Program areas at SSF
Leadership & Engagement:As a leading voice in the Homeless Response System, we have diversified and deepened strategic partnerships with a wide range of Sacramento organizations working to serve people experiencing homelessness. This includes teaming up with a leading research institution to complete our 2022 Point-In-Time Count, working with healthcare entities to bring more integrated system of care, and expanded and improving a countywide coordinated access to homeless resources.We have undertaken an extensive examination of our regions Homeless Response System. This includes mapping the current system, developing a quantifiable system gap analysis and delving into system data with a racial equity lens and evaluating better approaches.We initiated and supported the Sacramento Continuum of Cares (COC) Racial Equity Committee that has been tasked with examining the ways in which Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) experience homelessness and navigate our local homelessness system and are supporting an action plan to guide the decision-making process of the CoC Board over the next three years. Homeless Response System Planning:Designated by the community as the Sacramento City and County Continuum of Care (CoC) lead agency to receive U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding and undertaking planning activities, SSF supports the membership of the CoC board with information, expertise, data, coordination, and recommendations for action. In collaboration with the City of Sacramento, County and CoC we have developed a first ever Local Homelessness Action Plan with a quantifiable gaps analysis that will guide policies and actions for preventing, responding, and resolving homelessness in Sacramento.Despite the Omicron virus, SSF conducted a 2022 Point In Time unsheltered count (PIT) with over 500 volunteers completed a two-day unsheltered Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.
Coordinated Entry & Outreach:SSF supports a coordinated approach for accessing services and housing for persons experiencing homelessness. We focus on building equitable access to crisis and housing resources. In addition, we support community-based navigators to match people experiencing homelessness to the best resources available to meet their needs.SSF has added the domestic violence system to the overall coordinated entry system and continues to bring other health Sacramento County Behavioral Health Services to into permanent supportive housing referral processes. Successful launch of the Rapid Access and Problem Solving (RAPS) a CoC-funded pilot project to streamline access to new problem-solving resources led the way to support to expand the front door to ensure more equitable, expedient, and open access for our unhoused neighbors.
Funding & Grant Management:SSF assists the Sacramento CoC with obtaining, investing, and managing private and governmental funding. We support a rigorous public planning process to decide what activities and projects should receive funding. We work with selected agencies and their projects to ensure compliance with funding requirements. We provide guidance about how funds can be used appropriately and assistance with reporting how that money has been invested.In 2021, SSF managed successful award of $29 million in HUD funding for permanent housing programs, and was awarded $3.1 million in state Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funds, and $5 million in new private funding to address family homelessness. In addition, SSF continued to manage programs through previously awarded funds, including $6.5 million in HHAP funds, and $2.5 million in California Emergency Solutions and Housing (CESH) funds. These programs provide the opportunity for thousands of people previously experiencing literal and/or chronic homelessness to obtain or remain in stable housing in our community every year. Data Management & Analytics:SSF is the lead agency that administers the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a local system used to collect client-level data on housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. We use data to improve system performance and monitor system-wide changes and provide insight to shape new initiatives and changes to existing programs that will help end homelessness.In 2021, our data team has created and launched custom dashboards to track trends in overall homelessness, housing inventory and metrics and progress in our COVID-19 sheltering and re-housing efforts. This data is available to SSF staff and our key partners to assist in program evaluations, measuring program success and to assist with decision-making processes.SSF invested in hardware and server infrastructure that will allow for better data sharing and more efficient analytics and reports. These will show a provider the success of their overall performance at both a high level and a granular level, homing in on areas for improvement across our system. In addition, this will help us inform decision-making and evaluate and optimize programs.As the HMIS administrator for Sacramento County, SSF oversees the training of new HMIS users, agency and project set-ups, and provides technical support to partners using HMIS. In our role as HMIS administrator, we have developed and maintain a By-Name List that captures all client statuses, for case conferencing for youth and veteran communities. In addition, SSF maintains high standards for data quality, and is responsible for submitting all HUD-mandated reports including an annual Housing Inventory Count.