HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12b - SGVCOG Homeless Outreach ParticipationParticipation in SGVCOG’s High Acuity Homeless Outreach Program and Services to
Supplement Existing Homeless Services Program
August 16, 2022
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DATE: August 16, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Sara Somogyi, Director of Recreation and Community Services
By: Ashley Marston, Management Aide
SUBJECT: PARTICIPATION IN SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF
GOVERNMENT’S HIGH ACUITY HOMELESS OUTREACH PROGRAM
AND SERVICES TO SUPPLEMENT EXISTING HOMELESS SERVICES
PROGRAM AS PART OF A REGIONAL RESPONSE TO ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (“SGVCOG”) received Measure H
Funding to operate the High Acuity Homeless Outreach Program and the Services to
Supplement Existing Homeless Services Program, both aimed at providing additional
support to preexisting homeless services including street outreach, housing navigation,
case management, and medical and behavioral health services. The Arcadia Recreation
and Community Services Department welcomes the additional support as a regional
response to help persons experiencing homelessness. Therefore, it is recommended that
the City Council approve the City’s participation in the SGVCOG’s High Acuity Homeless
Outreach Program and Services to Supplement Existing Homeless Services Program for
the period of August 22, 2022, through June 15, 2023, at no cost to the City.
BACKGROUND
On July 13, 2021, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the Fiscal Year
2021-22 Measure H Funding recommendations. These recommendations included
funding to be allocated to each subregion in Los Angeles based on the 2020 point-in-time
(“PIT”) homeless count, which for Arcadia was 106. In the City’s subregion, the SGVCOG
is scheduled to receive a total of $3.525 million from January 2022 through June 2023 to
support programs in the San Gabriel Valley. All funding must be expended by June 30,
2023.
In July 021, SGVCOG conducted outreach to its member agencies to identify the region’s
most significant priorities and gaps in the homeless services system to help direct the
focus of future programs. In August 2021, the Governing Board of the SGVCOG approved
the program recommendations, including the High Acuity Homeless Outreach Program
and the Services to Supplement Existing Homeless Services Program (“Programs”) in the
Participation in SGVCOG’s High Acuity Homeless Outreach Program and Services to
Supplement Existing Homeless Services Program
August 16, 2022
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San Gabriel Valley. The intent of these Programs is to support the establishment of
regional or sub-regional programs that can maximize the reach of funding and services.
In Fall 2021, the SGVCOG released an application to identify which cities might be
interested in participating in regional programs to fill gaps in outreach and service needs
for persons experiencing homelessness, including hard-to-reach populations, such as
those with substance use disorder and/or mental illness. Arcadia submitted applications
for both programs, and due to the City’s expressed interest, level of commitment, and
continued efforts in assisting persons experiencing homelessness, Arcadia was included
as one of participating cities for the Programs.
DISCUSSION
SGVCOG contracts with Los Angeles Centers for Drug and Alcohol Abuse (“LACADA”)
for the execution of both Programs, as well as the Mobile Crisis Response Program.
LACADA was recently selected by the City to provide homeless case
management/housing navigation services with three Case Managers beginning July 1.
Therefore, LACADA will be collaborating with the City on both a local and regional front -
engaging with the City’s homeless population and providing ongoing case management
to provide housing solutions and to connect individuals to other services as needed.
Overall, participation in the Programs will provide a greater focus on persons experiencing
homelessness, including those with substance use disorders and mental health issues.
Since there is no cost to the City to participate in the Programs, the City is not required to
sign a Memorandum of Agreement. Rather, with City Council approval, the City Manager
will sign a Letter of Agreement (Attachment “A”) to confirm the City’s participation. The
Letter of Agreement provides an outline of key details and responsibilities for both the
SGVCOG and the City. More information on each of the Programs is provided below.
High Acuity Homeless Outreach Program
The High Acuity Homeless Outreach Program was designed to fill gaps in outreach and
the service needs of high-acuity populations. Acuity refers to the severity and chronicity
of one’s illness and/or disability, and the level of care necessary to support activities of
daily living. Acuity also takes into consideration the impact of multiple co-occurring chronic
health and behavioral health conditions. The Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritization
Decision Assistance Tool (“VI-SPDAT”) is the triage tool currently used in Los Angeles
County to consider level of acuity, and it is used to help direct services and housing to
individuals. Those with a lower acuity score require less assistance in their daily living
and, thus, fewer services. Those with a higher acuity score require more assistance and
wrap-around support in their daily living.
The program requires intensive engagement between the SGVCOG’s selected service
provider, LACADA, and participating cities’ public safety or outreach teams to target more
frequent users of homeless services. Arcadia’s Homeless Engagement Liaison Program
Participation in SGVCOG’s High Acuity Homeless Outreach Program and Services to
Supplement Existing Homeless Services Program
August 16, 2022
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Team (“HELP Team”), the San Gabriel Valley Homeless Outreach Services Team
(“HOST”), Arcadia staff, and case managers/housing navigators from LACADA
contracted through the City will all provide support for the program. Since LACADA
already operates as a part of the City’s outreach team, the program will seamlessly add
an extra layer of concentrated support and care to services currently being provided. It is
anticipated Arcadia will receive one day a week of coverage for High Acuity Outreach.
Services to Supplement Existing Homeless Services Program
The Services to Supplement Existing Homeless Services Program will provide general
outreach, housing navigation, case management, and mental health and health support,
with the goal of linking clients to services and interim and permanent housing. LACADA
will coordinate with existing services provided by cities and other SGVCOG programs.
Since Arcadia already contracts with LACADA, the program will operate fluidly and
efficiently, providing additional assistance in the field to support a greater number of
persons experiencing homelessness.
