January 4, 2008

Working to End Homelessness

In May 2005, the County developed a ten-year plan to end chronic homelessness. The plan is oriented around providing services to the chronically unhoused. The End Chronic Homelessness program couples initiatives for affordable housing, drug and alcohol addiction treatment, and employment matching in order to eliminate the greatest factors contributing to homelessness. In December 2007, we have approved development of further actions that will clearly get to the heart of the many reasons one is chronically unhoused, and aid these families and individuals to access services that will change their lives, and their futures. The actions include outreach teams, transportation support, and medical support.

With a small team providing concentrated outreach, targeting the most needed services, great change is possible. A recent pilot demonstrated that, with facilitated and streamlined processes, the turnaround time to get food stamp approval can be shortened - thus providing food to those in desperate situations. Having the ability to physically get to services is one barrier to access that will be solved with the Board of Supervisor's approval of the Universal Pass for Life Improvement and Transportation, or UPLIFT program. The UPLIFT program will provide no-cost public transportation passes to recipients of services so they can continue to receive services, and as an incentive to enable them to accomplish steps toward self sufficiency. Going to a job interview, keeping a medical appointment, etc.. The Board of Supervisors has approved UPLIFT's initiation for a one-year test period spanning from the beginning of April 2008 through the end of March 2009. At the end of the year the program’s effectiveness will be examined to determine if it will be extended for an additional two years. By adopting policies that boost the effectiveness of existing programs we not only ease human suffering, we make the best use of our investment.

As provider of health services to the uninsured, in addition to our community health clinics and hospital system, the County has operated a nationally recognized medical outreach program for the homeless since 2004, and an emergency room based program to specifically address medical access issues of the homeless. Linking the homeless to a community clinic or providing a clinic at a shelter location has reduced trips to the emergency room and improved the health of the community. We are also looking at developing a system to address medical recovery that can take place outside a hospital setting. The bottom line to all of these medical initiatives is to provide access to the right care, in the right setting, and to prevent temporary ills from becoming chronic ones.

The County is also investigating a One-Stop Multi-Service Center model which bundles together services that are already being offered at scattered sites into one location, which would streamline the intake process. This service delivery model personalizes the intake process, serves more people, improves the coordination of care, directly links the clients to housing and provides greater cost-effectiveness by leveraging other resources.

According to the 2007 Santa Clara County Homeless Census and Survey, the number of chronically homeless in our county is estimated at 3,000; HUD defines chronic homelessness as an unaccompanied individual with a disabling condition who has been continually homeless for one year or more; or who has experienced four or more episodes of homelessness within the past three years.