Report 2020-112 Recommendation 21 Responses

Report 2020-112: Homelessness in California: The State's Uncoordinated Approach to Addressing Homelessness Has Hampered the Effectiveness of Its Efforts (Release Date: February 2021)

Recommendation #21 To: Mendocino, County of

To ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness have adequate access to the coordinated entry process, the County of Mendocino should, by August 2021, coordinate with its CoC to assess the feasibility of establishing a dedicated telephone hotline for providing information about available services, assessing individuals' needs, and referring those individuals to appropriate housing or homeless service providers.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2023

The CoC Board successfully released an Request for Proposals for a Coordinated Entry List Manager, and a contract to Nutmeg Consulting was offered earlier in 2023. Nutmeg Consulting is working diligently to improve the Coordinated Entry process, but does not have the capacity to provide or staff a dedicated telephone hotline for providing information about services.

The County has re-established our collaboration with 211, but at this time, 211 is unable to provide actual Coordinated Entry screenings by phone, although the service can direct callers to various housing resources.

At this time, the CoC does not foresee the capacity to fund or provide a dedicated telephone hotline for Coordinated Entry screenings within the next three years.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022

The CoC, and the County, would very much like to establish a dedicate phone hotline for access to Coordinated Entry and other services. Unfortunately, neither County staff or community based organizations have identified the capacity to host such a phone line at this time.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

1-Year Agency Response

Unfortunately, our community is struggling to fully implement this recommendation. The Community Development Commission responded to the recent RFP for direct service, but did not offer to serve as the host of a dedicated telephone hotline. At this point in time, no service provider in our community has shown a willingness to serve this function.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

6-Month Agency Response

The County and the CoC has committed to the establishment of a dedicated telephone hotline for providing information about available homeless and housing services. Through a channel unrelated to the CoC, the County has recently entered into a contract with United Way to provide a full-service 211 to residents of Mendocino County. The newly revitalized 211 will serve as the single point of contact for individuals seeking information about housing resources.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

The county did not provide documentation to support its response.

60-Day Agency Response

The County is in the process of releasing a Request for Qualifications for a variety of direct services related to homelessness, including the establishment of a dedicated telephone hotline for providing information about available services, assessing individuals' needs, and referring those individuals to appropriate housing or homeless service providers. We hope to have the RFQ process complete by the recommended deadline of August 2021.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2020-112

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.