SR 05:103 - Laserfiche WebLink

PART II. PRIORITY HOMELESS NEEDS Priority: Maintain, improve and expand (as needed) the capacity of housing, shelter and services for homeless individuals and families including integrated healthcare, employment services and other pporti ' sa ve services. Priority Analysis and Obstacles to Meeting Underserved Needs Homeless and low income people are at greater risk for developing nutrition-related diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and hear~ disease. Homeless people with one disability are also at greater risk for developing other disabilities. Many homeless people are dually or triply diagnosed with physical health, mental health and alcohol and drug (AOD) problems. They typically receive health treatment through the public system of care, and only when their needs become acute, requiring expensive treatment. Improving the delivery of health services will reduce the numbers of people who continue to cycle through periods of homelessness and reduce the high costs of acute medical, in-patient substance abuse, and psychiatric treatment. In order to compete in today's evolving job market; many homeless people need job training or retaining, followed by placement into "living wage" jobs. Due to their unique circumstances, training and placement for homeless people must also be matched by basic services such as appropriate clothing and literacy training, as well as intensive services such as transportation, child care, on-going job mentorship, counseling and substance abuse treatment. Homeless families not only need job assistance for the adult wage earner(s) but for other family members as the household transitions to work and its demands. Alameda County annually submits a Consolidated Application in response to HUD's annual Continuum of Care SuperNOFA. In partnership with Cities of Berkeley and Oakland, Alameda County convenes a process to involve the community in identifying needs and establishing priorities for submission of the application. The process works in concert with the Continuum of Care Plan and the Multi-Plan, which are used as reference tools throughout the process. The Continuum of Care Super NOFA has been a crucial funding source for growing and maintaining the permanent and transitional housing for homeless in Alameda County. It has provided funding for some of Alameda County's most successful homeless projects. However, the amount of renewals in Alameda County has exceeded our funding allocation and does not allow room for expansion of the transitional and permanent housing system. SHP renewals will have a major impact on the ability of the Continuum of Care to maintain the existing homeless services. In Alameda County, it is projected that SHP allocations for the next several years will amount to about half of what is needed to renew existing homeless services DRAFT - Strategic Plan - FY2005 - FY2009 City of Pleasanton Page 17