Action Area 1 ............................................................................................................................................... 14 Action Area 2 ............................................................................................................................................... 25 Action Area 3 .................................................................................................................................... 28 Action Area 4 .................................................................................................................................... 32 Action Area 5 .................................................................................................................................... 38 Fiscal Year 21-22 Priorities ................................................................................ 42 Conclusion and Acknowledgements ............................................................. 45 Attachment A: Action Plan Objectives ........................................................... 46 Attachment B: Fiscal Year 20-21 Activities ..................................................... 48 Attachment C: Baseline Measures Methodology .......................................... 64 Attachment D. Acronyms Used in this Report ................................................. 66 Action Plan Development and Reporting Vision and Intent of the Action Plan On any given night, more than 161,000 people are experiencing homelessness in California—representing more than one-quarter of all people experiencing homelessness in the United States.1 Making significant progress in preventing and ending homelessness across the state requires sustained and focused efforts at the federal, state, and local levels. Through the Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness in California adopted in March 2021, the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC)—the state’s interagency council on homelessness—pursues a vision for the state’s work to prevent and end homelessness that features: • Increased leadership from the state for identifying and supporting short- and long-term solutions; • Purposeful, action-oriented coordination and alignment across state agencies and programs; and • Stronger, collaborative partnerships with public and private partners in communities. The Action Plan orients the state’s efforts to drive purposeful, meaningful, and measurable progress toward preventing and ending homelessness in California. This effort is motivated by a vision of a future in which homelessness in California is: rare, because it is prevented whenever possible; brief, ended quickly whenever it does occur, through a focus on Housing First approaches and housing outcomes; and a one-time experience, ended successfully the first time, so that no Californians experience homelessness repeatedly. The implementation of the Action Plan is aligned with several key principles and practices, including:  Aligning state activities with Housing First  Pursuing racial equity and justice; approaches;  Creating solutions for the full diversity of  Balancing crisis response and permanent people experiencing homelessness; housing solutions; and  Seeking and valuing the expertise of  Shared responsibility, accountability, and people with lived experiences of efficiency across state departments and homelessness; programs, in close coordination with local communities 1 Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, “The 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress” 1 Development of the Action Plan The development of the Action Plan was led by HCFC staff and consultant Matthew Doherty, under the guidance and direction of the Council, and deeply informed by planning conversations with state staff and input discussions with external stakeholders. The HCFC Council meetings were used as critical milestones and decision points in its development. The planning process was initiated in July 2020, including surveying conversations with Council members and the initiation of extensive external input conversations. A special Council meeting was held in September 2020, focused on discussion of the Plan’s action areas, to inform the development of the Plan’s objectives and activities. The Council adopted the plan’s draft objectives at its October 2020 meeting. The Council’s December 2020 meeting focused on discussion of current and planned activities across state agencies that are driving or will drive progress toward these objectives, as well as potential priorities for additional state activities based on external stakeholder conversations and discussions with staff from state departments. The Council discussed a draft of the Action Plan at a special meeting in February 2021. Revisions based upon that discussion, and based upon follow-up meetings with department staff, were incorporated into a final draft of the Action Plan. The Council officially adopted the Action Plan during its March 2021 meeting. 2 Driving Progress Across Five Action Areas Implementation of the Action Plan drives progress across five distinct, but interrelated and complementary action areas, inclusive of the full range of activities necessary to prevent and end homelessness. ACTION AREA 1 Strengthening Our Systems to Better Prevent and End Homelessness in California Activities focused on pursuing racial equity in response to homelessness and housing instability; engagement and partnership with people with lived expertise from experiences of homelessness; support of interjurisdictional and regional planning; partnerships to strengthen outcomes related to education, employment, income, and assets; disaster preparedness and response; and communications and public awareness. ACTION AREA 2 Equitably Addressing the Health, Safety, and Services Needs of Californians Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness Activities focused on addressing health and safety needs and increasing access to State- supported services and programs for people who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. ACTION AREA 3 Expanding Communities’ Capacity to Provide Safe and Effective Sheltering and Interim Housing Activities focused on expanding the supply of safe, housing-placement focused sheltering and interim housing models and addressing health and services needs of people staying within such programs. ACTION AREA 4 Expanding and Ensuring Equitable Access to Permanent Housing in Our Communities Activities focused on strengthening Housing First approaches and expanding permanent housing opportunities through development strategies, short- and long-term rental assistance, and other rehousing activities. ACTION AREA 5 Preventing Californians from Experiencing the Crisis of Homelessness Activities focused on reducing entries into homelessness as people exit and/or receive services through State-funded programs and systems and enhancing communities’ capacity to provide targeted homelessness prevention and diversion services and assistance. 3 Each action area contains multiple objectives, with a total of fifteen, to be prioritized and pursued. Each objective further details multiple activities that one or more departments have committed to pursuing in order to drive progress toward the overall goal of preventing and ending homelessness. There are a total of 89 distinct activities over three fiscal years, each of which contains: • Activity reference numbers, arranged by Action Area, Objective, and Activity Number • A description of the activity to be implemented; • The lead department(s) responsible for implementing each activity; • The collaborating department(s) deeply involved in implementing each activity; • Timeframes for each activity; and • Performance measurements that will be used to assess progress and impact, including process measures, output measures, and, when possible, outcome measures. The Action Plan identifies objectives, activities, and performance Measures from FY 20-21 through FY 22-23. It is not intended to be inclusive of every strategic activity or investment that state agencies or the Council will undertake, but instead seeks to focus on the highest-priority strategies and efforts that will have the greatest impact. Performance measures can include: • Process Measures focused on assessing if activities have been implemented as intended; • Output Measures focused on documenting the amount or scale of actions taken; and • Outcome Measures focused on the results or impacts of the activities. For more information, please refer to Attachment A in this report for a list of all the Action Plan’s objectives, Attachment B for a list of all of the FY 20-21 activities included, and the complete Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness in California for more details regarding the information in this section as well as a full list of activities over all three fiscal years. 4 Focus and Structure of this Implementation Progress Report Driving progress to prevent and end homelessness—and toward more racially equitable outcomes—requires multi-pronged, multi-year strategies across sectors and systems. These must be supported by data analyses, performance measures, and metrics that help assess, refine, and revise those strategies. The development and adoption of the Action Plan responded to those needs and represents a commitment to a sharpened focus on performance measurement, data, and analysis. The Action Plan is inclusive of activities that were being implemented during FY 20-21. This allowed the Council to document and recognize significant and meaningful efforts already under way, to align them within the Action Plan’s objectives, and to incorporate those activities into the accountability mechanisms that the Council and HCFC staff are using to monitor the implementation of this Action Plan. This first Implementation Progress Report focuses on reporting progress related to activities that were expected to be implemented during FY 20-21. HCFC will report annually following the close of each fiscal year included in the Action Plan. This report organizes the assessment of progress in implementing the Action Plan into the following sections: • Highlights from FY 20-21 Implementation Progress describes several specific, high-impact accomplishments by Council member departments during FY 20-21. • Key Measures for Defining and Assessing Progress collects baseline data for key measures regarding homelessness in California that were identified within the Action Plan for HCFC to regularly analyze, review, and report on publicly. This section also includes a comparison with national and regional trends as well as an equity analysis of certain key measures. • Implementation Progress Reporting documents the progress that departments have made implementing each Action Plan activity. This section is organized by the Action Plan’s five action areas and fifteen objectives, but only includes activities expected to be implemented during FY 20-21. Further, each activity is accompanied by one or more icons that communicate the nature of the activity being implemented. • Fiscal Year 21-22 Priorities identifies high-priority activities the state has committed to implement during FY 21-22. These activities do not represent all the work to be done during this period, but serve as an example of the significant ongoing effort to achieve the vision laid out in the Action Plan. Informed by these regular assessments of implementation progress, the Council will update the Action Plan ahead of FY 22-23 to make any modifications to the Plan’s objectives and to identify additional specific activities to be implemented during FY 22-23. 5 Highlights from FY 20-21 Implementation Progress This section describes key achievements state agencies and departments reported from the past fiscal year and organizes them by the five action areas. Looking at the totality of the work the state completed during FY 20-21, however, a few common themes emerge that cut across all action areas. First, in FY 20-21, many state departments focused a significant portion of their work on mobilizing resources, funding, and direct support to people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic and other natural disasters. At the same time, Council departments continued implementing, and even expanding, programs to prevent and end homelessness in California. Finally, the state sharpened its focus on improving coordination among state actors and systems in order to better serve people experiencing homelessness and address systemic inequities. In doing so, the state has established a key foundation upon which the Council will continue in its charge to serve as a coordinating body of the diverse and complex array of state services and resources dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness. The activities below are only a portion of the work completed during FY 20-21, but display the breadth and depth of the state’s work to make homelessness rare, brief, and one-time. ACTION AREA 1 Strengthening Our Systems to Better Prevent and End Homelessness in California • HCFC completed implementation of the Homeless Emergency Aid Program, which provided $500 million over three years to 54 California communities as block grants to implement new initiatives, promising service models, and best practices in pursuit of reducing and ending homelessness. • California Department of Education (CDE) helped administer funds and plan the first annual conference to improve the identification, educational stability, access, support, and academic achievement of K-12 students experiencing homelessness. • California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has worked to make it easier to employ people who have experienced homelessness in their department by hosting job fairs, adjusting their interview process and requirements, and more. In FY 20-21, Caltrans extended 60 offers to people experiencing homelessness for Service Assistance Maintenance positions. • The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office provided three-year grants to 14 community colleges, which provided services to 519 community college students experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity and assisted 116 students in maintaining stable housing for six months or more. • HCFC’s most recent Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) grant requires applications to include plans to address racial disparities, involve people with lived experience of homelessness, and work collaboratively with regional partners—with technical assistance provided to applicants on these pieces. 6 • California’s Department of Social Services (CDSS) and Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) conducted outreach, listening sessions, application workshops, and technical assistance to Tribal Organizations applying for their funding. • HCFC launched the Homeless Data Integration System, which brings together data on individuals seeking homelessness services from nearly every Continuum of Care (CoC) to create a fuller picture of who experiences homelessness in California than the state has ever had before. ACTION AREA 2 Equitably Addressing the Health, Safety, and Services Needs of Californians Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness • CDSS implemented Project Roomkey, a brand-new program to provide non-congregate shelter to protect people experiencing homelessness from COVID-19. Between the program’s March 2020 launch and August 2021, 50 counties and two Tribes have participated, securing 16,000 rooms and serving over 42,000 individuals. • California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) aided communities applying for federal reimbursement for their Project Roomkey programs. • HCFC hosted frequent webinars and published guidance for state and local partners on topics such as strategically utilizing the variety of funding sources available during the pandemic, adjusting shelter during COVID-19, and making vaccines available to people experiencing homelessness. • HCFC provided guidance on how homelessness service providers should respond to fires and other natural disasters in their areas. ACTION AREA 3 Expanding Communities’ Capacity to Provide Safe and Effective Sheltering and Interim Housing • CDSS continued to operate their existing statewide housing and homelessness programs that allow for the provision of safe and effective sheltering and interim housing, among other eligible uses. As an example of outcomes from one of these programs, in FY 20-21, CalWORKs Homeless Assistance approved funding for more than 32,000 families to help cover the costs of temporary shelter, a security deposit, or prevent eviction. • California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) adapted activities within Whole Person Care to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness during COVID- 19, which assisted at least 9 counties in building upon their Project Roomkey efforts. • HCD continued to implement the federal Community Development Block Grant CARES Act program that provided $150 million to support acquisition, construction, conversion, and rehabilitation of temporary shelter in California. • Cal OES continued implementing multiple grants that include housing services for youth and adult victims of crime who are experiencing homelessness. 