ITEM 8e

Staff Report

Subject: Follow Up to December 2, 2019 Executive Committee Action Related to CV Housing First

Contact: Tom Cox ([email protected]) and Libby Carlson ([email protected])

Recommendation: Information only.

Background: At its December 2019 meeting, the Executive Committee held extensive discussion regarding the CV Housing First program. Items identified for follow up included County monitoring reports, amendment of the grant agreement between CVAG and the County, and more information on reporting and data. The following update is staff’s response to the Executive Committee discussion. Monitoring Reports In November 2019, the City of Indian Wells City Manager filed a Public Records Act request with Riverside County Department of Public Social Services for information regarding monitoring of the DPSS agreement with CVAG for the ‘West Valley Navigation Program’ operated by Path of Life Ministries for FY18/19. After the County provided these records to the City of Indian Wells, the monitoring report was informally circulated among some elected officials prior to the November Homelessness Committee meeting. The report was also referenced during public comment by Indian Wells City Councilmember Ty Peabody with the statement that the report was not properly disclosed and needs to be read by the Homelessness Committee to make a proper evaluation of Path of Life. Note that CVAG also funded the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission in FY18/19 for the west Valley cooling centers project, but monitoring information for this organization was not included in the request from Indian Wells nor referenced in the claim from Councilmember Peabody.

In response to discussion held at the Homelessness Committee meeting, the CVAG/Path of Life monitoring report, along with all proposals received in response to the CV Housing First RFP, were included with the program recommendation when it was sent to the Executive Committee in December. In the interest of maximum transparency, CVAG also asked the County provide similar monitoring reports for all organizations that responded to the RFP, with the intent of including them as well. Unfortunately, the County was unable to make these reports available prior to the Executive Committee meeting date. However, they have now been received and are included as Attachment 1 to this staff report.

After reviewing all monitoring reports furnished by the County, staff continues to stand by the integrity of the proposal review process and maintains its opinion that the monitoring reports do not contain information that would have influenced the resulting recommendation. For example, although the

Coachella Valley Rescue Mission report cited ‘findings’ (as opposed to ‘concerns’), it does not diminish the value of the organization’s work or preclude CVAG from entering into a contract with them again should the need arise. The driving consideration throughout the review process was whether or not proposals were responsive to the RFP and how well they aligned with the CV Housing First goal of getting homeless people off the streets and into stable housing situations as quickly as possible. Again, in the case of CVRM, their stated core competency is emergency shelter. While shelters provide an important resource to our community, emergency shelter is not a central part of the housing first model as it has a low rate of success when it comes to helping people find long term housing solutions.

This table compares monitoring report outcomes for organizations that submitted proposals. ‘Concerns’ are things the reviewing agency feels should be addressed in order to strengthen a program. They do not have a negative impact on future funding requests. ‘Findings’ are issues identified that must be corrected. In the past, they have also negatively impacted future funding requests. However, starting in 2020, HUD will no longer factor in monitoring report results when evaluating funding requests. The County generally responds to HUD changes by adopting similar practices.

With respect to closing out the report for CV Housing First given in FY18/19, staff continues to work closely with the County Department of Public Social Services to address any lingering concerns (Attachment 2). This includes amending the grant agreement between CVAG and the County in order to bring it up to date with the current CV Housing First program. Execution of this agreement is in progress. Fiscal Impact: None.

Attachment: 1. Monitoring Reports and Summary 2. Letter to DPSS regarding the FY18/19 Monitoring Report

