COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • LEADERSHIP	View full PDF report View Selected Abbreviations
Homelessness in California State Government and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Need to Strengthen Their Efforts to Address Homelessness Report Number: 2017-112

Response to the Survey From —
Fresno City and County, Madera County CoC

 

HUD provides two lists of California Continuum of Care (CoC) key contacts: one for Northern California and one for Southern California.
You can find these lists at https://www.hud.gov/states/california/homeless/continuumcare.

1. Enter the CoC number for which you are completing the survey.
   
   CA-514
2. Enter the CoC name for which you are completing the survey.

   Fresno City and County, Madera County CoC

   
   

3. Enter the organization within the CoC that you represent.

   Fresno Housing Authority

4. What type of organization do you represent?.
Joint Powers Authority
County government agency
City government agency
Non-profit
Other (please specify)



Public Housing Agency



5. How many staff (full-time equivalents) does your organization employ?

   238

6. Does your organization provide homeless services directly for clients?
   No Yes (If so, what types of homeless service programs does your organization provide?)
   
   

   Fresno Housing has built 118 units of permanent supportive housing complexes in Fresno. In addition we administer 175 units of tenant based rental assistance permanent supportive housing, 40 units of rapid rehousing primarily for families. In addition, we administer the Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. We partner with Fresno County Dept of Social Services in administering the CalWORKs Housing Support Program.

7. Are you a direct recipient on your CoC's HUD application?
   No 
   Yes
8. Approximately what percentage of the funding your organization administers is from HUD for the CoC program?
   

   1

9. If not your organization, is there another organization in your CoC that administers the majority of homeless services funding?
   Not applicable. My organization administers the majority of homeless services funding.
   No. There is not one organization in my CoC that administers the majority of homeless services funding.
   If yes, what is that organization?
   
   

10. Does your CoC conduct an unsheltered Point-in-Time (PIT) count annually? (Including those years not required by HUD)
    No (Skip to questions 17-19, and resume the survey on question 20.) 
    Yes (Continue on questions 11-16, and resume the survey on question 20.)
11. In which year did your CoC begin conducting an annual unsheltered PIT count?
    

    2002

12. Why did your CoC decide to conduct an annual unsheltered PIT count?
    
    

    This was a HUD requirement

13. What funding sources do you use to conduct the annual unsheltered PIT count? (Check all that apply.)
    City funding
    County funding
    HUD planning funding
    Private funding
    Other (please specify)
    
    

    Initially in-kind donations of time and materials; couple of years VA funding

14. How did your CoC facilitate the annual unsheltered PIT count?
    (For example, did you increase the number of volunteers, or find additional funding?)
    
    

    We have increased the number of volunteers each year, increased publicity regarding the PIT and its results. In 2016 using VA funding, we developed a mobile app to facilitate the PIT count to great success. We will continue to use the app.

15. Did your organization have any challenges in implementing an annual unsheltered PIT count?
    No.
    Yes. If so, what were they and how did you overcome them?
    
    

16. How has conducting an annual unsheltered PIT count affected your CoC's operations and/or outcomes? If you have any data or analyses, please share specific metrics.
    
    

    After initial decrease in unsheltered homeless individuals, like other communities, we noticed an increase from 2015 (1,183) to 2016 (1,451) to 2017 (1,529). It was concluded that more PSH or other housing options should be developed for unsheltered individuals. Conversely, we noticed the Veteran population decreased from 2016 (144) to 2017 (123). As such, we continue to work with the VA to increase the number of unsheltered Veterans to obtain housing. In November of this year, Fresno Housing and FMCoC partnered with ... to analyze the community response to homelessness. She was able to share insights with CoC, City, County and community leaders. We should receive a final report from her this month.

17. Why does your CoC not conduct an annual unsheltered PIT count? (Check * all that apply)
    
    Lack of funding
    Lack of volunteers
    Lack of internal capacity
    HUD does not require an annual count
    Annual variations in numbers are not enough to justify the expense of a count every year.
    Other (please specify)
     
    

18. Please elaborate on the reasons why your CoC does not conduct an annual unsheltered PIT count.
    
    
    
    
19. What would cause your CoC to conduct an unsheltered PIT count in the years not required by HUD?
    
    
    
    
    
20. What sources does your organization use to fund the HUD-required PIT count of unsheltered homeless? (Check all that apply)
    
    City funding
    County funding
    HUD planning funds
    Private funding
    Other (please specify)
     
    

    Some in-kind donations of time and materials, as well as fundraising.

21. How much did your CoC's 2017 PIT count cost?
    
    $40,000
22. How many people did your CoC require to conduct its 2017 PIT count? (Staff, volunteers, and others)
    
    

    220

23. How many of those identified in Question 22 were volunteers?
    
    

    220

24. Does your CoC recruit volunteers for its unsheltered PIT count from organizations outside the homeless services community?
    No.
    If yes, from which organizations/communities (outside of homeless service providers) did you recruit volunteers for the 2017 PIT count?
    