7 ACTION AREA 4 Expanding and Ensuring Equitable Access to Permanent Housing in Our Communities • In response to the availability of hotels for Project Roomkey and the need for more housing for people experiencing homelessness, the state funded Homekey to facilitate the purchase and conversion of buildings to augment the supportive housing stock. As of April 2021, HCD reports that Homekey has supported 103 housing projects to bring 5,911 housing units—including 4,862 units of permanent housing—online across the state. • In partnership with California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), HCD also helped continue implementation of the Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program, which made awards to 16 projects to build 421 units of affordable, supportive, or transitional housing for veterans. • California Housing Finance Agency operated the Special Needs Housing Program, which financed 796 permanent supportive housing units in FY 20-21 for individuals with serious mental illness and their families who are experiencing homelessness. • California Tax Credit Allocation Committee provided priority for within both the 9% and 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit applications for projects serving people experiencing homelessness. • HCFC continued to implement the HHAP grant program, which has so far provided $950 million over two rounds of funding to support regional coordination and expand local capacity to address homelessness. ACTION AREA 5 Preventing Californians from Experiencing the Crisis of Homelessness • BCSH implemented California’s COVID-19 Rent Relief Program that helps income-eligible households who have been impacted by COVID-19 cover the cost of rent and utilities. As of October 19, 2021, the state program had received over 433,000 household applications requesting approximately $4.5 billion in assistance. To date, the state program has paid or approved for payment approximately $1.7 billion in assistance. Of that total, over $897 million has been expended, assisting more than 75,000 California households. • California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in partnership with the Amity Foundation, helped implement the Returning Home Well program, which expands the housing services available to people leaving prisons. • HCD issued agreements to six counties totaling $60.1 million for the Housing for a Healthy California program, which provides housing for individuals who are recipients of or eligible for Medi-Cal. 8 Key Measures for Defining and Assessing Progress HCFC will use data from a variety of sources to regularly analyze, review, report upon, and publicly share key measures regarding homelessness in California. This will serve to assess the impact of federal, state, and local efforts; document and analyze racial inequities; and refine this Plan’s objectives and activities. The charts below use the most recent U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Point-in-Time (PIT) Counts and System Performance Measures (SPM) to document baseline data for key measures, comparing these to national and regional trends, and providing an analysis of racial and ethnic disparities where data is available. In future reports, HCFC plans to utilize the Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS) to document changes from these baseline measures and provide more detail into subpopulations and demographics. For more information on the methodology used in this summary, see Attachment C. Key Measures FY 20-21 Measures Summary 1. The number of Californians experiencing In January 2020, California estimated it is sheltered and unsheltered homelessness at home to over 161,000 people experiencing a point in time, including Veterans, people homelessness, making it the state with the experiencing chronic homelessness, largest such population in the country. families with children, adults, and Of these individuals, approximately 70% were unaccompanied youth. unsheltered. This unsheltered rate is higher 2. The number of Continuums of Care in than that of the country overall (39%) as well California reporting increases versus as other west coast states like Nevada and decreases in the number of people Oregon (61%), and Washington (47%). experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness within annual Point-in-Time Also, over 30% identified as Black or African counts. American. This represents a huge disparity 3. The number of people spending time in given the overall population identifying as emergency shelter, transitional housing, Black or African American in California is 6.5%. and safe havens in California annually. Throughout 2020, CoCs reported serving over 4. The number of Californians experiencing 130,000 people in emergency shelter, homelessness for the first time, successfully transitional housing, and safe havens. exiting homelessness, and returning to Additionally, nearly 77,000 people homelessness each year. experienced homelessness for the first time. 5. The number of children and youth Last, while the national population of people experiencing homelessness at some point experiencing homelessness has declined by during the school year in California, about 9% in the past decade, California’s has including students in families and increased by over 30%. unaccompanied students. 9 Fiscal Year 20-21 Key Measures Measure 1: The number of Californians experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness at a point in time, including Veterans, people experiencing chronic homelessness, families with children, adults, and unaccompanied youth. Source: HUD 2020 PIT Count. Sheltered Unsheltered Total 47,888 113,660 Veterans 3,405 7,996 People experiencing 9,590 42,195 chronic homelessness Families with children 6,252 1,778 Adults 28,051 106,930 Unaccompanied Youth 2,662 9,510 Measure 2: The number of Continuums of Care in Measure 3: The number of people spending time in California reporting increases versus decreases in the emergency shelter, transitional housing, and safe havens number of people experiencing sheltered and in California annually. Source: HUD 2020 SPM. unsheltered homelessness within annual Point-in-Time counts. Sources: HUD 2020 and 2019 PIT Counts.2 Unsheltered 14 6 24 Homelessness Sheltered 18 10 16 Homelessness CoCs increasing in population by 5% or more CoCs decreasing in population by 5% or more Less than 5% population change Measure 4: The number of Californians experiencing Measure 5: The number of children and youth homelessness for the first time, successfully exiting experiencing homelessness at some point during the homelessness, and returning to homelessness each school year in California, including students in families year. Source: HUD 2020 SPM. and unaccompanied students. Source: CDE 2019-2020 school year data. Students in Returns to Families, Homelessness 10,557 239,874 Successful Exits 40,956 First Time 76,596 Homelessness Unaccompanied Students, 6,476 2 Note: CoCs are not required to submit unsheltered counts in even-numbered years, therefore 21 CoCs reported no change in their unsheltered population between their 2019 and 2020 PIT Counts. 10 Comparison to National and Regional Data and Trends Percent Change in Population of People Experiencing Percent Change in Population of People Experiencing Homelessness, 2010 to 2020 Homelessness, 2015 to 2020 U.S., California, and select West Coast states U.S., California, and select West Coast states Source: HUD 2020 and 2010 PIT Counts Source: HUD 2020 and 2015 PIT Counts U.S. CA OR WA NV AZ U.S. CA OR WA NV AZ 31% 40% 18% 11% 11% 3% 0.2% -9% -20% -21% -25% -38% California’s homelessness crisis stands out from the west coast and the U.S. overall in a few ways. First, California is home to the largest number of people experiencing homelessness in any state. With 28% of the nation’s homeless population, it comes ahead of New York (16%), Florida and Texas (5% each). However, when looking at homelessness as a rate, California comes in fourth with Washington D.C. ranked first (90.4 people experiencing homelessness per 10,000 residents), followed by New York (46.9), Hawaii (45.6), and California (40.9).3 Additionally, while the U.S. and most west coast states have seen decreases in homelessness over the past decade, homelessness in California has risen by 31%. Since 2015, however, more states have seen increases in homelessness (or greater increases), which has made homelessness in the U.S. increase as well. This demonstrates that preventing and ending homelessness in California is not only urgent for the state, but can also have a crucial impact on the progress of the country as a whole. Equity Analysis The response to homelessness requires a commitment to addressing and reducing the racial inequities among people experiencing homelessness, how they are served, and their outcomes achieved within the homelessness response system. The annual PIT count provides estimates of racial and ethnic groups experiencing homelessness in California. While data is not currently available for all subpopulations across each key measure, in future reports HCFC will utilize HDIS to provide additional insights into racial and ethnic disparities across the population of people experiencing homelessness overall, those served in sheltered and unsheltered settings, and those going through key events (as described in the Key Measures section above). 3 Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness, “State of Homelessness: 2021 Edition” 11 Racial Breakdown of CA Population, People Experiencing Homelessness, and those in Sheltered Settings (Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, and Safe Havens) and Unsheltered Settings in CA Source: HUD 2020 PIT Count; 2019 California Census People Sheltered Unsheltered CA Population Experiencing Settings Settings Homelessness White 71.9% 54.1% 54.1% 53.9% Black/African American 6.5% 30.7% 30.7% 29.1% Asian 15.5% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0% American Indian 1.6% 4.0% 4.0% 4.4% Native Hawaiian/ 0.5% 1.1% 1.1% 1.1% Pacific Islander Multiple Races 4.0% 8.1% 8.1% 9.4% According to the 2020 PIT Count, people identified as Black/African American are overrepresented in the population of people experiencing homelessness in California, making up 30.7% of the population as compared to only 6.5% of the state’s population overall. People identified as White and Asian are underrepresented among those experiencing homelessness. Across sheltered and unsheltered settings, however, the racial demographics are relatively proportionate to groups’ representation in the population of people experiencing homelessness. Ethnic Breakdown of CA Population, People Experiencing Homelessness, and those in Sheltered Settings (Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, and Safe Havens) and Unsheltered Settings in CA Source: HUD 2020 PIT Count; 2019 California Census People Sheltered Unsheltered CA Population Experiencing Settings Settings Homelessness Hispanic/Latinx 39.4% 32.2% 32.2% 31.5% Non-Hispanic/Non-Latinx 60.6% 67.8% 67.8% 68.5% When looking at the ethnic breakdown, people identified as Hispanic/Latinx appear to be slightly underrepresented in the population of people experiencing homelessness. Similar to the racial breakdown, however, the ethnic demographics across sheltered and unsheltered settings are relatively proportionate to groups’ representation in the population of people experiencing homelessness. 12 Implementation Progress Reporting The reporting of implementation progress in this section is organized by the Action Plan’s five action areas and fifteen objectives, and only includes progress reporting for activities which were to be implemented during FY 20-21. See Attachment B for details on each activity to be implemented in FY 20-21, and the Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness in California for a complete list of activities to be implemented through FY 22-23. See Attachment D for a list of acronyms commonly referred to throughout this section. In August 2021, HCFC reached out to staff from Council member departments for updates on their FY 20-21 activities. Departments were asked to report data specifically for FY 20-21 whenever possible. However, if this information was not yet available, departments provided the most current data or noted when FY 20-21 data will be available. To help communicate the nature of the activities being implemented, each activity is coded with one or more of the following icons: Activities Focused on Addressing Racial Equity: This icon denotes activities with an explicit focus on addressing racial equity within state and local efforts to prevent and end homelessness. Activities Documenting and Strengthening the Impact of State Programs: This icon denotes activities related to strengthening the implementation and impact of state and federal funding, programs, and policies. As described within the Action Plan, during FY 21-22, state departments will set targets for many of these activities and future reports will assess progress toward those goals. Activities Providing Technical Assistance, Training, and Guidance: This icon denotes activities offering technical assistance, training, or guidance to assist community partners as they implement programs to address homelessness. 13 Action Area 1. Strengthening Our Systems to Better Prevent and End Homelessness in California ACTION AREA 1 Strengthening Our Systems to Better Prevent and End Homelessness in California This action area includes activities focused on pursuing racial equity in response to homelessness and housing instability; engagement and partnership with people with lived expertise from experiences of homelessness; supporting interjurisdictional and regional planning; partnerships to strengthen outcomes related to education, employment, income, and assets; disaster preparedness and response; and communications and public awareness.  Objective 1: Strengthen racial equity-focused responses, strategies, and activities of State agencies and of local agencies and organizations receiving State funding for any homelessness services and housing activities. Activity 1: Provide and HCFC’s FY 20-21 Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grant coordinate technical (HHAP-2) required applicants to prioritize racial equity in their use of assistance focused on funds. Additionally, HCFC contracted to provide technical assistance racial equity to support (TA) to grantees around racial equity in the design and evaluation of equitable access and outcomes within State- their programs. This included individualized TA, cohort models, and funded programs, and to creation of materials was made available to grantees statewide. Forty- strengthen coordinated four (44) of the 100 HHAP-2 grantees received this TA. entry systems, prioritization policies, and targeting strategies in order to address disparities in access to services and resources. Activity 2: Incorporate a HCFC incorporated a focus on racial equity into HHAP annual reports focus on racial equity and funding applications beginning Q2 FY 20-21. data, analysis, and planned activities within HCFC published an analysis of qualitative annual report data related applications for State to racial equity in HCFC Annual Funding Report in Q3 FY 20-21. Among homelessness and the findings were that grantees sought community input on their housing-focused funding programs, conducted disparate impact analyses, and prioritized HHAP (HHAP, ESG-CV, others), and analyze the data and funding to serve disparately impacted communities where possible. information gathered in HCFC completed initial analysis of racial equity data from HHAP round response. 2 (HHAP-2) applications in Q3 & Q4 FY 20-21 to inform application approvals and provided TA to 44 of 100 grantees to assist with further planning for this work. ACTION AREA 1 Activity 3: Provide In April 2021, the California Department of Housing and Community guidance and education Development (HCD) released an Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing regarding requirements of (AFFH) guidance memorandum. The memo provides a comprehensive AB 686: Housing guidance to assist local governments in meeting AB 686 requirements. discrimination: affirmatively further fair This release included an AFFH Data Viewer tool to assist local housing, and perform governments in accessing data to conduct a strong AFFH analysis. reviews of local HCD sent the document and data tool link to all 539 jurisdictions. HCD governments’ Housing provided webinars on the guidance and data tool to stakeholders, Elements with a focus on addressing racial including local governments. inequities and HCD has provided guidance and education regarding the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. requirements of AB 686 as well as performed 120 reviews of local governments’ housing elements in FY 20-21, with a focus on addressing racial inequities and affirmatively furthering fair housing for all housing elements reviewed. Activity 4: Provide Federally recognized Tribes are eligible grantees for California technical assistance and Department of Social Services (CDSS) programs including Project training opportunities, and Roomkey, Housing Disability and Advocacy Program (HDAP), Home adapt program guidelines and guidance, to Safe, and Bringing Families Home (BFH). CDSS encourages regional enhance Tribal applications between Tribes and counties through formal application Organizations’ access to guidelines. State homelessness and housing programs and • Since FY 19-20, a total of 12 Tribes have participated in locally resources. operated CDSS housing programs. The CDSS Housing and Homelessness Branch works in close collaboration and consultation with the CDSS Office of Tribal Affairs for tribal program model and design considerations, outreach for funding, and support in ongoing TA. • In FY 2020-21, $3 million was set aside for Tribes interested in operating the HDAP. In partnership with a TA provider, CDSS hosted bi-weekly learning sessions with eight Tribal grantees to help facilitate successful programs. HCD has worked to update guidelines and Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs) to explicitly include Tribal Organizations. They have completed this work for two guidelines and five NOFAs, and are in process of updating two more guidelines with this information. • HCD conducted five listening sessions with Tribal Organizations, one application workshop, 22 individual program TA conferences, and four office hours. • HCD received three applications for Homekey 1.0 funding from Tribes and awarded funds to all three. Additionally, HCD received applications from 19 Tribes for Community Development Block Grant - CARES Act funding for 21 service activities/projects. 15 ACTION AREA 1 Activity 5: Utilize the newly HCFC launched the Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS) in April developed Homeless 2021 with a public dashboard published on the HCFC website. The Data Integration System current release includes 42 of 44 Continuums of Care (CoCs) reporting to support both Statewide data from 2017 - 2020. The next release will include all 44 CoCs and local analyses of data, focused on reporting more current data. documenting and HCFC is currently working with a contractor to build out and strengthen understanding racial inequities in experiences HDIS’s capacity to support analyses focused on racial inequities. of homelessness and provision of services, including the creation of a public dashboard documenting analyses. Activity 6: Expand efforts New draft guidelines for HCD’s Multifamily Housing Program, proposed to ensure that June 2021, will expand availability of higher loan amounts to include developments funded supportive housing units in order to incentivize and facilitate through the Multifamily production in high resource areas. HCD will also oversee to help ensure Housing Program and other State funding these units continue to serve this population over time. sources are also being Additionally, HCD proposed application scoring changes that include developed in high- resource communities. point increases for developments located in high resource opportunity areas, as well as new criteria for moderate and emerging opportunity areas. Activity 7: Provide Activity not yet started. HCFC reports plans to make progress on this relevant training and skill- goal beginning in FY 21-22. building opportunities, such as California’s Documenting progress on this activity will be one of the priorities of the Capitol Collaborative on Racial Equity Working Group to be formed in FY 21-22. Race and Equity training, to State agency staff to enable staff to provide more expert advice and guidance to partners and communities. 