CoC Updates for July 2022 |
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COH Updates
- Input Opportunities on CoC Equity Priorities
- Homelessness Awareness Month Planning
Funding Updates
- Special NOFO For Unsheltered Homelessness
- Pet Assistance and Support (PAS) Grant Awarded!
- SHELTER, Inc. Awarded Grant To Serve Homeless Veterans
Open Positions
- H3 Hiring for 3 Positions
Community Updates
- Collaborising Seeking Ambassadors in Richmond
- Bay Area Crisis Nursery Selected Nonprofit of the Year
- Partnership Provides Shoes to Homeless Youth
- Reentry Community Resource & Employment Fair
Housing Opportunities
- Project Based Voucher Wait List Deadline EXTENDED to 7/21
Success Story
Upcoming Meetings and Trainings
- CoC Meetings
- CoC Trainings
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Input Opportunities on
CoC Equity Priorities
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The Contra Costa Council on Homelessness, on behalf of the homeless Continuum of Care, is hosting two (2) community input opportunities for people to provide their thinking about which equity related priorities the CoC should focus on for the next year.
Session 1:
Community Forum on Equity Priorities for
Homeless System of Care
Zoom meeting
Thursday, August 11th
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
This online forum is open to anyone.
Please register for this session by clicking here
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Session 2:
Equity Forum For People
With a Lived Experience of Homelessness
IN PERSON (Antioch*)
Saturday, August 13th
1 pm - 3 pm
This in-person session is only for people with a lived experience of homelessness.
Participants will receive a meal and $25 gift card of their choice at the end of the session.
*To ensure that we don't have too many people for the space, we are asking people to register and will provide the location information once we receive a message from you about your interest.
Please let us know if you are interested in the in person session by:
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Homelessness Awareness Month Planning |
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November is Homelessness Awareness Month and it's time to start planning!
Last year we:
- Developed a toolkit
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Recognized outstanding members in the community with awards
- Created a video
- Presented to the Board of Supervisors
Official planning meetings won't begin until August, but we're hoping to connect with people who are interested in participating in planning activities and materials for this very important month.
If you are inte rested in being part of the planning this year, you can create or update your mailing list preferences by clicking here and selecting "Meetings: Committee: Homelessness Awareness Month Planning" or just email [email protected] and let us know you want to be included!
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Special NOFO For Unsheltered Homelessness |
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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a first-of-its-kind package of resources to address unsheltered homelessness and homeless encampments, including funds set aside specifically to address homelessness in rural communities in a special Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
The Contra Costa CoC is working to gather information and will share more information about this unique opportunity shortly.
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Pet Assistance and Support (PAS) Grant Awarded! |
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- Over $550k will go to support Brookside shelter with the construction of an outdoor dog park, pet supplies, and veterinary services
- $450k will go to BACS to support the construction of two outdoor dog parks, kennels/crates, with an additional $150k separately awarded to BACS for pet services and resources on site
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SHELTER, Inc. Awarded Grant To Serve Homeless Veterans |
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SHELTER, Inc. received a 3-year, $1.5 million grant in late June 2022 to administer funding from the HVRP (Homeless Veterans Rehabilitation Program), a Department of Labor, federally-funded program to provide services to assist homeless veterans gain meaningful employment within the labor force, and address the complex problems in Contra Costa and Solano counties. HVRP program is open to eligible Veterans who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, low-income, under or unemployed, and have a discharge status of a condition other than dishonorable. The grant is expected to encompass 75 clients in the program and will be administered out of the Concord, CA and Fairfield, CA offices.
Services that SHELTER, Inc. will administer as part of the program include: job placement, training, job development, career counseling, resume preparation, interview and work clothing, housing assistance, referrals to medical and substance abuse treatment, and transportation assistance.
For more information about SHELTER, Inc, click here.
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H3 Hiring for 3 Positions |
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The Contra Costa CoC is seeking a Coordinated Entry System Manager and two Housing Service Adminstrators.
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For the Coordinated Entry System (CES) Manager position descroption and application, click here.
- For the Health Services Administrator – Level B position descroption and application, click here.