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2019 ❚ DESERTSUN.COM PARTPPAART OOFF THE USUSAA TTOTODAYDAAY NETWNETWORKOR ‘Rapid rehousing’ not always very quick Homeless in Riverside didn’t County left waiting for want to live in a world between 3 and 118 days without openly gay Nicole Hayden Palm Springs Desert Sun rock musicians, USA TODAY NETWORK so he became one There can be a kitschy romance to sleeping at a Brian Blueskye Palm Springs Desert Sun motel when you’re young and road-tripping across USA TODAY NETWORK America. But when a motel room is the last option before homelessness, it can take on a darker tone. On a recent Saturday af- Nancy Moore, 66, and her husband Ron, 70, found ternoon in North Hills, themselves at the Motel 6 in northern Palm Springs Calif., Chris Freeman is just over a year ago after they were evicted from a opening boxes he hasn’t garage in Desert Hot Springs they were renting for seen in years, pulling $500 a month. out memorabilia from a It was a nice motel, they said, but they refused to 1994 tour with Green call it home even though they had no other place to Day. lay their heads at night. The white walls were clean Freeman laughs and sterile. The two queen-sized beds draped with when he sees pho- blankets the color of earth sat side-by-side facing a tos of his younger small television. Warm showers were available at the self running naked crack of dawn or late at night. The only hints of a cozy through a mosh pit in home were the house plants, cats and the family dog some arena in America the Moores crammed into the room. and a photo of him posingwith “I was not going to give up. I knew this wasn’t singer-songwriter Courtney Love. home,” Ron Moore said. “I knew this wasn’t right. We A frontman for the LGBTQ rock were going to come out of homelessness. The motel band , Freeman also was just temporary.” plays in GayC/DC, an all-gay AC/DC Across Riverside County each night, scores of peo- tribute, and a new project called Ma- ple like the Moores are one step from life on the ry with GayC/DC members Glen Pa- streets. How they fare depends both on their own re- van and Steve McKnight. His roots sourcefulness and the luck of the draw. are in a sub-genre of The county’s continuum of care program assesses called , which emerged in people to see who is qualified for a housing voucher the early ’80s from a zine called “J.D.’s” in Toronto and spread to other See HOMELESS, Page 8A cities, including .

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Above: Chris Freeman performs with GayC/DC at Palm Springs Pride on Nov. 4, 2018. Left: Chris Freeman of Pansy Division, GayC/DC and Mary holds up his all-access pass for the “” tour in his living room in North Hills on Sept. 21. PHOTOS BY BRIAN BLUESKYE/THE DESERT SUN; ILLUSTRATION BY JOSHUA ULRICH/USA TODAY NETWORK; Ron and Nancy Moore were homeless but now have AND GETTY IMAGES a home in Joshua Tree. They previously lived at a Motel 6 after being evicted from a garage they were renting. JAY CALDERON/THE DESERT SUN