16 ACTION AREA 1  Objective 2: Ensure that State and local planning and decision-making processes are deeply informed and guided by recommendations from people with lived expertise from experiences of homelessness. Activity 2: Proactively HCFC held input discussions with at least 62 organizations during Q2 engage local boards and and Q3 FY 20-21 to inform Action Plan development. At least three of committees of people these groups included people with lived experience and expertise of with lived experience and homelessness. expertise to provide input on the development of Continued engagement with local lived expertise boards and the HCFC Action Plan. committees, both adult and youth, throughout FY 20-21 to discuss HCFC Action Plan and future Lived Experience Advisory Board. Conducted meetings with similar boards in Santa Clara County, Los Angeles County, and Santa Cruz as well as with California Youth Connection. Activity 4: Incorporate HCFC incorporated questions regarding the involvement of people questions regarding the with lived experience into HHAP funding applications beginning Q2 FY involvement of people 20-21. with lived experience and expertise into local HCFC completed an initial analysis of local planning and decision- planning and decision- making data from HHAP-2 applications in Q3 & Q4 FY 20-21 to inform making processes within application approvals and provided technical assistance to grantees applications for State homelessness and to assist with planning for this work. housing-focused funding Confirmed that all 100 grantees submitted information about (e.g., HHAP, ESG-CV, HSP) and analyze the incorporating people with lived experience into planning and information gathered in decision-making, but detailed quantitative measures on outcomes response. from these grants are not yet available.  Objective 3: Incentivize interjurisdictional and regional planning, decision-making, and accountability, and support capacity for such coordination through “mapping” and local gaps analysis activities focused on needs, demographics and inequities, and service delivery capacities. Activity 1: Support and HCFC incorporated questions related to partnership and collaboration strengthen expectation of in annual reporting for both the Homeless Emergency Aid Program joint CoC-county-city (HEAP) and HHAP round 1 (HHAP-1). It included qualitative analysis of planning and this data in the HCFC Annual Funding Report in Q3 FY 20-21. coordination in awards and implementation of HCFC solicited and processed applications for HHAP-2, which solicited State homelessness details on how jurisdictions coordinate to address regional needs, per funding. Health and Safety Code Section 50220.5 (d). HCFC has worked with participating departments to form the State Funding and Programs Working Group in Q1 FY 20-21. This group had its first meeting in October 2021 with this activity included as a potential priority. 17 ACTION AREA 1 Activity 3: Utilize the HCFC launched HDIS in April 2021 with a public dashboard on the Homeless Data Integration HCFC website. System to conduct analysis to support HCFC has regularly pulled data from HDIS and used for analyses regional and cross- including, but not limited to: jurisdictional analyses, planning discussions, and • An analysis of families with children accessing services in the decision-making. homelessness response system to evaluate characteristics of these families and factors associated with permanently housing families. Through this analysis, HCFC provides recommendations for ways CoCs can assess their systems and house families at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Policy Brief under review. • An inventory of all state-funded programs and an analysis of the coverage of HCFC-funded programs in Homeless Management Information Systems, in order to provide better guidance and technical assistance to grantees on these guidelines. Memo forthcoming. HCFC has hosted monthly HDIS Academy Learning Sessions that build community and connections among CoCs, assist with using data to address the day-to-day issues that arise in their work, and allow for collaboration around how to make HDIS more effective. Almost 100 unique CoC staff from 36 CoCs have attended an HDIS Academy session since the launch in May 2021. Activity 4: Leverage HCD's HCD is developing a technical guide for state homelessness programs role in reviewing and to provide local planning departments with resources and information regulating Housing on addressing homelessness. The guide will require the input of Elements, with HCFC's program information from other HCFC member departments, likely interagency scope, to deliver a new level of through the State Funding and Programs Working Group. technical assistance on homelessness to cities and counties, and, in collaboration with other State departments, develop an interagency guide on actions city governments can take to address homelessness. Activity 5: Provide grants As of August 13, 2021, HCD awarded 488 SB 2 Planning Grants, 497 resources that support local and regional Local Early Action Planning Grants, and 19 Regional Early Action planning and initiatives Planning Grants. These grants are aimed at providing funding and through SB 2 Planning technical assistance to local governments for streamlining approvals Grants, Local Early Action for housing developments, accelerating production, and facilitating Planning Grants, and regional projects. Regional Early Action Planning Grants. HCD is on track to meet or exceed goal of awarding 1,027 grants by the end of FY 22-23. 18 ACTION AREA 1  Objective 4: Enhance partnerships between homelessness services systems and services and systems which can support asset building and wealth building, including improving access to educational opportunities and employment services and employment for people experiencing and exiting homelessness. Activity 2: Provide The California Department of Education (CDE) Homeless Education technical assistance to enhance capacity of Program (HEP) staff provided a series of webinars during the 2020-2021 local educational school year and disseminated 352 TA emails through the Homeless agencies (LEAs) to Education Resource Listserv. All webinar presentations can be viewed provide services and on the CDE Website. supports for students experiencing homelessness and housing instability to foster educational achievement and progression. Activity 3. Assess the The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has made impact of employment conditional job offers to 60 people experiencing homelessness for its opportunities provided Service Assistance Maintenance positions at eight separate Clean through Caltrans’ Service Assistance Maintenance California hiring events in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego positions on hiring of Counties. Caltrans has worked with local organizations to disseminate people experiencing information about these hiring events specifically to people homelessness and access experiencing homelessness. to promotional opportunities and career Caltrans has worked to remove barriers for people experiencing ladders. homelessness gaining employment by offering entry-level positions that have no license requirements, providing employment examinations in person instead of on a computer, and offering next-day interviews that can result in conditional job offers. Activity 4: Collaborate CDE’s HEP staff presented at various conferences, meetings, and with local educational state-level events throughout the 2020-2021 school year. These agencies (LEAs), state presentations focused on identification of students experiencing level educational homelessness, services and supports available, and resources for partners, youth organizations and across distance learning. divisions within the CDE to HEP staff also developed and posted a Housing Questionnaire in identify needs of students experiencing multiple languages and encouraged all LEAs to use it to better identify homelessness related to homeless students. Additionally, the Resources for Homeless Children distance learning and and Youth website was updated with COVID-19 resources. develop strategies, resources, and tools to address those needs. 19 ACTION AREA 1 Activity 5: Communicate CDE posted a Request for Applications for a 3-year project to provide and disseminate support and technical assistance to COEs to ensure they have the guidance to county capacity, resources, and the tools required to support their LEAs with offices of education implementation of the Education for Homeless Children and Youth (COEs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and Act. partnering agencies to CDE’s HEP staff is currently working on fact sheets to post and strengthen support for students experiencing disseminate regarding various homeless education topics such as homelessness. identification, enrollment, transportation, collaboration, etc. Activity 6: Implement and HHIP provided 14 California community colleges with three-year evaluate the Homeless annual grants of up to $700,000 each to help homeless and housing and Housing Insecurity insecure students find reliable shelter. Preliminary, self-reported data Pilot (HHIP) Program, indicates the following outputs between January 1, 2020 and June 30, which provides housing services and support to 2020: 224 homeless students received services, 295 housing insecure homeless and housing students received services, and 116 homeless or housing insecure insecure students. students maintained stable housing for six months or more. California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) also provided professional development trainings to colleges piloting the HHIP program on topics including how to strengthen program and community partnerships and develop and maximize institutional structure and resources to support students in the program. CCCCO is launching student-level data collection from the 14 pilot sites in late 2021. Full report on HHIP outcomes to come. Activity 7: Implement the The Returning Home Well (RHW) Initiative is a partnership between Returning Home Well initiative in partnership California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and with philanthropic Amity Foundation to increase the services available to those released organizations, addressing from incarceration. RHW has established a partnership with the Center the employment needs of for Employment to distribute stipends to support people’s participation people transitioning from in employment services. A total of 1,095 stipends have been corrections settings, including through the distributed. provision of stipends to support people’s participation in employment services and through the leveraging of local workforce services and partnerships. 20 ACTION AREA 1 Activity 8: Monitor local CDE disseminated TA letters to LEAs based on information provided educational agencies’ through the Consolidated Application and Reporting System (CARS). (LEAs’) implementation of The number and type of letters sent were as follows: the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act. • 598 Zero Spent Title I Letters sent to outline how to ensure funds for homeless education are reserved and spent. • 308 Less Than $10 Reserved Title I Letters sent to help LEAs determine an appropriate amount to reserve for homeless education. • 702 At Least 1 Training Missing Letters sent to remind LEA representatives to offer professional development opportunities around education of homeless students. • 527 Old or No Board Policy Letters to inform LEAs to update or create new homeless education board policies. CDE also used CARS information to determine which LEAs would receive a Homeless Education Federal Program Monitoring review for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years. For the 2020-2021 school year, 30 LEAs were monitored through this process. Activity 9: Participate in CCCCO participates in bi-weekly meetings of the California Higher California Higher Education Basic Needs Alliance (CHEBNA) with the California State Education Basic Needs University and University of California systems. The CHEBNA hosted a Alliance intersegmental workgroup with CSU and virtual learning series for higher education professionals to address UC systems to advance ways to continue to support students, including their access to basic needs security financial aid, healthy food, safe housing, and health and mental including addressing health support. homelessness and housing insecurity for students to Recent CHEBNA meetings have focused on reviewing and providing increase their success. feedback about the BenefitsCal program, to ensure students are able and eligible to utilize this tool. Additionally, CHEBNA is reviewing and providing feedback regarding student eligibility policies for CalFresh. 21 ACTION AREA 1  Objective 5: Support California communities to develop disaster preparedness plans that are more inclusive of the needs of people experiencing homelessness. Activity 1: Produce and Listos California was originally designed to disseminate disaster disseminate the Listos preparedness data and information to the underserved communities California Disaster Guide and populations, homelessness being one of those populations. Listos for People Experiencing officially ended in March 2021, but another iteration is being Homelessness. considered. An impact report is available on their website. The Disaster Guide for People Experiencing Homelessness was published and disseminated widely. Among others, it was sent to current subrecipients of the following grants managed by California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), whose target populations include people experiencing homelessness: • Homeless Youth and Exploitation • Homeless Youth Emergency Services Pilot • Homeless Youth and Emergency Services and Housing • Specialized Emergency Housing • Transitional Housing • Domestic Violence Housing First Activity 5: Incorporate HCFC partially addressed this through inclusion of this topic in the focus on eligibility of Strategic Spending Guide in September 2020. Distributed Federal people experiencing Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) related letters, resources, homelessness for FEMA- and links; resources are currently listed under COVID-19 Resources funded assistance into federal advocacy efforts. webpage. 22 ACTION AREA 1  Objective 6: Expand State communications efforts to create public awareness of the State’s homelessness strategies, successes, challenges, and the importance of Housing First approaches. Activity 1: Continue In September 2020, the California Business, Consumer Services and implementation of the Housing Agency (BCSH) launched Housing is Key, which provides Housing is Key campaign, online resources to help Californians stay in their homes or understand providing materials and housing options during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. This resources to help Californians stay in their website contains information about tenant and homeowner homes, understand their protections, an application portal for the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief housing options during program, and more resources for tenants, landlords, and homeowners COVID-19 and beyond, across the state. and to educate the public regarding the The COVID-19 Rent Relief program focuses on assistance to the lowest- causes of homelessness, income Californians who may be at greater risk to become homeless effective solutions, and State strategies and from pandemic-related hardships. According to BCSH’s online programs. program dashboard, the COVID-19 Rent Relief program provided over $897 million in total assistance to more than 69,000 California households through October 19, 2021. Of the households assisted, approximately 84% are at 50% Area Median Income (AMI) and below and nearly 60% are at 30% AMI and below. Activity 2: Provide HCFC conducted multiple webinars, published documents, and homelessness-focused provided technical assistance for partner organizations. Examples communications to local include: partners, including webinars, videos, tools, • Supportive Services for Veteran Families: HCFC presented on guidance, and other funding guidance and key resources in December 2020. resources and materials, • 100-Day Challenge: As of May 2021, seven CoCs have focused on Housing First implementation, strategic completed a 100-Day Challenge in two cohorts. Additional use of funding sources, cohorts are planned for FY 21-22. and effective programs • HDIS Academy: Learning sessions happen monthly since May and practices. 2021 to help communities use their Homeless Management Information System data in new and useful ways. HCFC provided targeted technical assistance and updates to communities focused on funding sources as well as effective and promising practices for addressing homelessness. Examples include: • COVID technical assistance calls with CDSS in April and May 2020. • In coordination with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), HCD, and CDSS, HCFC conducted targeted outreach to communities to address an array of issues related to rehousing individuals, with a focus on housing first. In FY 20-21, communities participated in 11 of these “pulse check” meetings. • HEAP and HHAP youth set-aside support check-in calls. 23 ACTION AREA 1 Activity 3: Prepare public- HCFC launched HDIS in April 2021 with a public dashboard published facing materials and on the HCFC website. HCFC did not publish any reports based on HDIS articles based upon data during FY 20-21, however, a Family Homelessness Policy Brief is currently and information drawn under leadership’s review, intended to be released in Q2 FY 21-22 with from the Homeless Data Integration System an accompanying webinar. warehouse, to educate the public on challenges, activities, and implementation of programs and resources. Activity 4: Proactively HCFC started this activity with the HDIS rollout and Key Measures analyze and develop section of this report. HCFC will be engaging further in these efforts in educational materials that FY 21-22. interpret and communicate key findings of national reports focused on homelessness and featuring California data, such as HUD’s Point- in-Time count data and reporting. 24 Action Area 2. Equitably Addressing the Health, Safety, and Services Needs of Californians Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness ACTION AREA 2 Equitably Addressing the Health, Safety, and Services Needs of Californians Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness This action area includes activities focused on addressing health and safety needs and increasing access to state-supported services and programs for people who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness.  