- For the Health Services Administrator – Level C position descroption and application, click here
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Collaborising Seeking Ambassadors in Richmond |
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Collaborising is looking for a few good people to serve as Rydin Road Ambassadors. Rydin Road in Richmond is currently home to 25+ individuals living in RV’s or cars along the 1/4 mile stretch of Rydin Road on the way to Point Isabel. Their "Clean Rydin Road Program" seeks to match unhoused Rydin Road Residents with Ambassadors from the community to bridge the gap between the housed and unhoused communities in Richmond. Their goal is to build relationships and to create understanding among groups that have traditionally been pitted against one another, to demonstrate that we all belong in Richmond.
Please reach out to Lea Murray, Executive Director of Collaborising at 954-736-8343 or [email protected] for more information on how you can be the answer to a problem that has divided our community. A small stipend is provided for Ambassadors.
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Bay Area Crisis Nursery
Selected Nonprofit of the Year
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The Bay Area Crisis Nursery, nominated by State Senator Steve Glazer, has been selected as California's Nonprofit of the Year for District 7
“The Bay Area Crisis Nursery is the only service of its kind in our region,” Senator Glazer said. “By providing short-term residential care and emergency childcare for children up to five years old, the nursery gives parents time to focus on resolving a crisis or a stressful situation."
The crisis nursery has been working to prevent child abuse and neglect since 1981 by providing supportive services to families. Last year, the nursery provided more than 26,000 hours of care, nearly 1,800 safe stays for children in crisis, and nearly 800 overnight and respite care services. The center also has a food and diaper bank that served more than 450 families. The center provided 900 holiday meals and 219 backpacks for children to use in school.
For more about the Bay Area Crisis Nursery, click here.
To read Senator Glazer's Press Release about the award, click here.
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Partnership Provides Shoes to Youth Experiencing Homelessness |
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Responses from students include:
- "I feel good that I now have 2 pairs of shoes to wear'"
- I feel more in style with my new shoes"'
- "Our house burned down- I am thankful for shoes that don't hurt'"
A back-to-school event in collaboration with White Pony Express is planned for the Fall.
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Reentry Community Resource & Employment Fair |
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“Welcome Home ” Reentry Community Resource & Employment Fair Friday, Friday, July 22 , 20, 2022
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Reentry Success Center, 912 Macdonald Ave. Richmond, CA 94801
If you or your family have been impacted by the criminal justice system
THIS IS FOR YOU!!!
Resources include:
- Family Services
- Financial Planning & Assistance,
- Legal Services (Record Expungement, Traffic Clinic, Court Fines & Fees)
- Vocational Training Services
- Education
- Employment Assistance
- Health & Wellness
- Housing Assistance
- Public Benefits
- RAFFLES, PRIZES, GIVEAWAYS & MORE! RAFFLES, PRIZES, GIVEAWAYS & MORE!
Equal Opportunity Employers will be on site screening for available positions
To RSVP a table or any other inquiries please contact:
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Project Based Voucher Wait List Deadline EXTENDED to 7/21
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The Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa will be opening the Project Based Voucher Waiting List for several properties located throughout Contra Costa County. This opening is NOT for the Housing Choice Voucher Program but for Project Based Voucher assisted units in the properties listed on the attached flyer ONLY.
- Some properties are for Seniors ONLY and some are family properties.
- For the senior properties, THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD OR SPOUSE MUST BE 62 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO APPLY. APPLICATIONS FROM NON-ELDERLY APPLICANTS WILL BE REJECTED.
This opening is from 10 AM on June 13, 2022 until 4 PM on July 21, 2022.
Please note that after July 21st, the waiting lists will be closed except for the Terraces Senior Apartments in Richmond. There are units available for leasing and this is a critical opportunity for applicants to be considered for immediate housing. Once fully-occupied, applicants will have to wait, in some cases, possibly years until the next opportunity presents itself.
The opening will only be an electronic format and no paper applications will be available. Reasonable Accommodations for elderly or disabled clients can be made for anyone needing individual assistance either by telephone or at our offices at 925-957-7085 or [email protected]. Three and Four BR households headed by a head of household or spouse that is 62 years of age or older are highly encouraged to apply.
