Committees

The Interagency Council includes more than ten committees which focus on specific issues related to homelessness, such as health care and criminal justice. These committees report to the Interagency Council which in turn makes recommendations to the Policy Board.

Descriptions of Committees:

Executive – Plan meetings, review Plan materials, and make tentative decisions between ICEH meetings.

Continuum of Care – Produce CoC application to HUD. Review Sacramento’s array of Continuum-funded programs to maximize ending homelessness. Address chronic financial weaknesses in older programs. (Lead: Suzanne Hammer)

PSH Production – Align public housing and services systems to work together efficiently to resolve and prevent homelessness for people with disabilities by creating a continuous pipeline for production of permanent supportive housing. Create about 1500 new PSH opportunities. (Lead: Tim Brown)

Housing – Support and information sharing for housing providers and government agencies regarding housing development, management and access issues. Reviews housing policy issues and advocacy opportunities. (Leads: Joan Burke and Diane Luther)

*The above two committees began meeting jointly in October 2008*

Front Door –Coordinate implementation of new Central Intake system. Improve street outreach effectiveness and coordination. Oversee Current policies and strategies addressing the street/river camping issue are frustrating for all involved: homeless people living and sleeping on the street and in encampments, law enforcement, businesses, neighbors, and advocates. Develop and implement strategies for giving homeless campers alternate options for a safe, stable place to sleep and keep their belongings. (Lead: Kathy Briem)

*The above committee is a combination of the “Street Management” Task Force and the “Central Intake” Committees, which began meeting jointly as the “Front Door” Committee in October 2008.

Criminal Justice – Create opportunities to end homelessness through diversion, discharge planning, parole/probation, reentry and other programs. Access criminal justice resources to create housing opportunities for homeless frequent users of the justice system. (Lead: Tim Brown)

Health Services Linked To Housing – Access health care systems resources to serve chronically homeless people in permanent supportive housing. Create frequent user strategies to reduce health care costs for homeless. (Lead: Petra Stanton)

The SSI Task Force came out of the Health Services Linked to Housing Committee and is focusing on developing a multidisciplinary team devoted to advocating for SSI and other benefits for homeless people (Lead: Marty Keale)

Data and Reporting – Track progress in getting chronically homeless people into permanent housing, using HMIS, Mental Health Division and other data. Design cost effectiveness analyses and other studies. (Lead: Phil Alonso)

Veterans – End homelessness among Sacramento County’s veterans by providing access to resources to which veterans are entitled. Create new PSH opportunities using veterans’ resources and creating new partnerships. (Lead: Jan Wald and Bruce Jackson)

Employment – A collaborative public and private effort to create opportunities to support and empower homeless or formerly homeless individuals to become employed and economically self-sufficient (Lead: Beth Maerten)

Homeless Connect Event Planning Team – This event is a one-day one-stop-shop resource fair where homeless guests are fed, respectfully given direct services, and connected to housing opportunities. The event also aims to turn community volunteers and businesses into advocates for homeless people. The planning team will be meeting year round, with more frequent meetings 3-4 months before an event day. See www.sacconnect.org.

Case Management Funding Task Force (short term) – Building on the financial needs assessment for the three distinct pieces of funding for PSH projects: Rental Subsidies, Operating Subsidies, and funding for Services that was conducted by the Ad Hoc Funding Committee, this Task Force will develop and implement short and long term strategies to increase funding for case management and other supportive services. (Lead: Tim Brown)

Faith & Homeless Families Initiative (short term) - The Faith and Families Initiative was developed to target families that find themselves in need of housing assistance and do not require intensive services. Patterned after successful programs in Denver, Colorado and Boise, Idaho, the initiative provides temporary housing assistance, financial planning and education provided by mentor teams, and other supportive services to families through a partnership between faith congregations and service providers. (Lead: Tim Brown)