Objective 7: Continue to support California communities to implement multi-agency, multi- jurisdictional outreach and protective measures addressing the health and safety needs of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Activity 2: Continue to In response to COVID-19, the California Department of Health Care support COVID-19 Services (DHCS) adapted activities within Whole Person Care (WPC) to focused adaptations to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness during Whole Person Care COVID-19. Some examples include WPC funding being used for programs and services to better address the needs outreach and infrastructure expansion to help shelter people of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness, on-site housing navigation, hotel voucher during the pandemic and programs, and redesigning hospital discharge protocols, among beyond. others. While Project Roomkey programs did not always utilize WPC funds, they often built on work started by WPC and helped to improve local systems of care. At least 9 counties were able to utilize this funding to help build upon their Project Roomkey programs. Activity 3: Create, HCFC conducted the webinar Vaccine Eligibility Guidance for People disseminate, and support Experiencing Homelessness & Vaccine Rollout Considerations on implementation of March 19, 2021. The webinar featured presenters from CA Department resources related to vaccination efforts for of Public Health, Blue Shield, HCFC, and HCD. people experiencing HCFC published Vaccine Preparation for California’s Homeless unsheltered homelessness Response System on its website in February 2021. and outreach staff, including promoting HCFC published Preparing to Vaccinate People Experiencing eligible uses of State Homelessness Who Are Unsheltered on its website in March 2021. funding for such efforts. HCFC published Lessons Learned: Planning and Implementing a Vaccine Strategy for People Experiencing Homelessness on its website in March 2021. HCFC posts other relevant resources on its Vaccine Resources website as they became available. ACTION AREA 2 Activity 4: Promote strong HCFC collects and publishes local and federal resources specific to practices for identifying homeless youth on its Resources webpage and shares them in ongoing and engaging engagement with local partners. unsheltered young people into available services HCFC provided technical assistance to communities to promote strong and supports. and promising practices to support unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness. Example session topics include distance learning for youth experiencing homelessness as well as homeless youth federal grants and promising practices. HCFC hosted a presentation by CDE and local partners on education and homelessness system collaboration to better support students experiencing homelessness in Q1 of FY 21-22. Ongoing work deferred to Youth and Young Adults Working Group, which is slated to launch in FY 21-22. Activity 6: Provide HCFC provided technical assistance to communities to support and guidance and support for strategize state funding and safety needs of people experiencing the utilization of State unsheltered homelessness in encampments, non-congregate and funding to effectively congregate shelters. address the health and safety needs of people HCFC and partners provided multiple guidance resources related to experiencing unsheltered the pandemic and other disaster response. Examples include: homelessness, including guidance regarding State • Disaster Guide for People Experiencing Homelessness funds that can be used for • Planning and Preparation Resources for Fire and Public Health basic needs and protective measures, e.g., Emergencies in California showers, hygiene supplies, • Rehousing out of Project Roomkey and other non-congregate and sanitation services. shelters • Guide to Strategic Uses of Key State and Federal Funds to Reduce Homelessness During the COVID-19 Pandemic Activity 7: Promote the Activity not yet started. HCFC will utilize the Employment Working eligible uses of State Group to better address this activity when it is launched in FY 21-22 or funding for employing early FY 22-23. specialized peer positions to better reach and engage people experiencing unsheltered homelessness into available services and supports. 26 ACTION AREA 2  Objective 8: Improve access, and address racial inequities within such access, to essential State-supported services appropriate for the needs of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, including through Medi-Cal and behavioral health care reforms. Activity 3: Continued DHCS amended Whole Person Care (WPC) pilot contracts to allow for operation of Whole Person continuation of activities through December 31, 2021. All 23 WPC pilot Care pilots and Health contracts were extended, and 22 have been fully executed. WPC Homes Program care pilots continue to provide health and behavioral health services for coordination and housing services in 2021 to unsheltered individuals via this contract extension. continue to strengthen WPC and Health Homes Program (HHP) Medi-Cal member enrollment, access to health and behavioral health services care coordination, and housing support services will continue to be for people who are provided through 2021. Beginning January 1, 2022, services will be unsheltered. available through Enhanced Care Management and In Lieu of Services. DHCS continues to track enrollment and utilization of WPC by individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness for each WPC pilot. Quarterly data for 2021 will be available in April 2022. DHCS continues monitoring the enrollment of Medi-Cal managed care plan members who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness into HHP. DHCS published updated data on HHP enrollment figures in June 2021, which showed that 42,683 members had enrolled across the state between July 2018 and April 2021. Activity 4: Continue DHCS finalized county data submission standards related to housing operation and enrollment status so they can more accurately determine the number of of Community Services individuals enrolled in a Full Service Partnership (FSP). FSPs provide and Supports program wrap-around services to clients, including housing services such as rent housing services through county-level plans through subsidies, housing vouchers, house payments, and transitional and Mental Health Services temporary housing. Act resources. DHCS initiated technical assistance to counties to improve data collection and to ensure timely submission of data, which they continue to collect. In FY 21-22, DHCS will review and analyze data submissions from counties to determine the number of individuals enrolled in an FSP, the type of housing provided, employment or educational status, legal, and other demographic information. 27 Action Area 3. Expanding Communities’ Capacity to Provide Safe and Effective Sheltering and Interim Housing ACTION AREA 3 Expanding Communities’ Capacity to Provide Safe and Effective Sheltering and Interim Housing This action area includes activities focused on expanding the supply of safe, housing- placement focused sheltering and interim housing models and addressing health and services needs of people staying within such programs.  Objective 9: Partner with communities to implement innovative approaches and expand the supply of safe, housing-placement focused sheltering and interim housing models for Californians experiencing homelessness. Activity 1: Rapidly mobilize Homekey has facilitated the acquisition of sites for interim housing by Homekey resources to local partners. As of April 2021, Homekey had supported 18 interim support acquisition of sites housing projects with a total of 1,049 units. A 2021 legislative report on by local partners, including sites planned for Homekey outcomes is available on HCD’s website. use as interim housing on a temporary or ongoing basis. Activity 2: Implement a A number of state departments implemented funding to support wide array of State and housing-placement focused sheltering and interim housing models in Federal funding that FY 20-21. Some examples are below. Initial performance measures for support the provision of this activity are to be determined by the State Funding and Programs safe, effective housing- placement focused Working Group, which held its first meeting in October 2021. sheltering and interim HCD utilized a mix of funding resources, including the Housing housing models for people experiencing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS and Emergency Solutions Grant homelessness, with (ESG) programs, to serve people experiencing homelessness in identification of clear overnight shelters. They also implemented Community Development goals and targets for the Block Grant - CARES Act, which provided funding to California number of shelter or interim housing communities for eligible uses including shelter and interim housing. opportunities to be • HCD establishes 5-year goals/targets and reports supported through each program. accomplishments annually to HUD. In FY 20-21, HCD expected to assist 4,800 individuals access overnight shelters, but ended up assisting 13,776 due to the impacts of COVID-19. A draft report on these outcomes is available in HCD’s FY 20-21 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report. • Additionally, HCD awarded $8 million to 48 counties through their FY 20-21 Transitional Housing Program as well as $5 million to 46 counties through their FY 20-21 Housing Navigators Program. CDSS funds a number of housing programs that are designed to support program participants through their quick and safe transition to permanent housing, which may include emergency shelter through ACTION AREA 3 hotel/motel vouchers, non-congregate shelter via Project Roomkey and interim housing options. • Between Project Roomkey’s inception in March 2020 and August 2021, 50 counties and two Tribes participated in the program, securing 16,000 rooms that have served over 42,000 individuals. CDSS has provided support to local communities to help them utilize these funds effectively through ongoing and varied technical assistance. Occupancy data is updated weekly on the COVID-19 Homeless Impact Dashboard. • CDSS operates Home Safe, which provides housing-related assistance to individuals in Adult Protective Services. The program provides a bridge between a client’s pervious housing situation and safe, affordable, permanent housing. From program inception in July 2018 to June 2021, over 2,500 people have received assistance through the program, including over 2,100 instances of temporary housing being provided to clients and more than 1,200 rental payments made. • The CDSS Housing and Homelessness Branch works closely with the CDSS Transitional Youth Policy Unit in the Children and Family Services Division to ensure the Transitional Housing Programs for current and former foster youth are connected to housing services for which they are eligible. Programs include Transitional Housing Placement Program, Transitional Housing Placement-Plus-Foster Care, Transitional Housing Program-Plus, and Transitional Housing-Plus Housing Models. • CalWORKs Homeless Assistance can help families in the CalWORKs program pay the costs of temporary shelter, pay a security deposit for permanent housing, or pay to prevent eviction. In FY 20-21, more than 30,000 families were approved to received temporary HA benefits, which help pay for the cost of temporary shelter. HCFC’s HHAP grant helped fund new navigation centers and emergency shelters. These shelters were required to show a demonstrated need including a “plan to connect residents to permanent housing” per Health and Safety Code Section 50220.5 (d)—strengthening the focus on housing placements from shelter and interim housing. More detailed program data for FY 20-21 will be available in HCFC’s next annual funding report. Cal OES manages six grants that support sheltering and interim housing models. These grants are for victims of crime and may help support people experiencing homelessness. Under the Homeless Youth Exploitation Program, 2,027 individuals received emergency shelter, safe haven, or transitional housing services in FY 20-21; under the Specialized Emergency Housing Program, that number was 19,493; under the Transitional Housing Program, 229,528; and under the Domestic Violence Housing First Program, 64,391. 29 ACTION AREA 3 Two additional Cal OES programs, the Homeless Youth and Emergency Services and Housing Program, and Homeless Youth Emergency Services Pilot Program, provided shelter and housing assistance to a total of 18,141 individuals in calendar year 2020. Grants are described in more depth on the Cal OES website. The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), in partnership with HCD, released a NOFA for the Veterans Housing and Homelessness Program with funding available for transitional housing for veterans, among other housing types. Activity 3: Provide Starting in March 2020, CDSS has provided guidance and support to guidance and supports to local communities to stand up and sustain Project Roomkey. In sustain and strengthen the addition to funding, CDSS—in partnership with the California implementation of Project Roomkey non- Department of Public Health, BCSH, and HCD—has provided ongoing congregate sheltering guidance, training materials, and technical assistance to support local sites to address the health communities’ continued Project Roomkey operations. Among other and safety needs of activities, this support has included: people experiencing homelessness during the • Monthly office hours with approximately 75-100 attendees. COVID-19 pandemic, and • Daily updates and program announcements for a variety of identify and share lessons audiences. learned. • Ongoing individual and intensive technical assistance to grantees regarding program operations. • Daily collection, review and compilation of regular data reports from communities. • 8-10 times per month, connect Project Roomkey grantees with Cal OES partners to support FEMA reimbursement process. Occupancy data is updated weekly on the COVID-19 Homeless Impact Dashboard. Activity 4: Provide and HCD holds monthly office hours and co-hosted webinars with local promote guidance and governments, totaling over 50 sessions in FY 20-21, as well as various technical assistance workshops and webinars on planning grants, TA, and housing elements regarding modifications of land use, zoning, and 2-3 times monthly. HCD’s TA Program webinar series with the Institute other requirements for for Local Government, which has held six sessions since April 2020, emergency shelters, regularly includes 200-300 local elected officials. HCD also provides navigation centers, and guidance and technical assistance through its Housing Planning HUB interim housing programs. and TA specific to housing element requirements for people experiencing homelessness through the People Experiencing Homelessness webpage. 30 ACTION AREA 3 Activity 5: Implement the CDCR’s RHW initiative increased the available capacity to provide Returning Home Well temporary housing assistance to those exiting state prisons by 1,000 initiative, in partnership slots. Within these slots, stakeholders were able to dedicate specific with philanthropic capacity to formerly incarcerated individuals who needed isolation organizations and local partners, to expand and quarantine services to reduce the spread of COVID-19. residential treatment and interim housing options, including recovery housing models and quarantine options during the pandemic, for people transitioning from corrections settings. Activity 6: Provide Housing First requirements are explained in the NOFA and guidance for technical assistance and all HCFC-administered grants. In FY 20-21, HCFC conducted webinars, guidance that will support hosted calls with community partners, and provided written guidance the continued application related to applying housing first practices to low-barrier shelters and of Housing First practices, including lowered barriers other homelessness programs. and housing-focused services and supports, within sheltering and interim housing programs.  Objective 10: Expand alignment and engagement of State resources, including Medi-Cal and behavioral health care resources, in efforts to address health disparities and services needs among Californians temporarily staying within sheltering and interim housing options. Activity 2: Continued DHCS amended Whole Person Care (WPC) pilot contracts to allow for operation and enrollment continuation of activities through December 31, 2021. All 23 WPC pilot of Whole Person Care contracts were extended, and 22 have been fully executed. WPC pilots and Health Homes Program in 2021 to pilots continue to provide health and behavioral health services via continue to strengthen this contract extension. access to health and WPC and Health Homes Program (HHP) Medi-Cal member enrollment, behavioral health services for people who are care coordination, and housing support services will continue to be staying in shelter and provided through 2021. Beginning January 1, 2022, services will be interim housing sites. available through Enhanced Care Management and In Lieu of Enrolled Health Home and Services. Whole Person Care members will be DHCS continues to track enrollment and utilization of WPC by transitioned to Enhanced individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness for each WPC pilot. Care Management and In Lieu of Services care Quarterly data for 2021 will be available in April 2022. coordination and housing DHCS continues monitoring the enrollment of Medi-Cal managed care services, including incentive funding, in 2022. plan members who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness into HHP. DHCS published updated data on HHP enrollment figures in June 2021, which showed that 42,683 members had enrolled across the state between July 2018 and April 2021. 31 Action Area 4. Expanding and Ensuring Equitable Access to Permanent Housing in Our Communities ACTION AREA 4 Expanding and Ensuring Equitable Access to Permanent Housing in Our Communities This action area includes activities focused on strengthening Housing First approaches and expanding permanent housing opportunities through development strategies, short- and long-term rental assistance, and other rehousing activities.  