    

    We recruit from all stakeholders - faith based community, universities, general public. We use Facebook and other social media, some mainstream media and word of mouth to procure volunteers. Within homeless services, the City of Fresno has funded a dedicated outreach team through general fund dollars.

25. Please share your perspective on the reasons your CoC's unsheltered homeless population in 2017 did or did not change from that in its previous unsheltered PIT count.
    
    

    FMCoC experienced an increase in the PIT count from 2016 (1,451) to 2017 (1,529). In our perspective, causes are as myriad as more volunteers, much better outreach throughout the year equaling better relationships.

26. Has your CoC reallocated funding in the past?
    No.
    Yes. If yes, please provide additional details or comments regarding reallocation you would like to share.
    
    

    For the most part, reallocation has been done voluntarily, going from TH to PSH. In addition, in the 2017 competition the Safe Haven chose not to renew funding; part of these funds went to a new Joint TH and RRH project.

27. How often does your CoC reevaluate final priority rankings for the HUD CoC Program Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), based on HUD priorities?
    Never
    Every year
    Other (please specify)
    
    

28. How often does your CoC perform the following gap analyses?
    
    Housing gap analysis—Once a year, with the PIT and HIC
    
    Funding gap analysis—In 2016 with an update to the Ten Year Plan, again in 2017 with ... analysis
    
    Service gap analysis—Not a formal analysis, just in conjunction with PIT, HIC and recent update to the Ten Year Plan
    
    Other (please specify)—
    
    
29. In what year did your CoC perform each of the following for the first time, or leave the row blank if it is not applicable.
    
    Housing gap analysis
    2006
    
    Funding gap analysis
    2016
    
    Service gap analysis
    
    
    Other (as you identified in question 27)
    
    
30. Does your CoC employ specific strategies for identifying alternative funding for programs that are reallocated or do not receive HUD funding?
    No.
    Yes. (If yes, please share some strategies your CoC employs to identify replacement funding.)
    
    

    Reallocation has been for programs that made the decision to change from TH to PSH. When the program sees that rental assistance support is still needed for residents, the PHA has limited preference vouchers for this purpose. We have the case where a local TH DV program was not funded, the DV provider attempted local funding but was not successful.

    
    
31. Does your CoC have a strategic plan that integrates other publicly-funded programs that provide services, housing, and income supports to poor persons whether they are homeless or not (mainstream benefits and services)?
    No. (Skip to question 36.)
    Yes. (Continue to questions 32-35 and skip question 36.)
    
    
32. Please provide a web address to your CoC's most recent strategic plan or email it as an attachment to CoCSurvey@auditor.ca.gov.

33. When did your CoC complete its first strategic plan?
    
    

34. How often does your CoC update its strategic plan?
    
    

35. How has your strategic plan benefited your CoC?
    
    
    
    
36. Why has your CoC not developed a strategic plan?
    
    

    Previously, the community and CoC depended on HUD funding for programs specific to homeless individuals and or families. Now, we are in the process of developing a plan as a result of analysis and consultation with ... demonstrated the need for additional funding and involvement in housing for homeless individuals to both City and County officials as well as the philanthropic and business communities. We have had success in additional funding and or stakeholders previously; in 2014, CalWORKs began a program for homeless families receiving CalWORKs, administered jointly by local DSS and Fresno Housing Authority. The City of Fresno administers both TBRA and HOPWA funds jointly with community partners.

37. What grant-seeking or fundraising activities does your CoC engage in?
    
    

    As a whole, the FMCoC does not engage in grant seeking activities; however, agencies belonging to the FMCoC does form partnerships for grant opportunities. For example, Fresno Housing and WestCare jointly applied for State VHHP funding for housing for homeless Veterans. At the same time, Fresno Housing applied for and was awarded LITC funds to build housing for homeless Veterans located across the street from the local VAMC.

38. Are there any strategies or unique actions your agency takes that have strengthened your CoC?
    
    

    As Collaborative Applicant, Fresno Housing works hard to provide an atmosphere of partnership with the members of the CoC. Fresno Housing is also the lead HMIS agency and ensure that we provide training as necessary to our CoC.

39. Please provide any information about these strategies or actions.
    Feel free to provide web addresses to any reports or email them as attachments to CoCSurvey@auditor.ca.gov.
    
    

    The FMCoC is part of the national initiative Built for Zero - endeavoring to end chronic and Veteran homelessness. We have worked with the TA provider Community Solutions, attending trainings and learning sessions. The FMCoC has made strides in strengthening our system of care.

40. If you have any additional perspective or concerns, please provide this information in the space below.
    For example, if you would like to share additional information regarding homelessness, services, or funding.
    
    

    The FMCoC is doing an admirable job in assisting those who are experiencing homelessness; however, we do realize that much more work needs to be done. We need to work with industry outside the homeless service providers - i.e., business, faith based and philanthropic community - to gain additional funding. We realize we also need to work to stem the flow into homelessness by identifying community needs - i.e., more affordable housing. We are proud to be part of the national Built for Zero initiative; looking forward to learning new strategies from peers around the nation. We are also grateful for the analysis and consultation from ... We look forward to her final report and working on enhancing our community services.

Back to top