As part of the scope of work, LACADA will provide three, four-person teams, each of
which will serve cohorts of cities. The city cohorts were formed based on existing
relationships, geography, and the PIT count. The cohorts and teams are as follows:
Team Cohort 2020 PIT
Count
1 Azusa, Diamond Bar, Duarte, Irwindale, Glendora, San Dimas
As-needed support for Claremont, La Verne, and West Covina
440
2 Arcadia, Covina, La Puente, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San
Gabriel, South Pasadena, Temple City
As-needed support for Montebello
455
3 Baldwin Park, South El Monte 615
There will be a total of 12.2 full-time equivalents (“FTEs”) serving these cohort cities,
including the following positions:
• 2.0 FTE Case Managers
• 2.0 FTE Licensed Vocational Nurse/Emergency Medical Technicians
• 2.0 FTE Mental Health Clinicians
• 2.0 FTE Housing Navigators
• 4.0 FTE Outreach Workers
• 0.2 FTE Project Director
Each cohort will have 2.0 FTEs permanently assigned and the remaining specialized
positions will provide support to each team, depending on the needs of the individual
clients in each region. Through this contract, the SGVCOG will also have priority access
Participation in SGVCOG’s High Acuity Homeless Outreach Program and Services to
Supplement Existing Homeless Services Program
August 16, 2022
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to 16 beds in LACADA’s continuum of care. This number of beds will be in addition to the
eight beds allocated to Arcadia through the City’s preexisting contract with LACADA.
Once participation is approved, LACADA will hold a meeting with each cohort and work
to design a consistent service schedule that ensures adequate coverage to each city
based on PIT count and existing resources. The service schedules will outline general
outreach days/times and focused times spent on specific follow-up requests and
appointments for each city. These schedules will be coordinated in conjunction with other
existing regional and local teams to maximize the coverage provided to all cities.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA under Sections 15060(c)(2) and
15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines.
FISCAL IMPACT
Currently, there is no cost to the City to participate in the Programs. The Programs are
fully funded by Measure H and all costs will be handled by the SGVCOG.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a
project and is therefore, exempt under, the California Environmental Quality Act
(“CEQA”); and approve participation in the San Gabriel Valley Council of Government’s
High Acuity Homeless Outreach Program and Services to Supplement Existing Homeless
Services Program.
Attachment “A”: Draft Letter of Agreement for High Acuity Homeless Outreach Program
and Services to Supplement Existing Homeless Services Program
Participation
Attachment “A”
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS LETTER AGREEMENT
August 17, 2022
Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager
City of Arcadia
PO Box 60021
Arcadia, CA 91066
RE: Arcadia’s Participation in SGVCOG’s Regional Homelessness Programs
Dear Mr. Lazzaretto,
This letter is in response to the City of Arcadia’s request to participate in the following San Gabriel
Valley Council of Governments’ (SGVCOG) homeless programs (Programs):
● Services to Supplement Existing Homeless Services Program, in which services include
street outreach, housing navigation, case management, and medical and behavioral
health services; and
● High Acuity and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Focused Outreach and Services for Persons
Experiencing Homelessness (PEH) Program, in which services include intensive case
management and counseling, treatment services for substance use disorder (SUD) and
co-occurring disorders, medical and mental health treatment, and crisis and rapid re-
housing assistance.
The SGVCOG approves the City’s request and will therefore provide homelessness services to the
City throughout the duration of the Programs. Through participation in this Program, the City will
receive homelessness services as described above. Key details and responsibilities of each agency
are outlined below.
● Anticipated Start Date: August 22, 2022
● Anticipated Completion Date: June 15, 2023
● SGVCOG Responsibilities:
o Undertake procurement and execute service provider contracts to implement the
Programs.
o Manage, make eligible payments, and administer service provider contracts to
ensure successful implementation of the Programs.
o Manage the budget for the Programs.
o Provide a point-of-contact to serve as the SGVCOG’s Project Manager.
o Respond to and address City concerns regarding service provider performance.
o Coordinate conference calls and/or meetings with City as necessary.
o Hold monthly homeless working group meetings with City’s Project Manager to
support information sharing.
●City Responsibilities:
o Maintain membership in the SGVCOG during the entire term of the Programs.
o Participate in monthly Homeless Working Group meetings.
o Designate a point-of contact to serve as the City’s Project Manager – with name,
title, and contact information – to provide direction and support and manage the
day-to-day coordination with the service provider(s).
o Provide feedback and raise issues to the SGVCOG on the implementation of the
Programs.
o Respond to requests, provide data and information as requested, review
materials, and provide input to the SGVCOG and its selected provider(s) to
support the implementation of the Programs.
o Coordinate delivery of services with existing services and resources.
o Participate in scheduled monthly conference calls and/or meetings with the
selected service providers throughout the term of the Programs.
o For participation in the High Acuity and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Focused
Outreach and Services for Persons Experiencing Homelessness (PEH) Program,
assign an outreach team(s) that is reasonably familiar with PEH within the City to
conduct outreach with the selected service provider(s) and assist the service
provider(s) in identifying PEH most in need of services.
Should the City not provide the required resources to support the Programs, the SGVCOG
reserves the right to withdraw the Programs’ services from the City.
Should you have any questions regarding the Programs, please contact Caitlin Sims at
csims@sgvcog.org.
Sincerely,
Marisa Creter
Executive Director
ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED:
City of Arcadia
__________________________________ ___________________
Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager Date
Cc: Caitlin Sims, Principal Management Analyst
Sincerely,
Marisaaaaaaaaaaaaa CCCreter
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