Objective 11: Mobilize State resources, technical assistance, and guidance to strengthen implementation of Housing First approaches and other best practices in support of equitably and urgently rehousing people from Project Roomkey sites, from other temporary settings, and from unsheltered homelessness. Activity 1: Implement Funding provided as part of the Project Roomkey and Rehousing Project Roomkey and Strategy ($59 million in November 2020, $142.5 million in July 2021) is Rehousing Strategy eligible and encouraged to be used for rehousing Project Roomkey funding and technical participants. assistance to support the rehousing of people CDSS has provided technical assistance to 52 communities that have staying within Project participated in Project Roomkey. In December 2020, CDSS contracted Roomkey sites into permanent housing with a TA provider to begin offering additional assistance through opportunities. individual targeted rehousing support and various peer learning and training opportunities. These have included: • Individualized technical assistance with 12 communities (who may continue to request individualized TA on an ongoing basis). • A bi-weekly learning community between April and June 2021, specifically for the 12 communities receiving individualized TA. • Approximately eight weeks of weekly FEMA office hours tailored to Project Roomkey operators seeking FEMA reimbursement, available to all 52 communities. • A 10-week Landlord Engagement webinar series available to all Project Roomkey grantees. Activity 2: Implement a A number of state departments implemented funding to support wide array of State and rehousing in FY 20-21. Some examples are below. Initial performance Federal funding programs measures for this activity are to be determined by the State Funding that support the rehousing and Programs Working Group, which held its first meeting in October of people experiencing homelessness into a 2021. diverse range of housing CDSS provides funding, program development, and technical models, including models appropriate for youth and assistance for multiple statewide housing programs that provide young adults, with rehousing services. These programs assist children, families, and identification of clear individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability. rehousing goals and targets for the • CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP) assists families in the implementation of each CalWORKs program secure and maintain permanent housing as program. quickly as possible without preconditions. HSP offers interventions such as rapid rehousing and housing-related ACTION AREA 4 wrap-around supportive services. Since program inception in 2014, through June 2020, HSP grantees have assisted more than 22,900 families secure permanent housing. • BFH program reduces the number of families in the child welfare system experiencing or at risk of homelessness, among other goals. It does this, in part, through offering rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing depending on the family’s level of need. • HDAP provides housing support, among other services, to individuals who are disabled or likely disabled and who are experiencing homelessness. HDAP can connect participants to rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing. HDAP grantees have integrated this funding into the Project Roomkey and Rehousing Strategy to support those most vulnerable during the COVID response. • Home Safe provides housing-related assistance to individuals in Adult Protective Services. The program provides a bridge between a client’s pervious housing situation and safe, affordable, permanent housing. As of June 2021, over 2,500 people have received assistance through the program, including over 2,100 instances of temporary housing being provided to clients and more than 1,200 rental payments made. HCFC continued the implementation of 54 grants through the HEAP and 102 grants through HHAP-1, which include support for rapid rehousing. Additionally, they solicited and processed applications for the second round of HHAP-2, awarding 100 grants and soliciting goals tailored to specific local housing needs and conditions. More detailed program data for FY 20-21 will be available in HCFC’s next annual funding report. In FY 20-21, HCD assisted 2,209 individuals through the ESG rapid rehousing activities. Their original goal for this program was 300 individuals assisted, but they saw a large increase due to COVID-19- related waiver of the program’s typical fair market rent requirements. Cal OES operates six grant programs that offer a diverse range of housing models such as emergency/medium-/long-term shelter, rental assistance, hotel vouchers, and long-term housing. Three of these grants are exclusively for youth. In FY 20-21, Cal OES-managed grants funded at least 40,605 instances of housing relocation assistance services. Cal OES recently released a request for proposals to extend the Homeless Youth and Emergency Services and Housing grant for an additional four to five years. 33 ACTION AREA 4 Activity 4: Provide HCFC has provided Housing First tools from Federal resources on the technical assistance, HCFC Resources page. HCFC has not yet provided technical guidance, and training assistance or training on the implementation of Housing First practices, opportunities to but plans to in an ongoing manner throughout FYs 20-21, 21-22, and strengthen the implementation of 22-23. Housing First practices and HCFC will conduct a webinar and peer-sharing virtual event on the achievement of rehousing outcomes in the Housing First and best practices in Q2 of FY 21-22. implementation of State and Federal resources. Activity 5: Assess and HCFC created a Housing First checklist and completed one round of revise the current Housing Housing First assessments prior to FY 20-21. First Checklist for State agencies, confirm HCFC is in the process of revising the Housing First checklist, which will alignment with Housing be digital with enhanced user-friendly options. This checklist will be First requirements of used in a new round of Housing First assessments, which will include relevant State programs, any new programs related to housing and homeless funded by the and provide guidance, training, and support to state. State departments who need to modify programs and policies to achieve alignment.  Objective 12: Foster the creation of an expanded supply of affordable and supportive housing opportunities, paired with appropriate health and behavioral health care resources, and accessible and culturally responsive to people exiting homelessness, to people at lowest income levels, and to people from historically marginalized communities. Activity 1: Implement Homekey has facilitated the acquisition of sites for permanent housing Homekey program to by local partners. As of April 2021, Homekey had supported 103 support rapid financing housing projects to create 4,862 permanent housing units across the and development of state. A 2021 legislative report on Homekey outcomes is available on permanent housing units. HCD’s website. Activity 2: Implement a A number of state departments implemented funding to support the wide array of other State expansion of affordable and supportive housing opportunities in FY 20- and Federal funding 21. Some examples are below. Initial performance measures for this programs that support activity are to be determined by the State Funding and Programs expansion of affordable and supportive housing Working Group, which held its first meeting in October 2021. opportunities, with CalVet, in partnership with HCD, continued to implement the VHHP identification of clear unit production goals and Program, with the purpose of building affordable, supportive, or targets for the transitional housing for veterans. Round 5 awards made in June 2020 to implementation of each 16 projects, totaling over $83 million for 421 units. program. 34 ACTION AREA 4 The Housing for a Healthy California (HHC) program, administered in part by HCD, creates supportive housing for individuals who are recipients of or eligible for health care provided through the Medi-Cal program. In June 2020, National Housing Trust Funds via HHC awarded $39 million to expand affordable housing opportunities. This includes 406 affordable units, of which at least 158 were permanent supportive housing opportunities. HCD administers the No Place Like Home Program (NPLH), which supports the development of permanent supportive housing for persons who are in need of mental health services and are experiencing homelessness, chronic homelessness, or who are at risk of chronic homelessness. In FY 20-21, 75 NPLH projects were under construction and five were completed. Of those completed, 152 move-ins were completed or impending. Additionally, NPLH Round 3 awards were made for 39 projects totaling nearly $227 million. Cal OES administers the Homeless Youth and Emergency Services and Housing grant, which provides a range of housing options, including supportive housing, to homeless youth ages 12-24. This grant was originally only awarded to four counties but is currently expanding to 12 counties. The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) provides priority for projects serving people experiencing homelessness in both the federal 9% and 4% low-income housing tax credit applications. According to their annual report, in 2020 CTCAC awarded $210.2 million in 9% credits to 103 proposed housing projects, totaling 6,884 affordable rental units. They awarded $301.7 million in 4% credits to 181 projects, totaling 16,908 units. CDSS funded housing programs help connect families and individuals to the right housing intervention and provide flexible funding for rental and utility assistance, security deposits, move-in costs, habitability, legal services, and more. Some examples of how CDSS programs help expand affordable and supportive housing opportunities, include: • Project Roomkey and Rehousing Strategy supports costs related to housing navigation, move-in costs, and time-limited rental subsidies to support exits to permanent housing. Approximately 20% of Project Roomkey participants have exited to permanent housing statewide. • The BFH Program has increased utilization of the federally funded Family Unification Program. Since program inception in 2017, more than 1,200 families have been permanently housed through BFH. • Local operators of HDAP have linked individuals to permanent supportive housing and affordable housing vouchers. Since HDAP’s inception in FY 17-18, over 1,900 people have been permanently housed. 35 ACTION AREA 4 • In FY 20-21, the CalWORKs Homeless Assistance program approved more than 1,600 families to receive permanent HA benefits, which help pay for the cost of permanent housing or to prevent eviction. The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) operates the Special Needs Housing Program, helping finance the development of permanent supportive housing units for individuals with serious mental illness and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. In FY 20-21, CalHFA closed $25.9 million in Special Needs Housing Program loans, which financed projects totaling 796 units. HCFC continued implementation of HEAP and HHAP-1, which include support for affordable and supportive housing as eligible uses. HCFC also solicited and processed applications for HHAP-2. Approximately $33.3 million (12%) of these grant funds were budgeted in the Delivery of Permanent Housing category, with an additional $80.1 million (28%) budgeted for operating subsidies to support navigation centers, emergency shelters, and affordable and supportive housing. More detailed program data for FY 20-21 will be available in HCFC’s next annual funding report. Activity 3: Identify and Efforts between BCSH and housing-related entities are ongoing to implement efforts to better align policies and ensure that programs are better able to prioritize financing for low- practices across State income households and housing for people exiting homelessness. housing agencies and programs, while retaining significant focus on extremely low-income households and housing for people exiting homelessness. Activity 4: Accelerate HCD released six new excess state sites (goal of eight to ten for FY 20- selection of developers to 21) through developer solicitation and selected developers for eight create affordable and sites (goal of six) released through 2020 solicitations. Additionally, HCD supportive housing on State-owned land. released one request for proposals (goal of five) between January and August 2021. Data publicly available on HCD’s Public Lands for Affordable Housing Development webpage. 36 ACTION AREA 4  Objective 13: Improve access to short- and longer-term forms of rental assistance to encourage innovations, to support racially equitable and successful exits from homelessness, and to support housing development activities. Activity 1: Implement a A number of state departments implemented funding to support wide array of State and various forms of rental assistance in FY 20-21. Some examples are Federal funding programs below. Initial performance measures for this activity are to be that support provision of determined by the State Funding and Programs Working Group, which various forms of rental assistance, with held its first meeting in October 2021. identification of clear Cal OES manages five programs that have rental assistance as an goals and targets for the number of households to eligible housing option: Transitional Housing, Specialized Emergency receive rental assistance Housing, Domestic Violence Housing First, Homeless Youth and through each program. Exploitation, and Homeless Youth and Emergency Services and Housing. CalHFA implements the federal Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Program to support innovative state approaches to providing supportive housing for people with disabilities. Between Rounds I and II of Project Rental Assistance Program, CalHFA was awarded $24.1 million in rental assistance for to fund the first five years of a 20-year rental assistance contract. A total of 312 units are receiving rental assistance and another 153 have encumbered funding for rental assistance. CDSS encourages program grantees to provide housing related financial assistance in the form of move-in costs, utility and security deposits, rental subsidies in permanent housing once housing is located; other housing-related costs associated with supportive housing placements for those with the highest needs; and other forms of financial assistance related to housing stabilization. Additionally, flexible, short-, and long-term rental subsidies are a core component of all CDSS-funded housing programs. HCFC continued implementation of HEAP and HHAP-1, which include support for rental assistance as eligible uses. Per the most recent HCFC Annual Funding Report, as of September 2020 HEAP grantees had expended approximately $32 million (11% of total HEAP funds) on rental assistance, and HHAP-1 grantees had obligated approximately $46 million (14% of total HHAP-1 funds) for rental assistance. HCFC also solicited and processed applications for HHAP-2, during which time approximately $20.8 million (7%) of grant funds were budgeted for rental assistance. More detailed program data for FY 20-21 will be available in HCFC’s next annual funding report. Activity 3: Prioritize BCSH launched the Housing is Key campaign website, which includes increased rental resources for tenants, landlords, local governments, and tribes on assistance resources federal rent relief funds. Available federal rental assistance resources within State’s federal are documented through web pages and an easily accessible facts advocacy. sheet describing tenant protections and available assistance. 37 Action Area 5. Preventing Californians From Experiencing the Crisis of Homelessness ACTION AREA 5 Preventing Californians from Experiencing the Crisis of Homelessness This action area includes activities focused on reducing entries into homelessness as people exit and/or receive services through State-funded programs and systems and enhancing communities’ capacity to provide targeted homelessness prevention and diversion services and assistance.  Objective 14: Reduce entries into homelessness as people exit and/or receive services from State-funded settings and systems, addressing racial inequities within risks of experiencing homelessness, with initial focus on people re-entering communities from jails and prisons, young adults connected to the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems, and people exiting health care settings and programs. Activity 1: Implement the The HHC program creates supportive housing for individuals who are Housing for a Healthy recipients of or eligible for health care provided through the Medi-Cal California program for program. In FY 20-21, HCD issued Standard Agreements to six counties individuals who are recipients of or eligible for for a total of $60.1 million. health care provided HCD awarded funding to 11 projects to help pay down the through the Medi-Cal construction financing. The first completed projects will begin program, providing tenant-based rental converting next year and will utilize referrals from local CoCs to fill assistance with supportive tenant vacancies. services or capitalized operating reserve to In the next 36 months, these 11 projects will be completed and add existing rental projects. 688 affordable units throughout the state, 276 of which will serve tenants who are experiencing chronic homelessness and/or have high healthcare utilization. Activity 5: Implement the The RHW initiative has established a partnership with the Anti- Returning Home Well Recidivism Coalition to provide transportation to individuals released initiative, in partnership from state prisons. with philanthropic organizations and local partners, to prevent experiences of homelessness for people transitioning from corrections settings by expanding residential treatment and interim housing options, including recovery housing models and quarantine options during the pandemic, and by addressing transportation needs to facilitate access to such options. ACTION AREA 5 Activity 7: Assess The Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health (CCJBH)’s full recommendations from Council meeting in July 2021 focused on available funding to support the Council of State the expansion of existing or new housing projects with a panel of cross- Governments’ Reducing departmental subject matter experts. Homelessness for People with Behavioral Health CCJBH and the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center Needs Leaving Prisons and held a virtual project launch of CSG’s recommendations. At the event, Jails report and identify priorities for actions to be CCJBH and CSG shared the report findings and recommendations, taken in FYs 21-22 and 22- subject matter experts who contributed to the report offered their 23. perspectives, and individuals with lived experience shared their stories to illuminate the urgent need for more housing capacity. CCJBH and CSG are also exploring opportunities to offer a series of webinars to help local agencies and providers collaborate and better serve people with behavioral health needs, with a focus on increasing opportunities for housing and community-based treatment.  Objective 15: Enhance communities’ capacity to provide targeted homelessness prevention interventions and to successfully divert people from entering shelter or experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Activity 2: Implement a A number of state departments implemented funding to support wide array of State and diversion and prevention services in FY 20-21. Some examples are Federal funding programs below. Initial performance measures for this activity are to be that support provision of determined by the State Funding and Programs Working Group, which various forms of diversion and prevention services, held its first meeting in October 2021. with identification of clear BCSH implemented California’s COVID-19 Rent Relief Program that goals and targets for the number of households to helps income-eligible households who have been impacted by receive diversion and COVID-19 cover the cost of rent and utilities. As of October 19, 2021, prevention services the state program had received over 433,000 household applications through each program. requesting approximately $4.5 billion in assistance, according to BCSH’s online program dashboard. To date, the state program has paid or approved for payment approximately $1.7 billion in assistance. Of that total, over $897 million has been expended, assisting more than 75,000 California households. • For the week of October 11, assistance expended hit a weekly record of nearly $100 million in expenditures, assisting over 8,000 households. Of the households assisted, approximately 84% are at 50% AMI and below and nearly 60% are at 30% AMI and below. CalHFA implements the National Mortgage Settlement Housing Counseling Program, which allows California residents who are in danger of eviction or foreclosure to receive free counseling services. In FY 20-21, the program had 73 active Housing Counseling Agencies, served over 11,000 households, and distributed approximately $21.1 million in funds (see the most recent Quarterly Report). 