Report 2020-112 Recommendation 23 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 #23 To: Mendocino, County of
To increase the efficiency of the coordinated entry process, the County of Mendocino should coordinate with its CoC to determine how long it takes to locate individuals after they have been matched with a service provider. Specifically, it should use the referral data that HUD required CoCs to collect as of October 2020 to determine whether locating individuals after they have been matched with a service provider is a cause of delay in providing them with services. If it finds that excessive delays exist, it should coordinate with its CoC to implement processes such as deploying a dedicated team to locate these individuals when appropriate housing and services become available.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2023
The County successfully released a Request for Qualifications for a Coordinated Entry Manager. A resulting contract was awarded to Nutmeg Consulting. Nutmeg Consulting has been tasked with supporting the implementation of the 2020 HMIS Data Standards pertaining to Coordinated Entry. These Data Standards will be used to determine causes of delay in securing housing, as well as evaluation of potential remedies to the delay.
However, due to a number of more pressing and urgent priorities for Coordinated Entry, we do not anticipate that Nutmeg Consulting will be able to provide the detailed level of analysis required by this recommendation. The CoC has identified other issues that are of more urgent need, and we don't anticipate that a full implementation of this recommendation will be completed within the next two years.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022
The County released a Request for Qualifications for a Coordinated Entry List Manager on October 17, 2022. This RFQ closes on November 14, 2022. Realistically, we believe that the Coordinated Entry List Manager will be fully operational by spring 2023. The duties of the List Manager will include close observation and analysis of referral data.
https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/executive-office/open-rfp-quotes-bids
- Estimated Completion Date: 3/31/2023
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending
1-Year Agency Response
The County experienced a delay in issuing our Request for Qualifications for professional services related to homelessness, because we chose to focus first on an RFQ for direct services only.
We still intend to issue an RFQ for professional services, which would include the identification of a Coordinated Entry Manager. This Coordinated Entry Manager will be tasked with implementing the 2020 HMIS Data Standards pertaining to Coordinated Entry. These Data Standards will be used to determine causes of delay in securing housing, as well as evaluation of potential remedies to the delay.
- Estimated Completion Date: 12/31/2022
- Response Date: February 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending
6-Month Agency Response
Unfortunately, no local service provider has expressed interested in serving as a funded entity willing to host a Coordinated Entry Manager. In theory, the Coordinated Entry Manager will be tasked with implementing the 2020 HMIS Data Standards pertaining to Coordinated Entry. These Data Standards will be used to determine causes of delay in securing housing, as well as evaluation of potential remedies to the delay. Since no local Coordinated Entry Manager has been identified, the County is faced with developing alternative methods of securing this area of service. At this point in time, multiple avenues are being explored.
- Estimated Completion Date: June 30, 2022
- Response Date: August 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
60-Day Agency Response
The County is in the process of releasing a Request for Qualifications for a variety of direct and professional services related to homelessness, including the identification of a Coordinated Entry Manager. This Coordinated Entry Manager will be tasked with implementing the 2020 HMIS Data Standards pertaining to Coordinated Entry. These Data Standards will be used to determine causes of delay in securing housing, as well as evaluation of potential remedies to the delay.
- Estimated Completion Date: October 30, 2021
- Response Date: April 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
All Recommendations in 2020-112
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.