Summary of Objective Implementation Status

The housing resource tool conceived between three County department agencies, the Department of Health Services (DHS), the Community Development Commission (CDC), and the Information Systems Department (ISD), was based on the Petaluma-based bed inventory pilot program called the Committee On The Shelterless (COTS).  The tool is a computerized database which would indicate bed-space availability at scattered shelters.  The database would report unit availability, when the sites would be ready, eligibility for specific shelter locations, and potentially private market leasing options.  The short-hand name for this project is “Connect-P”.

Key Milestone Update

• On September 30, 2022, receipt of $1.6 million from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ SAMHSA unit (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration) will allow government contractor IBM to begin coding on the Connect-P resource tool.
• The project is scheduled to start on 01/01/2022 and end on 01/01/2024.
• Technical preparations to bring the bed inventory tool online should be completed by 06/30/2023, with the pilot commencing thereafter through the fall of 2023.

Coordination and Partnership Update

DHS & ISD are coordinating on the following Connect-P project tasks:

• Contract negotiation with government contractor IBM Corporation on scope of work;
• Project execution with project objectives readjusted per fiscal constraints (see funding section below).
• Partnering with municipalities–Sant Rosa, Rohnert Park, and Healdsburg–on Data-Sharing agreements.

Community, Equity, and Climate Update

This Connect-P technology will require an attention to racial equity and social justice to ensure that the County is assisting all residents of Sonoma County.

Funding Narrative

• Coding for the Connect-P resource tool is part of a $750,000 budget line-item entitled “Coordinated Entry Integration.”
• However, the $750,000 line-item was part of a $2 million grant proposal, for which only $1.6 million was granted by SAMHSA.  Project appropriations will need to be adjusted to accommodate the smaller award.
• The 20%-smaller than requested award may require a 20% reduction in coding costs, which will adversely affect initial project plans for the Connect-P resource tool.