Healthy and Safe Communities

Summary of objective implementation status 

Several key initiatives are provide housing-related resources and tools to both community partners and Safety Net departments.  Weekly IMDT (interdepartmental multidisciplinary team) meetings provide an avenue for housing resources for Safety Net departments, including placement into County sites such as Eliza’s Village and Mickey Zane Place.  In 2023-24, weekly case conferencing via the Coordinated Entry System continued; this is open to all providers seeking housing referrals as well as County Safety Net departments that also refer into the system.  Coordinated Entry, operated by Home First and overseen by the Ending Homelessness Team, is the key front door for placement into permanent supportive housing under the Homeless Coalition and required by State and Federal funding streams that address homelessness.

Additionally, the Department of Health Services (DHS), as the Lead Agency, coordinates subregional street outreach among the major subregions of the County (North/Central/South/West/Sonoma Valley).  County Safety Net partners are included in this system, with the DHS HEART and SOUL team playing major roles in developing a Countywide By Names List of individuals experiencing homelessness.

Key milestone update 

The By Names List is anticipated to be fully implemented in 2025 per the Sonoma County Homeless Coalition.  Additionally, the Lead Agency creates and submits a yearly Housing Inventory Chart (HIC) required by HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) that lists all homeless dedicated beds in Sonoma County.  The HIC is displayed publicly on the Lead Agency (DHS) website and can be utilized to develop a more complete housing resource tool in 2025. 

The Ending Homelessness Team is also in the process of developing live data dashboards that will illustrate performance metrics as well as utilization/availability of housing and shelter beds.  This is on track to be finalized by late 2024. 

The Lead Agency also supported the United Way in 2023 with developing a more robust resource list that is now in operation (funded with American Rescue Act dollars).

Coordination and partnership update

Coordination continues with both the Homeless Coalition Board, Safety Net Departments, cities (via the By Names List) and the Coordinated Entry operator in developing a more robust resource tool.  Additionally, DHS provides links online to all shelters as well as Coordinated Entry assessment locations:

https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/homelessness-services/get-help

Community, equity and climate update

DHS and the Homeless Coalition are in the process of redesigning the prioritization tool (VI-SPDAT) for Coordinated Entry to better address equity in terms of housing assessment and placement.  This tool is anticipated to be finalized in 2025 as part of a robust community process in refining the tool and then beta testing it before finalization. 

Objective funding

N/A