39 ACTION AREA 5 HCD operates the California Emergency Solutions and Housing program, which explicitly includes prevention and diversion as an eligible activity. In FY 19-20, the program provided rental assistance, housing relocation or stabilization services to 5,057 individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. CDSS operates the Home Safe Program, which provides a wide range diversion and prevention services to older adults and Adult Protective Services clients. During FY 20-21, around two-thirds or about 1,300 of Home Safe participants were housed, but at risk of becoming homeless, at program intake and received prevention services. Additionally, the CalWORKs Permanent Housing Assistance provided up to 1,680 families with services for retaining housing. HCFC continued implementation of HEAP and HHAP-1, which both include support for various forms of diversion and prevention services as eligible uses. Per the most recent HCFC Annual Funding Report, as of September 2020 HHAP-1 grantees had obligated approximately $19 million (6% of total HHAP-1 funds) for prevention and diversion. HCFC also solicited and processed applications for HHAP-2, during which time approximately $20.5 million (7%) of grant funds were budgeted for prevention and diversion services. More detailed program data for FY 20-21 will be available in HCFC’s next annual funding report. Activity 3: Continue In September 2020, BCSH launched HousingisKey.com, which provides implementation of the online resources to help Californians stay in their homes or understand Housing is Key campaign, housing options during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. BCSH providing materials and uses this website contains information about tenant and homeowner resources to help Californians stay in their protections, an application portal for the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief homes or understand their program, and more resources for tenants, landlords, and homeowners housing options during across the state. COVID-19 and beyond. The COVID-19 Rent Relief program and messaging focus on assistance to the lowest-income Californians who may be at greater risk to become homeless from pandemic-related hardships. According to the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Program Dashboard, as of October 19, 2021, COVID-19 Rent Relief program provided over $897 million in total assistance to more than 75,000 California households. Of the households assisted, approximately 84% are at 50% AMI and below and nearly 60% are at 30% AMI and below. 40 ACTION AREA 5 Activity 4: Provide CDE’s HEP staff hosted a Zoom webinar in May 2021, related to guidance to support collaboration and coordination to support youth experiencing schools to develop homelessness. SchoolHouse Connection, an organization focused on community collaborations early care and education of children and youth experiencing and stronger referral systems with public, homelessness, was also part of the presentation. private, and faith-based CDE published a Request for Applications for funding through the partners that can help address housing instability Homeless Education Technical Assistance Center. This funding will help and homelessness, and improve identification, education stability, access, support, and other service needs, academic achievement of children and youth experiencing among students and their homelessness. The application also included a requirement that COEs families. to have an established working relationship with one or more community-based organizations that are well positioned to identify and connect children and youth experiencing homeless to educational related support and wraparound services. Additionally, in their webinars, CDE staff continue to stress the importance of braiding together multiple funding sources to serve youth experiencing homelessness. Activity 5: Identify The Master Plan on Aging sets forth the goals to expand homelessness strategies to serve older programs that serve older adults. CDSS programs have served older adults and people with adults and people with disabilities through housing models that allow disabilities at risk of experiencing them to age in place and in supportive and inclusive communities. homelessness, including Such CDSS programs that advance the goals of the Master Plan on meeting the need for in Aging include: home supports and access to licensed adult • The HDAP and Home Safe Program support the safety and and senior care facilities. housing stability of individuals involved in Adult Protective Services, including the less-abled elderly. Housing modifications are an eligible Home Safe expenditure. Home Safe also identifies and provides services and non-medical supports needed for housing stabilization, including mental health assistance and enhanced case management. 41 Fiscal Year 21-22 Priorities The activities listed below are a sample of the work that is prioritized to be completed in FY 21- 22. Activity reference numbers are provided along with their descriptions from the Action Plan. While many of the activities from FY 20-21 will continue into this year, new programs and priorities are also being added. From expanding significant funding opportunities, to launching interagency working groups, to building out a more comprehensive statewide database, the state is poised to make significant progress in the year ahead toward its goal to prevent and end homelessness in California. ACTION AREA 1 Strengthening Our Systems to Better Prevent and End Homelessness in California During FY 21-22, state agencies and departments will be placing an increased focus on a variety of activities within Action Area 1, including: 1.1.1 Provide and coordinate technical assistance focused on racial equity to support equitable access and outcomes within State-funded programs, and to strengthen coordinated entry systems, prioritization policies, and targeting strategies to address disparities in access to services and resources. 1.1.4 Provide technical assistance and training opportunities, and adapt program guidelines and guidance, to enhance Tribal Organizations’ access to state homelessness and housing programs and resources. 1.2.1 Implement a Lived Experience Advisory Board to inform the considerations and decisions of the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council and member departments. 1.6.3 Prepare public-facing materials and articles based upon data and information drawn from the Homeless Data Integration System warehouse, to educate the public on challenges, activities, and implementation of programs and resources. ACTION AREA 2 Equitably Addressing the Health, Safety, and Services Needs of Californians Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness During FY 21-22, state agencies and departments will be placing an increased focus on a variety of activities within Action Area 2, including: 2.7.1. Create, disseminate, and support implementation of clear and effective policies and procedures for addressing the needs of people currently staying in encampments, including on State-owned land. 2.8.1 Utilize new Homeless Data Integration System to begin Phase 2 of the system, featuring data-matching to other statewide data systems, with the intent to analyze the participation and access to benefits and services of people who are unsheltered within key State programs. 2.8.2 Implement CalAIM proposals seeking to extend statewide the service options available under Whole Person Care and Health Homes Program through the Enhanced Care Management program and In Lieu of Services, including incentive funding, to better address the health and behavioral health care needs of people who are unsheltered. ACTION AREA 3 Expanding Communities’ Capacity to Provide Safe and Effective Sheltering and Interim Housing During FY 21-22, state agencies and departments will be placing an increased focus on a variety of activities within Action Area 3, including: 3.9.1 Rapidly mobilize Homekey resources to support acquisition of sites by local partners, including sites planned for use as interim housing on a temporary or ongoing basis. 3.9.2 Implement a wide array of State and Federal funding that support the provision of safe, effective housing-placement focused sheltering and interim housing models for people experiencing homelessness, with identification of clear goals and targets for the number of shelter or interim housing opportunities to be supported through each program. 3.9.3 Develop and advance CalAIM proposals seeking to extend statewide the service options available under Whole Person Care and Health Homes Program through the Enhanced Care Management program and In Lieu of Services care coordination and housing services, including incentive funding, to better address the health care needs of people who are staying in shelter and interim housing sites. ACTION AREA 4 Expanding and Ensuring Equitable Access to Permanent Housing in Our Communities During FY 21-22, state agencies and departments will be placing an increased focus on a variety of activities within Action Area 4, including: 4.11.1 Implement Project Roomkey and Rehousing Strategy funding and technical assistance to support the rehousing of people staying within Project Roomkey sites into permanent housing opportunities. 4.11.2. Implement a wide array of State and Federal funding programs that support the rehousing of people experiencing homelessness into a diverse range of housing models, including models appropriate for youth and young adults, with identification of clear rehousing goals and targets for the implementation of each program. 4.11.5 Assess and revise the current Housing First Checklist for State agencies, confirm alignment with Housing First requirements of relevant State programs, and provide guidance, training, and support to State departments who need to modify programs and policies to achieve alignment. 4.12.1 Implement Homekey program to support rapid financing and development of permanent housing units. 43 4.12.2 Implement a wide array of other State and Federal funding programs that support expansion of affordable and supportive housing opportunities, with identification of clear unit production goals and targets for the implementation of each program. 4.13.1 Implement a wide array of State and Federal funding programs that support provision of various forms of rental assistance, with identification of clear goals and targets for the number of households to receive rental assistance through each program. ACTION AREA 5 Preventing Californians from Experiencing the Crisis of Homelessness During FY 21-22, state agencies and departments will be placing an increased focus on a variety of activities within Action Area 5, including: 5.14.3 Implement CalAIM to provide care coordination and housing services to people exiting corrections settings through Enhanced Care Management and In Lieu of Services. 5.14.8 Utilize the Homeless Data Integration System to conduct analyses regarding people experiencing homelessness and their prior engagement with the homelessness response system to identify patterns of engagement and service utilization that can inform prevention and diversion strategies. 5.15.1 Implement the Emergency Rental Assistance resources administered through the U.S. Department of the Treasury to provide financial assistance to households facing rental arrears and risks of eviction and/or homelessness. 5.15.2 Implement a wide array of State and Federal funding programs that support provision of various forms of diversion and prevention services, with identification of clear goals and targets for the number of households to receive diversion and prevention services through each program. 5.15.3 Continue implementation of the Housing is Key campaign, providing materials and resources to help Californians stay in their homes or understand their housing options during COVID-19 and beyond. 44 Conclusion and Acknowledgements This past fiscal year presented both significant challenges as well as unprecedented opportunities in the effort to prevent and end homelessness in California. While this report is the most comprehensive collection of the state’s efforts toward this goal in FY 20-21, we acknowledge that it does not capture the full scope of work that state departments put into these activities. However, the information presented does present the areas where Council departments have been successful in making progress across our five action areas that is purposeful, meaningful, and measurable. The state’s multi-pronged and multi-year strategies to prevent and end homelessness require huge structural investments—such as those made in the Project Roomkey, Homekey, COVID-19 Rent Relief, and HHAP programs, to name a few. Our shared commitment in the day-to-day work of coordination between local, state, and national organizations is required to make these investments impactful. Activities such as the technical assistance provided to local partners, the adjustment of funding guidelines to better serve historically marginalized communities, and partnerships between subject matter experts, help ensure the state can effectively serve all communities of people experiencing homelessness. FY 21-22 will continue the state’s progress on both of these fronts. From renewed investments in programs like Homekey and HHAP, to the formation of multiple working groups that bring together experts to implement more coordinated and effective programs and policies, the state is prepared to make significant strides toward preventing and ending homelessness in the fiscal year ahead. HCFC appreciates the work that staff from all 13 reporting departments put into providing us with updates and information to include in this report. We hope this uplifts the important work we are all doing and puts us on a path toward even greater progress in the coming year. Contributing Departments and Agencies within the State of California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Agency Department of Education Housing Finance Agency Department of Health Care Services Office of Emergency Services Department of Social Services Department of Transportation Department of Housing and Community Department of Veterans Affairs Development Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Tax Credit Allocation Committee 45 Attachment A: Action Plan Objectives ACTION AREA 1 ACTION AREA 2 Strengthening Our Systems to Better Prevent Equitably Addressing the Health, Safety, and and End Homelessness in California Services Needs of Californians Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness  Objective 1 Strengthen racial equity-focused responses,  Objective 7 strategies, and activities of State agencies and of Continue to support California communities to local agencies and organizations receiving State implement multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional funding for any homelessness services and housing outreach and protective measures addressing the activities. health and safety needs of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, throughout the COVID-  Objective 2 19 pandemic and beyond. Ensure that State and local planning and decision- making processes are deeply informed and  Objective 8 guided by recommendations from people with Improve access, and address racial inequities lived expertise from experiences of homelessness. within such access, to essential State-supported services appropriate for the needs of people  Objective 3 experiencing unsheltered homelessness, including Incentivize interjurisdictional and regional planning, through Medi-Cal and behavioral health care decision-making, and accountability, and support reforms. capacity for such coordination through “mapping” and local gaps analysis activities focused on needs, demographics and inequities, and service delivery capacities. ACTION AREA 3 Expanding Communities’ Capacity to Provide  Objective 4 Safe and Effective Sheltering and Interim Enhance partnerships between homelessness Housing services systems and services and systems which can support asset building and wealth building,  Objective 9 including improving access to educational Partner with communities to implement innovative opportunities and employment services and approaches and expand the supply of safe, employment for people experiencing and exiting housing-placement focused sheltering and interim homelessness. housing models for Californians experiencing homelessness.  Objective 5 Support California communities to develop disaster  Objective 10 preparedness plans that are more inclusive of the Expand alignment and engagement of State needs of people experiencing homelessness. resources, including Medi-Cal and behavioral health care resources, in efforts to address health  Objective 6 disparities and services needs among Californians Expand State communications efforts to create temporarily staying within sheltering and interim public awareness of the State’s homelessness housing options. strategies, successes, challenges, and the importance of Housing First approaches. 46 support racially equitable and successful exits from ACTION AREA 4 homelessness, and to support housing Expanding and Ensuring Equitable Access to development activities. Permanent Housing in Our Communities  Objective 11 ACTION AREA 5 Mobilize State resources, technical assistance, and Preventing Californians from Experiencing guidance to strengthen implementation of Housing the Crisis of Homelessness First approaches and other best practices in support of equitably and urgently rehousing  Objective 14 people from Project Roomkey sites, from other Reduce entries into homelessness as people exit temporary settings, and from unsheltered and/or receive services from State-funded settings homelessness. and systems, addressing racial inequities within risks of experiencing homelessness, with initial focus on  Objective 12 people re-entering communities from jails and Foster the creation of an expanded supply of prisons, young adults connected to the child affordable and supportive housing opportunities, welfare and/or juvenile justice systems, and people paired with appropriate health and behavioral exiting health care settings and programs. health care resources, and accessible and culturally responsive to people exiting  Objective 15 homelessness, to people at lowest income levels, Enhance communities’ capacity to provide and to people from historically marginalized targeted homelessness prevention interventions communities. and to successfully divert people from entering shelter or experiencing unsheltered homelessness.  