Report 2020-112 Recommendation 8 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 #8 To: Santa Barbara County Housing and Community Development Division
To help ensure that it has adequate levels of services and service providers in its area to meet the needs of people who are experiencing homelessness, the County of Santa Barbara should coordinate with its CoC to ensure that the CoC annually conducts a comprehensive gaps analysis in accordance with the plan it has developed under federal regulations. To be effective, the gaps analysis should consider whether adequate services are available in the areas where individuals are experiencing homelessness and should contain strategies to address any deficiencies.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022
The County has implemented a full gaps analysis, beginning with a Phase II Community Action Plan planning process begun in 2019, and completed in 2021, and presented to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on February 23, 2021. Based on a gaps analysis of housing and shelter needs identified in the 2021 Community action Plan, a detailed implementation Work Plan was set into motion. In 2022, a One-Year progress report was presented to the Board of Supervisors on May 24, 2022. Notable achievements include additional 272 additional long-term Emergency Housing Rental vouchers awarded via HUD; dev of 138 perm housing units; 398 Rapid Re-housing rental housing subsidies provided to clients; training in best practices to providers; and improved data collection and sharing with expanded use of HMIS by additional providers, among other achievements. Additional supportive services and case management implemented in the field work to keep at-risk clients housed. Supporting documentation being emailed to K. Patel.
- Completion Date: February 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented
1-Year Agency Response
In July 2021 a Gaps Analysis was completed to determine service availability and strategies to address deficiencies. Attached documentation confirms completion.
- Completion Date: July 2021
- Response Date: March 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending
Despite several follow-up attempts, the County of Santa Barbara did not provide documentation to support its claim of full implementation.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
6-Month Agency Response
Response -
The Santa Barbara County CoC has reached out to other CoCs and a technical assistance provider to determine best practices for determining service gaps and strategies to address any deficiencies. It is anticipated that Collaborative Applicant staff will be prepared to include the recommended analysis in the 2021 Gaps Analysis to be conducted in early 2022.
Status - In Progress
- Estimated Completion Date: early 2022
- Response Date: August 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
60-Day Agency Response
The Santa Barbara County CoC has reached out to other CoCs and a technical assistance provider to determine best practices for determining service gaps and strategies to address any deficiencies. It is anticipated that Collaborative Applicant staff will be prepared to include the recommended analysis in the 2021 Gaps Analysis to be conducted in early 2022.
- Estimated Completion Date: 1/31/2022
- 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.