Please feel free to contact Tony Ucciferri, Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa at [email protected] or (925) 957-8055 with any questions regarding the opening. |
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When Darren [name changed to protect privacy] returned home after incarceration, he and his wife realized that they were at imminent risk of homelessness. The apartment that they had afforded with a Section 8 voucher and lived in for 18 years was being sold and they had less than 30 days to find a new unit.
The Public Defender’s office referred Darren to the Hume Center through the Holistic Intervention Partnership (HIP) program. Hume Center staff encouraged Darren to keep clear communication with case managers at the Housing Authority to have all needed documents ready for transfer of his housing voucher while Housing Navigation services looked for a unit. They found a property owner who had never worked with the Housing Authority but was willing to participate in the program because the owner was so impressed by Darren’s strength and Hume's confidence in the placement.
During this stressful process, Hume staff learned that Darren was about to be disconnected from therapy services. They worked to connect him with a mental health provider to reengage services and provide a referral to case management.
Through the HIP program, Darren and wife moved into a home even more affordable than their previous unit, saving the Housing Authority money, and our system gained a new landlord. With stable housing and active engagement in mental health services, Darren is much more likely to remain stable and decrease his likelihood of being re-incarcerated.
Hip Hip Hooray for the HIP program and Darren's success!
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Upcoming Meetings and Trainings |
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All meetings are open to the public |
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Council on Homelessness Meeting
Thursday, July 7th
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
These meetings focus on governance and oversight of the Continuum of Care programs and services, partners, processes, and policy.
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CoC Provider Meeting
Thursday, July 14th
8:30 am - 9:30 am
For CoC Homeless Service providers only.
These meetings are a forum for funded service providers and CoC and HMIS Lead Staff to discuss updates, give and receive feedback, and identify opportunities for planning improvements, support, and troubleshooting.
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HMIS Policy Committee
Tuesday, July 19th
3:00 pm- 4:00 pm
or via phone by dialing + 1 669 900 6833 US and entering the Meeting ID: 838 5900 7898#
The purposed of this committee is to develop and share updates on Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) policies and practices, compliance, and troubleshooting and plan technical assistance and training.
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PATH Innovations Committee
Thursday, July 21st
3:00 pm- 5:00 pm
The Plan to Accelerate Transformative Housing (PATH) Innovations Committee is committed to the goal of reducing unsheltered homelessness in Contra Costa County by 75% by 2024.
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Oversight Committee
Wednesday, August 3rd
10 am - Noon
The purpose of the Oversight Committee is to review and assess the development, implementation, and improvement of: CoC, Coordinated Entry System, HMIS database, and System Outcomes.
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Homeless-Workforce Integration Network (H-WIN) meeting
August 10th
10 am - Noon
Homeless-Workforce Integration Network meetings are an opportunity for people working in Homeless Services and Workforce Development in Contra Costa to connect with partners, ask questions, share information, promote your programs, and come away with tools and understanding that will make your job easier.
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Equity Working Group
Date/Time TBD
The purpose of the Equity Working Group is to reviewing the Equity Report; facilitate community discussions to gather feedback on the report; and make recommendations to the Council regarding next steps, including where Equity work should live and priorities.
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Connecting Clients to Mainstream Benefits, 7/28
The homelessness Continuum of Care invites homeless services providers to participate in a two hour training about how to connect clients experiencing homelessness to mainstream benefits including:
- CalFresh
- CalWORKs
- Medi-Cal:
- General Assistance
- SSI/SSDI
- Legal support for denial of benefits
Trainers will include staff from Contra Costa Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) and Bay Area Legal Aid.
This training is required for CoC/ESG funded agencies.
The goal of this training is to ensure that staff working directly with consumers experiencing homelessness understand how to connect to mainstream benefits.
Thursday, July 28, 2022
2 pm - 4 pm
To register for the training, click here.
Content questions may be directed to Jaime Jenett at [email protected] or 925-464-0152 cell
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