Objective 13 Improve access to short- and longer-term forms of rental assistance to encourage innovations, to 47 Attachment B: Fiscal Year 20-21 Activities Activity Lead Collaborating Reference Activity Text Timeframes Performance Measures Department Department(s) # Provide and coordinate Technical Assistance (TA) Process Measure: Initiation of Technical focused on racial equity to Assistance in timely manner. support equitable access and HCD, DSS, and Output Measure: Number of outcomes within State-funded will also TA initiated by Q4 of communities receiving formal technical 1.1.1 programs, and to strengthen HCFC engage with FY 20-21 assistance. coordinated entry systems, SGC Outcome Measures: Specific outcome prioritization policies, and measures will be developed and tracked targeting strategies in order to for each TA engagement. address disparities in access to services and resources. Process Measure: Annual documentation of homelessness and housing funding Incorporate a focus on racial programs that have included focus on Incorporated into equity data, analysis, and HCFC, via racial equity data, analysis, and planned funding applications planned activities within State activities. beginning Q2 of FY applications for State Funding HCD, DSS, Process Measure: Timely analysis of data 20-21. 1.1.2 homelessness and housing- and CalOES, DHCS, and information gathered, provided to Analysis of initial focused funding (HHAP, ESG- Programs CDCR relevant Working Groups to inform data and CV, others), and analyze the Working planned strategies and activities. information by Q1 of data and information Group Outcome Measure: Increase the number FY 21-22. gathered in response. of State programs that are including a focus on racial equity data and strategies. Provide guidance and education regarding requirements of AB 686: Output Measure: 47 Housing Elements to Housing discrimination: be reviewed during FY 20-21, 217 during affirmatively further fair Revised technical FY 21-22, and 128 during FY 22-23. 1.1.3 housing, and perform reviews HCD DFEH, CalHFA guide to be issued Output Measure: 80% of jurisdictions of local governments’ Housing by Q4 of FY 20-21 contacted and provided with technical Elements with a focus on guide. addressing racial inequities and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. 48 Ongoing throughout Process Measure: Documentation of (HCFC, BCSH, Provide technical assistance FYs 20-21, 21-22, and updated program guidelines and NOFAs CalHFA, and training opportunities, and 22-23. to reflect tribal access. CalOES, adapt program guidelines and Adapt program Output Measures: Number of tribal Caltrans, 1.1.4 guidance, to enhance Tribal HCD, DSS guidelines and engagement and outreach efforts, and CalVet, CCC, Organizations’ access to State guidance in number of Tribal applications for funding. CDCR, CDE, homelessness and housing alignment with Outcome Measure: Number of Tribes DHCS, DSS, programs and resources. funding processes receiving awards of State homelessness HCD, TCAC) through FY 21-22. and housing program funding. Utilize the newly developed Homeless Data Integration System to support both (HCFC, BCSH, Public Dashboard to Process Measure: Timely implementation Statewide and local analyses CalHFA, be launched by Q3 of HDIS, performance of analyses, and of data, focused on CalOES, of FY 20-21. creation of dashboard. documenting and Caltrans, 1.1.5 HCFC Utilization of data Process Measure: Documentation of how understanding racial inequities CalVet, CCC, ongoing throughout data regarding racial inequities are in experiences of homelessness CDCR, CDE, FYs 20-21, 21-22, and being used to inform State planning and and provision of services, DHCS, DSS, 22-23. activities. including the creation of a HCD, TCAC) public dashboard documenting analyses. Review of recently adopted regulation changes at both CDLAC and TCAC Expand efforts to ensure that for opportunities to developments funded through align Multifamily the Multifamily Housing Housing Program Process Measure: Timely completion of 1.1.6 Program and other State HCD CDLAC, TCAC (MHP) guidelines guidelines. funding sources are also being and leverage developed in high-resource valuable State communities. resources completed by Q3 of FY-20-21. Draft guidelines to be issued in Q4 of FY 20-21. 49 (HCFC, BCSH, Provide relevant training and CalHFA, skill-building opportunities, such CalOES, Process Measure: Documentation of as California’s Capitol Caltrans, training activities across HCFC member Collaborative on Race and CalVet, CCC, Ongoing throughout agencies and departments. 1.1.7 Equity (CCORE) training, to HCFC CDCR, CDE, FYs 20-21, 21-22, and Outcome Measures: Determine if State agency staff to enable DHCS, DSS, 22-23 outcomes measuring the impact of staff to provide more expert HCD, TCAC) training opportunities can be advice and guidance to and will also documented. partners and communities. engage with SGC Proactively engage local boards and committees of Input discussions held people with lived experience Process Measure: Documentation of 1.2.2 HCFC N/A during Q2 and Q3 of and expertise to provide input input sessions held. FY 20-21 on the development of the HCFC Action Plan. Incorporate questions Output Measure: Annual documentation regarding the involvement of of homelessness and housing funding Incorporated into people with lived experience HCFC, via programs that have included focus on funding applications and expertise into local State involvement of people with lived beginning Q2 of FY planning and decision-making Funding DSS, HCD, experience and expertise into local 20-21. 1.2.4 processes within applications and CalOES, DHCS, planning and decision-making Analysis of initial for State homelessness and Programs others TBD processes. data and housing-focused funding (e.g., Working Process Measure: Timely analysis of data information by Q1 of HHAP, ESG-CV, HSP) and Group and information gathered in response FY 21-22. analyze the information and provided to relevant Working gathered in response. Groups to inform strategies and activities. HCFC review HHAP Round 2 applications HCFC, via to ensure meaningful Support and strengthen Process Measure: Timely convening and State coordination, by Q4 expectation of joint CoC- HCD, DSS, reporting of Working Group with focus on Funding of FY 20-21. County-City planning and DHCS, this Activity. 1.3.1 and Funding and coordination in awards and Caltrans, Process Measure: Documentation of Programs Programs Working implementation of State others TBD guidance and support provided to local Working Group to report homelessness funding. communities. Group back on efforts to Council by Q2 FY 21- 22. 50 Public Dashboard to Utilize the Homeless Data Process Measure: Timely implementation be launched by Q3 Integration System to conduct of HDIS, performance of analyses, and of FY 20-21. analysis to support regional creation of dashboard. 1.3.3 HCFC DSS, HCD Utilization of data and cross-jurisdictional Output Measure: Number of regions ongoing throughout analyses, planning discussions, supported through provision of HDIS FYs 20-21, 21-22, and and decision-making. analyses. 22-23. Leverage HCD's role in reviewing and regulating Housing Elements, with HCFC's Review of Housing interagency scope, to deliver a Elements ongoing Output Measure: 47 Housing Elements to new level of technical throughout FYs 20-20- HCFC, CDSS, be reviewed during FY 20-21, 217 during assistance on homelessness to 21, 21-22, and 22-23. 1.3.4 HCD CalVet, DHCS, FY 21-22, and 128 during FY 22-23. cities and counties, and, in Interagency guide to CDCR, CalOES Process Measure: Timely development collaboration with other State be developed and issuance of interagency guide. departments, develop an during Q2 of FY 21- interagency guide on actions 22. city governments can take to address homelessness. Provide grants resources that support local and regional planning and initiatives through Ongoing throughout Output Measure: Number of grants 1.3.5 SB 2 Planning Grants, Local HCD FYs 20-21, 21-22, and awarded by end of FY 22-23, with target Early Action Planning Grants, 22-23 of approximately 1,027 grants. and Regional Early Action Planning Grants. Provide technical assistance to enhance capacity of local Process Measure: Documenting TA educational agencies (LEAs) to offering provided. Ongoing throughout provide services and supports Output Measure: Number of LEAs 1.4.2 CDE FYs 20-21, 21-22, and for students experiencing participating in TA opportunities. 22-23 homelessness and housing Outcome Measure: Increased number of instability to foster educational LEAs receiving TA. achievement and progression. Assess the impact of employment opportunities Process Measure: Document processes provided through Caltrans’ HCFC, CalVet, implemented to recruit and hire people Service Assistance Ongoing throughout and in experiencing homelessness into positions. 1.4.3 Maintenance positions on Caltrans FYs 20-21, 21-22, and coordination Output Measure: Number of people hiring of people experiencing 22-23 with CalHR experiencing homelessness hired into homelessness and access to positions. promotional opportunities and career ladders. 51 Collaborate with LEAs, state level educational partners, Materials and youth organizations and across webinars developed divisions within the CDE to and implemented Process Measure: Documentation of identify needs of students 1.4.4 CDE HCFC throughout FY 20-21 materials developed and webinars experiencing homelessness and may extend into implemented. related to distance learning FY 21-22 depending and develop strategies, upon needs resources, and tools to address those needs. Communicate and disseminate guidance to county offices of education Ongoing throughout Process Measure: Documentation of 1.4.5 (COEs), LEAs, and partnering CDE HCFC FYs 20-21, 21-22, and guidance materials created/provided. agencies to strengthen support 22-23 for students experiencing homelessness. Process Measure: Documentation of data collection regarding student homeless and housing insecurity. Implement and evaluate the Ongoing throughout Process Measure: Submission of an Homeless and Housing FYs 20-21, 21-22, and annual legislative report about the HHIP Insecurity Pilot (HHIP) Program, 22-23. Program, including scalability 1.4.6 which provides housing CCC Colleges submit HHIP recommendations. services and support to reports to Output Measure: Number of homeless or homeless and housing insecure Chancellor’s Office housing insecure students that received students. at least annually. services and supports. Outcome Measures: Decrease barriers to academic success. Implement the Returning Home Well initiative in partnership with philanthropic organizations, addressing the Ongoing throughout employment needs of people DSS, and in FYs 20-21 and 21-22, transitioning from corrections Outcome Measures: Being developed coordination and activities 1.4.7 settings, including through the CDCR and reported upon in partnership with with CWDB expected to be provision of stipends to support MDRC. and DOR sustained into future people’s participation in Fys employment services and through the leveraging of local workforce services and partnerships. 52 Process Measure: Monitoring of all LEAs via Consolidated Application and Monitor LEAs’ implementation Implemented on an Reporting System and documentation of 1.4.8 of the McKinney–Vento CDE HCFC annual basis FYs 20- other monitoring processes with Homeless Assistance Act. 21, 21-22, and 22-23 prioritized LEAs. Process Measure: Review and analysis of high school graduation rates. Participate in California Higher Process Measure: Documentation of Education Basic Needs engagement with stakeholders to review Alliance intersegmental regulations, policies, and practices. workgroup with CSU and UC Ongoing in Output Measure: Guidance to basic 1.4.9 systems to advance basic CCC HCFC alignment with the needs programs in higher education needs security including legislative cycle including professional development; and addressing homelessness and recommendations for regulation, policy, housing insecurity for students and procedural change. to increase their success. Produce and disseminate the Listos California Disaster Guide BCSH, HCFC, Released in Q2 of FY Process Measure: Documentation of 1.5.1 CalOES for People Experiencing DSS 20-21 dissemination strategies. Homelessness. Incorporate focus on eligibility of people experiencing Ongoing throughout Process Measure: Document any efforts HCD, DSS, 1.5.5 homelessness for FEMA-funded HCFC FYs 20-21, 21-22, and and outcomes by end of Q4 of FY 21-22 CalOES assistance into federal 22-23 and by end of FY 22-23. advocacy efforts. Continue implementation of the Housing is Key campaign, providing materials and resources to help Californians Process Measure: Documentation of stay in their homes, understand Ongoing throughout HCFC, HCD, homelessness-focused messaging and 1.6.1 their housing options during BCSH FYs 20-21, 21-22, and DFEH efforts implemented through the Housing COVID-19 and beyond, and to 22-23 is Key campaign. educate the public regarding the causes of homelessness, effective solutions, and State strategies and programs. 53 Provide homelessness-focused communications to local (HCFC, BCSH, partners, including webinars, CalHFA, videos, tools, guidance, and CalOES, Ongoing throughout Output Measure: Annual compilation of other resources and materials, Caltrans, 1.6.2 HCFC FYs 20-21, 21-22, and communications activities focused on Housing First CalVet, CCC, 22-23 implementation focused on these topics. implementation, strategic use CDCR, CDE, of funding sources, and DHCS, DSS, effective programs and HCD, TCAC) practices. Prepare public-facing materials and articles based upon data Utilize ongoing and information drawn from reports and Output Measure: Annual compilation of the HDIS warehouse, to dashboards as 1.6.3 HCFC HCD, DSS public-facing materials developed educate the public on source throughout focused on these topics. challenges, activities, and FYs 20-21, 21-22, and implementation of programs 22-23 and resources. Proactively analyze and develop educational materials Process Measure: Development of that interpret and materials and dissemination plan; communicate key findings of Ongoing throughout incorporate information into analysis and HCD, DSS, 1.6.4 national reports focused on HCFC FYs 20-21, 21-22, and guidance. DHCS homelessness and featuring 22-23 Output Measure: Annual compilation of California data, such as HUD’s educational materials developed Point-in-Time (PIT) count data focused on these topics. and reporting. Process Measure: COVID-19 Alternative Budget option for pilots to divert funds to WPC COVID-19 activities, including Continue to support COVID-19 housing service expansions. focused adaptations to Whole Adaptations were Output Measure: Expand outreach and Person Care (WPC) programs retroactively engagement, housing navigation, and 2.7.2 and services to better address DHCS approved starting shelter-in-place services to homeless and the needs of unsheltered January 1, 2020 COVID-19 target population. Report people during the pandemic number of individuals in the COVID-19 and beyond. target population and utilization of COVID-19 related services (includes housing services). 54 Create, disseminate, and support implementation of resources related to vaccination efforts for people DSS, HCD, and Ongoing, beginning Process Measure: Documentation of 2.7.3 experiencing unsheltered HCFC also engaging in Q3 of FY 20-21 guidance materials, training activities. homelessness and outreach with CDPH staff, including promoting eligible uses of State funding for such efforts. Ongoing throughout FYs 20-21, 21-22, and HCFC, via Promote strong practices for 22-23. Youth and identifying and engaging HCFC, CalOES, Youth and Young Process Measure: Timely convening and Young 2.7.4 unsheltered young people into DSS, HCD, Adults Working reporting of Working Group with focus on Adults available services and CCC, CDE Group to report this Activity. Working supports. back to Council by Group end of Q4 of FY 21- 22. Provide guidance and support for the utilization of State funding to effectively address the health and safety needs of people experiencing Ongoing throughout unsheltered homelessness, HCD, DSS, Process Measure: Documentation of 2.7.6 HCFC FYs 20-21, 21-22, and including guidance regarding DHCS guidance materials, training activities. 22-23 State funds that can be used for basic needs and protective measures, e.g., showers, hygiene supplies, and sanitation services. Promote the eligible uses of State funding for employing specialized peer positions to Ongoing throughout better reach and engage HCD, DSS, Process Measure: Documentation of 2.7.7 HCFC FYs 20-21, 21-22, and people experiencing DHCS guidance materials, training activities. 22-23 unsheltered homelessness into available services and supports. 55 Process Measure: Amend DHCS WPC pilot contracts to extend another year to allow continuation of WPC housing activities. Output Measure: Continuation of tracking enrollment and utilization of WPC homeless/at-risk of homelessness beneficiaries. HHP and WPC pilots Outcome Measures: 1) Percentage of Continued operation of Whole continue to serve homeless individuals who are Person Care (WPC) pilots and Medi-Cal members permanently housed longer than six (6) Health Homes Program (HHP) through December consecutive months’ experience of care coordination and housing 2021. permanently housed. 2) Percentage of 2.8.3 services in 2021 to continue to DHCS In January 2022, homeless who received housing services strengthen access to health Medi-Cal members after being referred for housing services. and behavioral health services in WPC and HHP will 3) Percentage of homeless who received for people who are transition to ECM supportive housing after being referred unsheltered. and In Lieu of for supportive housing. Services. Process Measure: DHCS continues monitoring access to HHP housing support services for HHP members who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Process Measure: HHP and WPC continue to enroll Medi-Cal members and provide care coordination and housing support services through 2021. Continue operation and Process Measure: Finalize County data enrollment of Community submission standards related to housing Services and Supports program Ongoing throughout status – June 2021. 2.8.4 housing services through DHCS CalVet FYs 20-21, 21-22, and Output Measure: Review and analyze county-level plans through 22-23 County Full Service Partnership data to Mental Health Services Act determine the number of individuals resources. enrolled in an FSP that are housed. Rapidly mobilize Homekey Acquisitions using resources to support initial funding Outcome Measure: Expand capacity of acquisition of sites by local completed by Q2 of local communities to end homelessness 3.9.1 partners, including sites HCD HCFC FY 20-21. through the creation of 1,300 additional planned for use as interim Other timeframes interim housing beds. housing on a temporary or TBD by Department. ongoing basis. 56 Implement a wide array of Ongoing throughout State and Federal funding that FYs 20-21, 21-22, and support the provision of safe, 22-23. effective housing-placement HCD, HCFC, Timing determined focused sheltering and interim DSS, Process Measure: State Funding and for each funding housing models for people CalOES, Programs Working Group to determine program. 