Mendocino County Grand Jury • 2024-2025

Homelessness in Mendocino County is a Community Concern August 16, 2021

6 pages
View Original PDF

Findings and Recommendations 7 findings

F1
The Mendocino County COC website is outdated and there is no single point of contact, such as an 800 number, for those in need of homeless services.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
the COC update its website, expand information dissemination, and develop a toll-free number to address homeless questions and issues by January 3, 2022. (F1)
F2
The COC is limited to coordinating funds to locally available services which can result in service gaps for the homeless.
Related Recommendations (2)
R4
the COC, through local partnerships, place a high priority on addressing the hygiene needs of the homeless of the release of this report. (F2)
R5
the COC work with local elected officials to identify and develop a Homeless Housing element by July 1, 2022. (F2, F7)
F3
The breadth of locally available services does not have or require written policies and procedures to monitor the level of service being provided for the homeless which results in service outcomes for the homeless not being measured.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
the COC develop clarity of responsibility for the issuance of funds and a process to evaluate the qualitative merits of a grant application by January 3, 2022. (F3)
F4
Gaps in the Homeless Services System of Care, such as coordinated, collaborative response teams of service providers and law enforcement, are filled by law enforcement agencies that are resource-limited and have unfilled liaison positions for effective Community Policing.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
City of Ukiah's City Council and the COC evaluate standards for partnership with HHSA and Law Enforcement of the release of this report. (F4, F6)
F5
The COC has a quantitative rating system to grade service provider applicants. The rating tool does not evaluate prior objectives of an applicant to determine a history of successful outcomes. There is no rating system for similar services funded separately through County Health and Human Services.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
the COC develop clarity of responsibility for the grant applicants that require the agencies to identify specific goals and objectives for the grant funding period by November 30, 2021. These submittals will provide a baseline rating system for the COC to determine if the applicant can provide the identified goals and objectives prior to the issuance of funds in the next grant cycle. (F5)
F6
Law Enforcement agencies are represented on the COC by the UPD. With the absence of Federal guidance on how to coordinate police with program services, there is a collaboration gap between providers and government agencies that requires creative local solutions to establish protocols, and define clear roles for service providers and agencies, to foster working relationships.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
City of Ukiah's City Council and the COC evaluate standards for partnership with HHSA and Law Enforcement of the release of this report. (F4, F6)
F7
The majority of members on the COC are employees of other agencies and struggle to address the level of service needed locally without policy guidance from the Board of Supervisors, City elected officials, or other assigned staff.
Related Recommendations (2)
R5
the COC work with local elected officials to identify and develop a Homeless Housing element by July 1, 2022. (F2, F7)
R7
County and local elected officials prioritize the development of specific objectives that meet the homeless issues identified in the Strategic Plan of the release of this report. (F7)