Score: +7
(8/6/1)
Solano County Grand Jury
• 2023-2024
• Agency Response
Response to:
City of Fairfield
City Manager’s Office October 5, 2022 Honorable Wendy G. Getty Presiding Judge of the Superior Court Sent Via Email
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 14 findings
F1
Page 1
– “Shelter Solano, Inc.’s lack of unrestricted funding prevents the shelter from operating at capacity.” City Response F1: The City agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
Page 21
B: Local agency partners adopt a regionalized service delivery and funding model that does not restrict bed usage based on a bed-night rate agreement with the county and/or donor city, but rather allows access to beds based on client need regardless of the city of origin and works toward reducing the number of homeless living on the streets.
R1A
Page 1
“Local agency partners associated with Shelter Solano, Inc. must assist in acquiring funding streams that increase the number of unrestricted beds.”
R1B
Page 1
“Local agency partners adopt a regionalized service delivery and funding model that does not restrict bed usage based on a bed-night rate agreement with the county and/or donor city, but rather allows access to beds based on client need regardless of the city of origin and works toward reducing the number of homeless living on the streets.”
F2
Page 2
“The Solano County Civil Grand Jury found it difficult to track money and funding between SHELTER, Inc., and Shelter Solano, Inc. Often, the names of the two entities are used interchangeably. It is unclear which funding sources are specifically awarded to Shelter Solano, Inc. and which funding sources are awarded to SHELTER, Inc.” City Response F2: The City partially disagrees with this finding. For the most part, after a comprehensive review, the City of Fairfield finds our contracts clear in designating which legal entity, either SHELTER, Inc. or SHELTER Solano, Inc., receives funding for the services subject to the individual contracts. However, our review of all contracts found a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding agreement, dated July 1, 2021, for $50,000, was confusing. The Subrecipient was identified as SHELTER, Inc., who was “responsible for administering the SHELTER Solano, Inc.” program. Under Exhibit F of the agreement, SHELTER, Inc. was again named as subrecipient, but the Duns and Bradstreet number provided identified SHELTER Solano, Inc.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 2
“Local agency partners establish a transparent system of tracking and reporting funds that clearly differentiates between SHELTER, Inc. and Shelter Solano, Inc.”
F3
Page 2
“Confusion exists in the Solano community regarding what services and/or programming in Solano County is provided by SHELTER, Inc. and what is provided by Shelter Solano, Inc.” City Response F3: The City agrees with the finding. The City of Fairfield provides no transparent way for the community to review what services are provided by the various agencies and from what funding sources.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 2
“Local agency partners work together to develop and implement transparent reporting of services and programming that clearly differentiates between those provided by SHELTER, Inc. and those provided by Shelter Solano, Inc.”
F4
Page 3
“The Solano County Civil Grand Jury found it unclear which funding sources awarded to SHELTER, Inc, are specifically assigned to Shelter Solano, Inc., and which funding sources were awarded to SHELTER, Inc. to provide services in Solano County.” City Response F4: The City partially disagrees with this finding. Please see the City’s response to Finding 2 for specific detail.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Page 3
“Local agency partners work with SHELTER, Inc. and funding providers to establish a more transparent and reconciliation method to clearly disclose which funding sources they receive specifically for Shelter Solano, Inc. and which funding sources SHELTER, Inc. receives that are earmarked for SHELTER, Inc. to provide services in Solano County.”
F5
Page 22
There is a lack of metrics and comprehensive data collection to inform decision- making, to monitor and measure program efficacy and performance, as well as outcomes across the homeless service continuum.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Page 22
Across the continuum of services, develop metrics to measure and monitor program efficacy, performance and outcomes, to include a transparent system of reporting.
F6
Page 3
“Despite improved collaboration between the service providers, funders, municipal government, and county, there remains a lack of an overall leadership role/authority.” City Response F6: The City agrees with this finding. The newly restructured CAP Solano JPA will be the central coordinator of services and funding, providing a countywide, centralized agency for establishing and distributing necessary resources. This restructuring is expected to be complete in the fall of 2022.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Page 3
A: “Overall leadership with authority to address homelessness is required to provide direction, ensure timely coordination of services, demand accountability, and liaison with the community.”
F7
Page 22
The SCCGJ found no evidence that CAP Solano, JPA is registered as a public agency with the State of California or Solano County as required.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Page 22
CAP Solano, JPA file the necessary forms with the State of California and Solano County and consistently meet filing requirements.
F8
Page 4
“The public is unaware of the volume of money coming into Solano County to address the homeless issue.” City Response F8: The City agrees with this finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Page 4
“CAP Solano, JPA should create a dashboard disclosing the money coming into Solano County; how it is used, by whom, and their return on investment (program outcomes).”
F9
Page 23
Feedback from multiple stakeholders and document review during the SCCGJ’s investigation revealed that CES is not currently providing the expected services.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
Page 23
A: The appropriate authority assesses Resource Connect’s current state of operations to identify its readiness to provide the expected services in a user-friendly, timely manner, that reduces the long waitlists currently in place.
F10
Page 4
“Lack of housing makes it difficult for individuals to successfully graduate out of Shelter Solano, Inc. into permanent housing as required by the Housing First Delivery Model used in Solano County.” City Response F10: The City agrees with this finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
Page 4
A: “To successfully address homelessness in Solano County requires that the county and cities work together to secure housing in their respective communities.”