3.9.2 experiencing homelessness, CalVet, Caltrans timing for development of targets. State Funding and with identification of clear depending Outcome Measures: In future, measure Programs Working goals and targets for the on funding performance against targets. Group to determine number of shelter or interim source timing for housing opportunities to be development of supported through each targets. program. Provide guidance and supports to sustain and strengthen the implementation of Project Roomkey non-congregate Implemented Q3 of sheltering sites to address the HCFC, DHCS, FY 19-20. Outcome Measure: Individuals served 3.9.3 health and safety needs of DSS CDPH Ongoing throughout and occupancy data. people experiencing FY 20-21. homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic, and identify and share lessons learned. Process Measure: Documentation of Provide and promote guidance and technical assistance guidance and technical activities. assistance regarding Ongoing throughout Outcome Measure: Approximately 68% modifications of land use, 3.9.4 HCD HCFC FYs 20-21, 21-22, and of jurisdictions with commitments to zoning, and other requirements 22-23 amend zoning for emergency shelter for emergency shelters, parking requirements, low barrier navigation centers, and interim navigation centers, and by right housing programs. permanent supportive housing. Implement the Returning Home Well initiative, in partnership with philanthropic organizations and local Ongoing throughout partners, to expand residential FYs 20-21 and 21-22, Outcome Measure: Increased treatment and interim housing and activities community capacity to provide 3.9.5 CDCR DSS options, including recovery expected to be treatment and interim housing options to housing models and sustained into future target population. quarantine options during the Fys pandemic, for people transitioning from corrections settings. 57 Process Measure: Documentation of Provide technical assistance (HCFC, BCSH, guidance materials, training activities, and guidance that will support CalHFA, and initiation of technical assistance in the continued application of CalOES, timely manner. Ongoing throughout Housing First practices, Caltrans, Output Measure: Number of 3.9.6 HCFC FYs 20-21, 21-22, and including lowered barriers and CalVet, CCC, communities receiving formal technical 22-23 housing-focused services and CDCR, CDE, assistance. supports, within sheltering and DHCS, DSS, Outcome Measures: Specific outcome interim housing programs. HCD, TCAC) measures will be developed and tracked for each formal TA engagement. Process Measure: Amend DHCS WPC pilot contracts to extend another year to allow continuation of WPC housing activities. Output Measure: Continuation of Continued operation and tracking enrollment and utilization of enrollment of Whole Person WPC homeless/at-risk of homelessness Care (WPC) pilots and Health beneficiaries. Homes Program (HHP) in 2021 Outcome Measures: 1) Percentage of HHP and WPC pilots to continue to strengthen homeless individuals who are continue to serve access to health and permanently housed longer than six (6) Medi-Cal members behavioral health services for consecutive months’ experience of through December people who are staying in permanently housed. 2) Percentage of 2021. 3.10.2 shelter and interim housing DHCS homeless who received housing services In January 2022, sites. Enrolled Health Home and after being referred for housing services. Medi-Cal members Whole Person Care members 3) Percentage of homeless who received in WPC and HHP will will be transitioned to supportive housing after being referred transition to ECM Enhanced Care Management for supportive housing. and ILOS. (ECM) and In Lieu of Services Process Measure: DHCS continues (ILOS) care coordination and monitoring access to HHP housing housing services, including support services for HHP members who incentive funding, in 2022. are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Process Measure: HHP and WPC continue to enroll Medi-Cal members and provide care coordination and housing support services through 2021. Implement Project Roomkey and Rehousing Strategy funding and technical Technical assistance Process Measure: Documentation of assistance to support the 4.11.1 DSS HCFC, HCD launched Q3 of FY technical assistance efforts related to rehousing of people staying 20-21 rehousing out of Project Roomkey. within Project Roomkey sites into permanent housing opportunities. 58 Implement a wide array of Ongoing throughout State and Federal funding FYs 20-21, 21-22, and programs that support the 22-23. rehousing of people HCFC, DSS, Timing determined experiencing homelessness into HCD, Process Measure: State Funding and for each funding a diverse range of housing CalOES, Programs Working Group to determine Caltrans, program. 4.11.2 models, including models CDE, timing for development of targets. CalVet State Funding and appropriate for youth and depending Outcome Measures: In future, measure Programs Working young adults, with on funding performance against targets. Group to determine identification of clear source timing for rehousing goals and targets for development of the implementation of each targets. program. Provide technical assistance, Process Measure: Documentation of guidance, and training guidance materials, training activities. opportunities to strengthen the Output Measure: Number of implementation of Housing First Ongoing throughout communities receiving formal technical 4.11.4 practices and the HCFC DSS, HCD FYs 20-21, 21-22, and assistance. achievement of rehousing 22-23 Outcome Measures: Specific outcome outcomes in the measures will be developed and tracked implementation of State and for each formal TA engagement. Federal resources. Assess and revise the current Housing First Checklist for State (HCFC, BCSH, Process Measure: Documentation of agencies, confirm alignment CalHFA, One round Housing First checklist and supporting with Housing First requirements CalOES, completed prior to documents provided to HCFC member of relevant State programs, Caltrans, FY 20-21. agencies and departments. 4.11.5 HCFC and provide guidance, CalVet, CCC, Next round to Outcome Measure: Document State training, and support to State CDCR, CDE, commence by Q3 of departments/programs improving departments who need to DHCS, DSS, FY 21-22. alignment with Housing First modify programs and policies HCD, TCAC) expectations. to achieve alignment. Acquisitions using Implement Homekey program initial funding Outcome Measure: Expand capacity of to support rapid financing and completed by Q2 of local communities to end homelessness 4.12.1 HCD HCFC, DSS development of permanent FY 20-21. through the creation of 2,600 additional housing units. Other timeframes permanent supportive housing beds. TBD by Department. 59 Ongoing throughout Implement a wide array of FYs 20-21, 21-22, and other State and Federal 22-23. HCD, TCAC, funding programs that support Timing determined HCFC, DSS, Process Measure: State Funding and expansion of affordable and for each funding CalOES, Programs Working Group to determine supportive housing program. 4.12.2 CalVet, Caltrans timing for development of targets. opportunities, with State Funding and depending Outcome Measures: In future, measure identification of clear unit Programs Working on funding performance against targets. production goals and targets Group to determine source for the implementation of each timing for program. development of targets. Identify and implement efforts to better align policies and practices across State housing Ongoing throughout Process Measure: Documentation of key agencies and programs, while CalHFA, TCAC, 4.12.3 BCSH FYs 20-21, 21-22, and policy and practice improvements and retaining significant focus on HCD, CDLAC 22-23 changes. extremely low-income households and housing for people exiting homelessness. Output Measures: During 2021, release 8- Accelerate selection of 10 new excess State sites through Ongoing throughout developers to create In coordination developer solicitation, select developers 4.12.4 HCD FYs 20-21, 21-22, and affordable and supportive with DGS for 6 sites released through 2020 22-23 housing on State-owned land. solicitations, and 5 Requests for Proposals per calendar year. Ongoing throughout Implement a wide array of FYs 20-21, 21-22, and HCD, State and Federal funding 22-23. CalHFA, programs that support Timing determined TCAC, Process Measure: State Funding and provision of various forms of for each funding HCFC, Programs Working Group determines rental assistance, with program. 4.13.1 CalOES, timing for development of targets. identification of clear goals State Funding and DSS, Outcome Measures: In future, measure and targets for the number of Programs Working depending performance against targets. households to receive rental Group to determine on funding assistance through each timing for source program. development of targets. Process Measure: Documentation of new Prioritize increased rental CalHFA, HCD, Ongoing throughout federal rental assistance resources that 4.13.3 assistance resources within BCSH DSS FYs 20-21, 21-22 are directly aligned with State’s State’s federal advocacy. advocacy efforts and priorities. 60 Direct assistance to tenants expected to begin by end of FY 20-21, continuing Implement the Housing for until funds are Process Measure: Report summarizing Healthy California (HHC) exhausted or end of program data submitted to legislature by program for individuals who FY 23-24. January 2024. are recipients of or eligible for Capitalized Output Measure: Number of people who health care provided through operating reserve to are chronically homeless, or homeless 5.14.1 the Medi-Cal program, HCD DHCS be awarded to and high healthcare cost users, served providing tenant-based rental individual projects by by the program. assistance with supportive end of FY 23-24. Outcome Measure: Reduction in services or capitalized Commence emergency department visits and operating reserve to existing collecting program hospitalizations. rental projects. data in June 2021 and analyzing program data June 2022. Implement the Returning Home Well initiative, in partnership with philanthropic organizations and local partners, to prevent experiences of homelessness Ongoing throughout for people transitioning from FYs 20-21 and 21-22, Outcome Measure: Increased corrections settings by and activities community capacity to provide 5.14.5 expanding residential CDCR DSS expected to be treatment and interim housing options to treatment and interim housing sustained into future target population. options, including recovery Fys housing models and quarantine options during the pandemic, and by addressing transportation needs to facilitate access to such options. Prioritized actions to Assess recommendations from be identified during the Council of State CDCR, via Q4 of FY 20-21, Government’s Reducing Process Measure: Prioritized actions Council on activities Homelessness for People with HCFC, DSS, identified and report to Council provided Criminal implemented 5.14.7 Behavioral Health Needs HCD, DHCS, in timely manner. Additional measures to Justice and throughout FYs 21-22 Leaving Prisons and Jails report and others be developed based upon prioritized Behavioral and 22-23. and identify priorities for actions identified. Health Provide update actions to be taken in FYs 21-22 report to Council and 22-23. regarding activities 61 to be implemented by Q2 of FY 21-22. Ongoing throughout Implement a wide array of FYs 20-21, 21-22, and State and Federal funding HCD, TCAC, 22-23. programs that support HCFC, Timing determined provision of various forms of Process Measure: State Funding and CalHFA, for each funding diversion and prevention Programs Working Group determines CalOES, program. 5.15.2 services, with identification of timing for development of targets. DSS, State Funding and clear goals and targets for the Outcome Measures: In future, measure depending Programs Working number of households to performance against targets. on funding Group to determine receive diversion and program timing for prevention services through development of each program. targets. Continue implementation of the Housing is Key campaign, providing materials and Process Measure: Documentation of Ongoing throughout resources to help Californians HCFC, HCD, homelessness prevention-focused 5.15.3 BCSH FYs 20-21, 21-22, and stay in their homes or DFEH messaging and efforts implemented 22-23 understand their housing through the Housing is Key campaign. options during COVID-19 and beyond. Provide guidance to support schools to develop community collaborations and stronger referral systems with public, Webinar to be private, and faith-based Process Measure: Documentation of 5.15.4 CDE HCFC offered Q4 of FY 20- partners that can help address guidance provided. 21; TBD for future Fys housing instability and homelessness, and other service needs, among students and their families. 62 Identify strategies to serve older adults and people with HCFC, HCD, disabilities at risk of DHCS, CalVet, Outcome Measure: Advancement experiencing homelessness, 5.15.5 DSS and in Ongoing toward housing goals outlined in the including meeting the need for coordination Master Plan on Aging. in home supports and access with CDA to licensed adult and senior care facilities. 63 Attachment C: Baseline Measures Methodology In order to assess the impact of Federal, state, and local efforts to address homelessness, these five baseline measures include data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Point-in-Time (PIT) Count and System Performance Measures (SPM), as well as from the California Department of Education (CDE). Measure 1 provides the number of Californians experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness at a point in time, including Veterans, people experiencing chronic homelessness, families with children, adults, and unaccompanied youth. This measure uses the HUD 2020 PIT count. The PIT counts are conducted by Continuums of Care (CoCs) during one night in January. The reported sheltered count consists of people in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and safe havens, while the reported unsheltered count includes those living on the street, in abandoned buildings, and in other in places not meant for human habitation. Measure 2 provides the number of CoCs reporting increases and decreases in the number of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness from the 2019 PIT count to the 2020 PIT count. A threshold of 5% population change was implemented to demonstrate the count of CoCs who had notable changes in their population of people experiencing homelessness. CoCs are not required to report an unsheltered count in even numbered years, including for the 2020 PIT Count. Therefore, 21 of the 44 California CoCs reported no change for their unsheltered count from 2019 to 2020. Measure 3 is the number of people spending time in emergency shelters and transitional housing, including safe havens in 2020. This number comes from the 2020 SPM total Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) count. HMIS is a local information technology system used by CoCs to collect client-level data and data on the provision of services. Although service providers that receive Federal funding and some state funding are required to participate in local HMIS, independent providers are not required to participate, which means this data likely does not capture all individuals experiencing homelessness in the state. Measure 4 provides the number of people experiencing key events in the homelessness response system, including first-time homelessness, successfully exiting homelessness, and returns to homelessness. Counts for these key events were gathered from the 2020 SPM. The first-time homelessness count includes people entering emergency shelter, safe havens, transitional housing, and permanent housing projects for the first time recorded in HMIS or for the first time in over 24 months. The count of successful exits includes people exiting to permanent destinations (such as permanent supportive housing, rental housing, etc.) from emergency shelters, safe havens, transitional housing, rapid-rehousing projects, and from street outreach. The count of people returning to homelessness includes people who return to seeking services after having exited to a permanent destination within the past 24 months. 64 Measure 5 is the number of children and youth experiencing homelessness at some point during the school year, including students in families and unaccompanied youth. This number is provided by CDE from 2019-2020 school year data. The total students experiencing homelessness consists of students in families, and unaccompanied youth, a subgroup of students experiencing homelessness. Information for the comparison to national and regional data and trends section as well as the equity analysis came from HUD’s PIT Count available on the HUD Exchange website as well as from the National Alliance to End Homelessness summary of that data, State of Homelessness: 2021 Edition. In future reports, HCFC plans to utilize HDIS to provide additional information on subgroups of people experiencing homelessness and the demographic disparities present across the key measures. 65 Attachment D: Acronyms Used in this Report AB ................. Assembly Bill BCSH ............ California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency BFH ............... Bringing Families Home Program CalAIM ......... California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal CalHFA ......... California Housing Finance Agency Cal OES ........ California Governor's Office of Emergency Services Caltrans ....... California Department of Transportation CalVet ......... California Department of Veterans Affairs CalWORKS ... California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids CCCCO ....... California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office CDBG-CV .... Community Development Block Grant – CARES Act CDCR ........... California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation CDE .............. California Department of Education CDSS ............ California Department of Social Services CoC ............. Continuum of Care COE .............. County Office of Education CTCAC ......... California Tax Credit Allocation Committee DHCS ............ California Department of Health Care Services ESG ............... Emergency Solutions Grants Program FEMA ............ Federal Emergency Management Agency FY .................. Fiscal Year HCD ............. California Department of Housing and Community Development HCFC ............ California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council HDIS .............. Homeless Data Integration System HEAP ............ Homeless Emergency Aid Program HEP ............... Homeless Education Plan HHAP ............ Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program HHC .............. Housing for a Healthy California Program HMIS ............. Homeless Management Information System HUD .............. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development LEA ............... Local Education Agency Medi-Cal ...... California’s Medicaid healthcare program NOFA ........... Notice of Funding Availability PIT ................. Point-In-Time Count RHW ............. Returning Home Well Initiative SB .................. Senate Bill TA ................. Technical Assistance WPC ............. Whole Person Care 66