Stanislaus County Grand Jury
2021-2022
Findings & Recommendations
6 findings
F1:
The number of homeless in Stanislaus County fluctuates from year to year but is increasing over time. This trend was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
F2:
The most significant causes of homelessness are lack of affordable housing, substance abuse, and mental health.
F3:
Efforts to better coordinate the system of care are underway. These include the Stanislaus Homeless Alliance at the policy level, and the Homeless Management Information System at the operational level.
F4:
Since over half of the homeless each year are in the care system for the first time, efforts to prevent homelessness have not been successful enough. Without greater prevention success, homelessness cannot be reduced.
F5:
Despite enormous funding for homeless programs, and despite the fact that there are many individual successes, overall the system to date has not reduced homelessness.
F6:
There is insufficient accountability for the effective use of homeless funds. While many agencies are accountable to their funding sources, primary responsibility for measuring accountability and effectiveness rests with the Community Services Agency, the Community System of Care, and the Stanislaus Homeless Alliance.
Additional Recommendations
5
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
More accountability needs to be introduced into the system. The Community System of Care, the Stanislaus Homeless Alliance, and the Community Services Agency should take the lead, demand verifiable performance, and focus funding and other resources on those agencies and organizations with demonstrable success. This should be done by jointly adopting a performance evaluation system prior to allocation of the next round of 12 federal homeless funding. Progress on achieving the eight goals set forth in the Stanislaus 2021 Regional Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness should be included in performance evaluations.
R2:
More focus should be given to preventing homelessness. To the extent there are funds not earmarked for other purposes, in the budgeting process of each jurisdiction, priority should be given to allocating these funds for affordable housing, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.
R3:
All cities in the County should continually be encouraging the construction of significantly more affordable housing. They should evaluate their plans, procedures, and requirements with the goal of balancing community goals, standards, and aspirations with the need for affordable housing.
R4:
All cities should report annually to the Community System of Care and Stanislaus Homeless Alliance on the steps they have taken to help produce more affordable housing.
R5:
Subsequent civil grand juries are encouraged to monitor progress on these recommendations and consider a more in-depth investigation into efforts to produce affordable housing.