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lowed up, after they had showers and a Homeless meal and a good night’s sleep, they looked so different. They looked less Continued from Page 1A overwhelmed. It was nice to see that weight lifted.” and which assistance program fits best. The Moores ended up staying in the The program many officials are touting “crisis” apartment for about six months as the most successful is “rapid rehous- on CVAG’s dime — twice as long as the ing,” which provides short-term rental program typically allows. In that time, assistance to quickly move people expe- the couple was determined to check off riencing homelessness into a home. their list of to-dos, with the help of Lo- Rapid rehousing is typically a six- pez, who stopped by several times each month placement in a private apart- week to check in. ment, paid for with federal funds that “A lot has to do with helping people are managed by the county. The goal in with their mind and spirit and staying that half-year is to help people transi- present and reminding them that they tion to long-term housing. To qualify, can get through this, that is the hardest people must be homeless or near home- part,” Lopez said. lessness with income at or below 50% of Lopez helped Ron Moore access his the poverty line. Ron and Nancy Moore’s home in Joshua Tree has a large backyard and garden. VA benefits, coached the couple as they Once a person is qualified with a JAY CALDERON/THE DESERT SUN created a budget, vetted possible long- housing voucher in hand, applicants term housing options and even referred must work with an agency to actually Nancy Moore to a hair salon. find a place to live. The average number Report card: Report card: While in the crisis unit, the couple of days it takes to move into a “rapid re- put many of their favorite activities on housing” home once someone qualifies RivCo transitional housing RivCo emergency hold. Ron was looking forward delving for a voucher in Riverside County is 39 Transitional housing: A housing project, often shelters back into a love of photography, garden- days. That doesn’t include how long it a group home (but smaller than a mass ing and participating in a men’s choir shelter), that is designed to provide Emergency shelter: A temporary shelter for takes for clients to qualify for housing in temporary housing and supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness. This once their housing situation reached a the first place, which can take a couple help people gain skills that will help them includes mass overnight shelter and stable point. Nancy, who is often tired move towards independent living. Examples transitional programs hosted by shelters. weeks to many months. include the Harrison House at SafeHouse of Examples in the Coachella Valley include the and in poor health since part of her pan- The time it takes to move voucher-el- the Desert, which is geared towards young Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, Martha's creas was removed, was looking for- adults, and ABC Recovery, which is geared Village and Kitchen, and the Coachelle Valley igible people into a new home can vary towards drug rehab and alcohol treatment. Association of Government's emergency ward to having one of their kids visit. widely, from three to 118 days, depend- shelter project. “Success is dependent on clients’ ing on the agency, according to a Desert participation in the program and Ron, Sun analysis of Riverside County data 17% 56% he was very adamant that he was going from October 2017 to June 2019: to get out of this situation. I was proud ❚ Catholic Charities: 14 days of him and was there for him,” Lopez ❚ City of Riverside: 36 days said. “He knew exactly what he wanted: ❚ Coachella Valley Rescue Mission: two bedrooms, a yard for his dog and 33 days storage space. He found his house on his ❚ Lighthouse Social Services: 46 own and advocated for himself to the days landlord, and I was able to help him tie ❚ Lutheran Social Services: 118 days up loose ends.” ❚ Coachella Valley Association of Governments/Path of Life Ministries: 3 By the numbers days ❚ Path of Life Ministries (non-CVAG In Riverside County, rapid rehousing clients): 15 days Current status: More than has been effective at preventing people ❚ Current status: 17% return to Riverside Community Housing homelessness on exit from 50% return to homelessness from returning to homelessness, with Corporation: 46 days 4% of clients returning to the streets program. on exit. ❚ Riverside County (RUHS) Behav- and 82% transitioning into some sort of ioral Health: 46 days permanent housing, according to coun- ❚ U.S. Vets: 34 days ❚ 306 Unique individuals stayed in an ❚ 6,409 Unique individuals stayed in an ty data reaching back to October 2017. emergency shelter in Riverside emergency shelter in Riverside County The remainder fall somewhere in the Moores find success County between October 2017 and between October 2017 and June 2019. middle: staying at a relative’s or friend’s June 2019. home, other transitional housing or a ❚ 37 Average number of days people The Moores knew firsthand that their detox center. ❚ 91 Average number of days people stay at the shelter. fate was in part reliant on the agency Between October 2017 and June 2019, stay at the transitional program. they were matched with. “I can tell you ❚ 46% Of individuals seeking shelter the county housed 405 people through horror stories,” said Ron Moore, a veter- ❚ 44% Of individuals seeking shelter were white men, the largest demo- one of its several rapid rehousing pro- an of the Vietnam War and a retired hos- were white men, the largest de- graphic served. grams, with an additional 122 qualified pital maintenance worker. mographic served. but waiting for placements. ❚ 34% Of those seeking shelter were Ron decided to take their housing sit- The county outsources much of the ❚ 26% Of those seeking shelter were disabled. uation into his own hands, reaching out funding to other housing agencies to disabled. to local officials for help. He spent his ❚ 10% Of those seeking shelter were serve various communities and needs, Motel 6 days watching the sunrise be- ❚ 4% Of those seeking shelter were chronically homeless. and because the county doesn’t have fore heading to the library to research chronically homeless. Source: Riverside County Department the staff to do all the work themselves. housing options. He reached out to sev- Source: Riverside County Depart- of Public Social Services The biggest challenge for any provid- eral agencies, including the U.S. Depart- ment of Public Social Services er, though, is getting people into the rap- ment of Veteran Affairs, Riverside id rehousing units. It takes 39 days on County Adult Services office, and Light- average to move someone into a place- house Social Services. He kept striking Report card: Report card: ment once they are approved for a rapid out. rehousing voucher. That could mean 39 The turning point came when he RivCo rapid rehousing RivCo permanent additional days on the street or in