F11
Page 4
“Ongoing delays in the completion of the dining hall has impacted Shelter Solano, Inc.’s ability to operate at capacity and contributes to the rising number of individuals living unsheltered.” Letter to Honorable Judge Getty Re: City of Fairfield Response to 2021-2022 Grand Jury Report Entitled: Shelter Solano, Inc.: A Review of its First Three Years Operating an Emergency Shelter in Solano County October 5, 2022 City Response F11: The City disagrees partially with this finding. The City agrees that delays in the completion of the dining hall have impacted SHELTER Solano, Inc.’s ability to operate at capacity. The City disagrees that this contributes to the rising number of individuals living unsheltered.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
Page 5
“Continue working towards the projected June 2022 completion date to ensure Shelter Solano, Inc. can operate at full capacity.”
F12
Page 5
“Direct observation and feedback received during Shelter Solano, Inc. site visit revealed shelter maintenance has been neglected.” City Response F12: The City disagrees partially with the finding as we do not know what the SCCGJ observed during their visit. The City is aware that in 2018 the previous operator was not providing ongoing maintenance due to a lack of funding and the property was severely neglected.
Related Recommendations (1)
R12
Page 5
A: “Adoption of a Regional Service Delivery model in Solano County that stabilizes funding to consistently meet operational needs.”
F13
Page 5
“Direct observation, document review, and feedback during the Solano County Civil Grand Jury investigation revealed gaps in service delivery along the entire continuum of services.” Letter to Honorable Judge Getty Re: City of Fairfield Response to 2021-2022 Grand Jury Report Entitled: Shelter Solano, Inc.: A Review of its First Three Years Operating an Emergency Shelter in Solano County October 5, 2022 City Response F13: The City agrees with this finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R13
Page 6
A: “The county secures a comprehensive independent assessment across the continuum of homeless services to include: • leadership • level of collaboration among stakeholders • funding • how services are accessed • quality of services provided • measurement of outcomes • mechanism to ensure accountability • transparency of reporting”
F14
Page 6
“A document review conducted by the Solano County Civil Grand Jury revealed discrepancies and inconsistent accounting and reporting practices among the entities providing services to the homeless in Solano County.” City Response F14: The City disagrees partially with this finding. The City is not aware of all documents, and for what agencies, the Grand Jury reviewed and therefore cannot agree with the finding on face value. The City does agree that there are inconsistent reporting practices among agencies receiving funding from CAP Solano JPA and the Continuum of Care (CoC).
Related Recommendations (1)
R14
Page 6
A: “Entities use a consistent reporting mechanism for the awarding of funding to keep the community informed and assured that the money is being spent effectively and as intended.”
Comments 6
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CO1 Page 24The 2021 -2022 SCCGJ found it concerning that Solano County Civil Grand Jury reports of 2014, 2016, and a 2019 Health & Human Services Needs Assessment highlighted the need for leadership with the authority to hold agencies accountable, yet in 2022 these needs remain unaddressed.
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CO2 Page 24Solano County Civil Grand Jury has concerns that the lack of effective oversight and accountability in the way homelessness is being addressed in the community opens the door to the potential for a homeless industrial complex that benefits the nonprofits without accomplishing the task at hand. Continuing to allocate funds into an ineffective delivery system without correcting service delivery gaps funds a problem that continues to grow.
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CO3 Page 24Recent Hoover Institution research highlighting spending on homelessness in San Francisco should cause Solano County and its cities to assess their own policies and spending. “San Francisco is slightly smaller than Jacksonville, Florida. Yet San Francisco’s homelessness budget—$1.1 billion in fiscal year 2021–22—is nearly 80 percent of Jacksonville’s entire city budget…Since fiscal year 2016–17, San Francisco has spent over $2.8 billion on homelessness. Since 2016, the number of homeless in San Francisco has increased from 12,249 to 19,086, which comes out to about $57,000 in spending per homeless person per year. With a total population of about 860,000, roughly 2.2 percent of San Francisco residents are homeless, which is over 12 times the national average…. An important reason why San Francisco policies continue to fail is that there is little or no accountability within the city’s government to evaluate the efficacy of its spending.”
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CO4 Page 25Homeless advocates are moving toward a Navigation Center approach to homelessness. The goal of the Navigation Center is to provide access to services (even if not shelter). The thought is that some individuals are homeless because they are unaware of available resources. Additionally, the lack of temporary shelter and permanent supportive housing limits the number of individuals served. A successful Navigation Center may increase the number of individuals receiving services and provide the tools and skills needed.
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CO5 Page 25Homelessness is an issue that affects every city in Solano County. To that end, a Regional 2x2 Homeless Committee was formed in May 2021 to address regional homeless issues in Solano County. Committee representatives from each city are the policymakers/elected officials of each respective city, which helps to create a regional focus on the issue. The committee’s intent is to address the coordination of homeless services at the city and county executive/elected levels. The 2x2 Homeless Committee is in its infancy at the writing of this report and its effectiveness is yet to be determined. If successful, the Regional 2x2 Homeless Committee may be Solano County’s opportunity to provide the overall leadership and collaboration needed.
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CO6 Page 25Resource Referral Services provided by Shelter Solano, Inc, refer clients to 211. 211 is a free information and referral service that connects people to Health and Human Services in their community 24/7. Unfortunately, 211 is difficult to navigate, is not a local organization familiar with available resources in Solano County, and does not effectively provide linkage to the services needed.
Agency Responses 2
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.