a found contact information for Greg Rod- Rapid rehousing: RRH provides short- and supportive housing mass emergency shelter or in a car or on riguez, policy adviser to Riverside Coun- medium-term rental assistance to quickly a friend’s couch. County officials say move people and families experiencing Permanent supportive housing: PSH is meant ty Supervisor V. Manuel Perez and the homelessness into a home. The placement to assist individuals experiencing that lag is typically due to the few hous- Coachella Valley Homelessness Collab- emphasizes housing search to allow people to homelessness who are disabled or families ing units available. transitional into long-term housing on exit. with an adult or child who are disabled. The orative’s director. Rodriguez referred Examples of agencies in the Coachella Valley housing comes with an indefinite lease or The county typically does not own Moore to Christy Holstege, a Palm that assist with this include Path of Life and rental assistance coupled with supportive apartment units, but relies on individ- Step Up On Second. services. Agencies that help connect people to Springs city councilwoman who sits on PSH placements include Path of Life and Step ual landlords to be willing to accept a the city’s homelessness committee and Up On Second. housing voucher which range in amount chairs the Coachella Valley Association depending on income levels. For exam- of Governments’ homelessness com- 4% 18% ple, a voucher for a mother with two mittee. kids who earns $10 an hour could re- Holstege directed the couple to reach ceive a $174 housing voucher. If that out to Path of Life Ministries, a nonprof- same mother was earning $6.25 an it that contracts with CVAG to house hour, the voucher would hit closer to people who are facing homelessness in $531, according to the Riverside County the Coachella Valley. Ron forwarded Housing Authority. Officials say finding Hostage’s email to the agency. Path of willing landlords is one of the biggest Life took this as a cue to prioritize the housing challenges. Moores’ case. County and city governments are al- “We receive referrals from partner lowed to own units if they choose, agencies and cities, so officials with cit- though. In San Bernardino County, the ies that CVAG has partnered with ... can city of Ontario has owned 76 housing contact us directly and we immediately Current status: 4% return to Current status: 18% return to units since 2005. look into those clients’ needs,” said Ca- homelessness on exit from homelessness on exit from Rodriguez said the large discrepan- sey Jackson, Path of Life Ministries in- cies in placement times between the housing placement. housing placement terim CEO. agencies does not mean one is doing On Sept. 26, 2018, the Moores had better or worse than the next. The dis- run out of money. They packed up and ❚ 405 Households were placed in RRH ❚ 582 Households were placed in PSH crepancies in some ways reflect the fact resolved to live out of their 2000 Ford in Riverside County between October in Riverside County between October that agencies have different resources, Mustang they had purchased for $900 2017 and June 2019. 2017 and June 2019. different staffing levels and a different — it wasn’t yet terribly cold at night. But number of clients with various needs ❚ 39 Average number of days it takes ❚ 37 Average number of days it takes on that same day, Maria Lopez, Path of they are trying to serve at once, ranging for people to move in to their home for people to move in to their home Life caseworker, showed up at the Motel from recovering addicts to those with a once approved. once approved. 6 to inform the couple they qualified for long history of court fees to untangle. the CV Housing First program. A few ❚ 38% Of individuals seeking shelter ❚ 52% Of individuals seeking shelter The CV Housing First program focus- hours later, the Moores were moving were white men, the largest demo- were white men, the largest demo- es on clients who have lower barriers to into a “crisis” apartment in Palm graphic served. graphic served. overcome and who may be more willing Springs. to cooperate with case workers, Rodri- ❚ 49% Of those who received housing ❚ 74% Of those who received housing If the Moores had ended up working guez said. were disabled. were disabled. with a different agency, it may have tak- Rodriguez said the other part of the en more than a month to move into an ❚ 19% Of those who received housing ❚ 61% Of those who received housing CV Housing First success is access to apartment. were chronically homeless. were chronically homeless. housing. The program leases the 12 cri- The CV Housing First program that Source: Riverside County Department Source: Riverside County Department sis units in the Coachella Valley already, the Moores got into differs from the of Public Social Services of Public Social Services so caseworkers don’t have to track down standard “rapid rehousing” models be- new willing landlords each time they re- cause it is coupled with “crisis stabiliza- ceive a new client like other housing tion housing,” which aims to bridge the agencies must. gap between qualifying for rapid re- apartment leases, caseworker salaries survive if you were just picked up off the housing and actually moving into a and rapid rehousing vouchers. street,” said Nancy Moore, who broke Housing First in the valley home. Rodriguez said CV Housing First is down in tears. “But it was private, just During 90-day stays at “crisis” apart- effective because it is small. It served 65 us, with our own two-bedroom apart- The CV Housing First program has ments, caseworkers provide support to “crisis” clients and 20 rapid rehousing ment. I was really surprised. ... I the urgency of an emergency shelter help clients find a “rapid rehousing” clients between October 2017 and June thought, ‘Oh my goodness, it’s a real with rapid rehousing goals, attempting unit. The caseworkers also connect cli- 2019. apartment.’ “ to meld the best of each program model. ents to other services they might need The Palm Springs “crisis” apartment Lopez said the couple was in disbe- In the Coachella Valley, most shelters as well, from help signing up for govern- the Moores moved into was fully fur- lief. open only at night and push clients out ment benefits to counseling services. nished with a kitchen stocked with “They had five cats and a dog living during the day to encourage people to Typically people move into a “crisis” utensils, plates and glasses. The bath- with them so, finding housing was chal- use that time to work, find job or visit a unit the same day they qualify. room was ready with towels, the bed- lenging for them,” Lopez said. “They social services office. It would also cost The CVAG program costs $1 million room cozy with blankets. were still in disbelief as they moved in. annually to operate, which includes the “It had everything you would need to Then, a couple days later when I fol- Continued on next page DESERTSUN.COM ❚ SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2019 ❚ 9A

Continued from previous page more to keep the shelters open 24 hours. While the data shows that people who stay in the CVAG “crisis” units have a high success rate of transitioning into some sort of long-term housing, those who stay in a mass emergency shelter or in a shelter program, have a lower chance of success: ❚ Coachella Valley Rescue Mission mass shelter: 5% exit to long-term hous- ing ❚ Coachella Valley Rescue Mission program housing: 5% exit to long-term housing ❚ Martha’s Village and Kitchen: 39% exit to long-term housing ❚ CV Housing First crisis units: 65% exit to long-term housing “In a mass shelter, people can’t be there 24 hours a day,” Jackson, Path of Life’s interim CEO, said. “They come in the evening and leave in the morning. Our version of emergency shelter is dif- ferent. The idea is to allow someone to be in a stable home while they look for work and housing. Studies show 24- hour shelter is more helpful in reaching success, but our current system doesn’t support that.” That’s what CV Housing First is try- Ron and Nancy Moore talk about their experiences of being without a home in the past and how they are adjusting to ing to achieve: remove the stress of life having a home now in Joshua Tree. JAY CALDERON/THE DESERT SUN on the streets or in a mass shelter, allow- ing people to focus on reaching their goals instead of the list of things it takes with Path of Life (the only agency CVAG to survive without a home. The program currently contracts with), a different is acutely focused on permanent hous- “A lot of people who are homeless or on the verge of being agency, or a collection of agencies. Path ing as a success factor and muscles up of Life is vying for a contract and asking the wrap-around resources such as homeless, they don’t know who to call.” to expand to include a few more apart- budget-planning and advocating to Greg Rodriguez ment units. landlords with that in mind. Director, Coachella Valley Homelessness Collaborative “We know rapid rehousing is a “The caseworkers are working with proven model,” Rodriguez said. “We fewer clients than typical, so they are thing. We are always trying to find ways housing agencies, including, but not have seen success. We know it is not the able to work more intensely with clients to be more efficient, but we our limited limited to, referrals from Holstege and end-all, be-all answer for everyone, but than when they are trying to juggle a lot with our resources.” Rodriguez. we know it is one of the most effective of people at once,” Rodriguez said. Path of Life caseworkers typically “People are connected to the program tools in the toolbox.” Path of Life caseworkers under the earn between $16 and $20 an hour, de- mostly by referrals,” Rodriguez said. The Moores exited the “crisis” unit CVAG contract might have a caseload of pending on experience, Jackson said. “That can come from an agency, a shel- and moved into their new home in Josh- just 15 people at a time, while general The CV Housing First program cur- ter, I probably refer four to five people a ua Tree on March 20. Ron cooked dinner Path of Life caseworkers, who are typi- rently has two caseworkers for the 12 week just from calls to our office.” for Nancy that night: a steak. Then, they cally paid by the agency’s own budget apartment units scattered throughout “A lot of people who are homeless or relaxed and marveled at the home that which gets some funding from the U.S. the Coachella Valley, which are owned on the verge of being homeless, they was now theirs. Department of Housing and Urban De- by private landlords, leased by CVAG don’t know who to call,” he said. “To be Riverside County paid the first velopment, could have up to 24 clients and operated by Path of Life. Each honest, it is a lot of luck how people find month’s rent; San Bernardino County at once. Increased caseworker involve- houses one individual or one family at a us.” paid the second month’s rent. The ment can contribute to clients’ success, time. The temporary placement typical- CV Housing First launched in fall Moores have paid the rent on their own Rodriguez said. ly lasts three months. One caseworker 2017, when CVAG awarded a two-year, since then using Ron’s VA benefits and “I’m always trying to push for a better works directly with clients and the other $2 million contract to Path of Life. The Nancy’s social security payments. staff situation and to pay our staff bet- oversees the maintenance of properties. contract has since been extended to the “Ron still calls me,” Lopez said. “He ter, even though nonprofits don’t get a Who is served by the program some- end of 2019 for an additional cost of called me the day he paid his rent on his lot of income,” Jackson said. “We need times just comes down to luck. $600,000 while CVAG decides what its own for the first time. I said, ‘Good for to pay our caseworkers enough to live at Jackson said the agency often takes future program will look like. you.’ ” the level they need to live at, so having referrals directly from city council CVAG is slated to decide by the end of more hands-on deck is a complicated members, county officials or other the year if it will continue to contract