Sign Up to Participate! 2024 Sacramento Point-In-Time Count

Sacramento's 2024 Point-In-Time Count needs YOU! Be a part of the action by signing up to volunteer with our new, easy-to-use portal, linked below. The count will be held on January 24 and January 25, 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Your participation matters as we work together to cover more ground and contribute to a vision where homelessness is rare and brief. Your participation helps to inform policy and programs that aim to solve homelessness in Sacramento.

Registration Now Open: December Sacramento Homeless Policy Council Meeting

The Sacramento Homeless Policy Council welcomes community members to register for its upcoming quarterly meeting which will be held virtually via Zoom. Council meetings are a forum for community leaders to share knowledge and coordinate efforts to address homelessness. The December meeting includes presentations on regional planning efforts.

When: December 8, 2023 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM Pacific Time

Where: Zoom (View-Only)

Be Part of the Continued 'All In Sacramento' Planning

Building on the success of the Local Homeless Action Plan (LHAP), Sacramento Steps Forward, the City of Sacramento, and Sacramento County are gearing up for something even more impactful – the Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan (RCHAP). This isn't just about ticking boxes; it's a chance for all of us to participate in collaborative problem-solving.

Why does it matter? Not only does the RCHAP open doors for the next round of Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) funding, but it's also an opportunity for us to expand and deepen the meaningful change we are making in our community. We want to build on what works, and we need your insights to make it happen.

To do this, we will be hosting a series of 'All In Sacramento' public meetings where your input is crucial. Be the first in the loop by signing up below. To be notified of meeting dates, times and details, sign up below.

Landlord Live: Ins & Outs of HCV

Join SHRA on December 6, 2023 at 10 a.m. for Landlord Guide to Success: a robust webinar covering changes made to enhance and streamline the Housing Choice Voucher program landlord experience. While geared toward educating landlords, this informative webinar will provide pertinent information to all with an interest in the Housing Choice Voucher program. Guests are encouraged to submit questions prior to the event during the registration process. Registration can be completed online.

Upcoming Public Meetings for the Continuum of Care (CoC)

The Sacramento Continuum of Care (CoC) leads our community effort to prevent and end homelessness. Learn more about the CoC and its committees using the button below and by joining one (or more) of the upcoming public meetings.

• System Performance Committee: Thursday, 12/6/23, 2:00 p.m.

• CoC Board meeting: Wednesday, 12/13/23, 8:00 a.m.

• Racial Equity Committee: Wednesday, 12/20/23, 9:00 a.m.

• Point-In-Time Count Committee: Thursday, 12/21/23, 9:00 a.m.

Updates from CAS: LEAP Program, RRH-PSH Policy, Quarterly Report, and More

The Coordinated Access System (CAS) has been busy at work introducing new programs, policies, reports, and more. Specifically, CAS has:

• Integrated the new Landlord Engagement Assistance Program (LEAP), a short-term rapid re-housing support initiative aimed at addressing homelessness and access to affordable housing options.
• Adopted a new Rapid Rehousing (RRH) to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) transfer policy and procedure which recognizes the importance of moving towards permanent solutions.
• Released the third-quarter CAS report detailing key performance indicators.
• Developed a form for case conferencing feedback to encourage continuous improvement based on community input.

Review details for all these updates and more by checking the CAS updates and reports page, linked below.

Data and Analytics: Community Collaboration Begins for Reporting Season

This month marks the start of the reporting season, during which we initiate the preparation and cleanup of data for the Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA). The LSA is a mandatory annual report required by the federal government. Once our submission is complete, our data is aggregated with information from Continuums of Care (CoCs) nationwide to generate the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), which is then presented to Congress.

The accuracy and completeness of the data we provide from our agencies and programs in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) significantly influence the strategic planning for federal, state, and local funding that supports the essential work in our community. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with the community on this crucial process.

Research Briefs on Distinct Populations Served by California’s Homelessness Programs

University of California Berkeley's Terner Center for Housing Innovation has released a series of four research briefs in collaboration with Abt Associates and the University of California San Francisco’s Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI), shedding light on California's homelessness landscape. Focused on youth, older adults, families, and veterans, the briefs present three-year study data (2018–2021) showcasing varying program outcomes. Find key insights and summaries on the Terner Center's research page using the link below.

Apply Today! 2023–2024 Continuum of Board (CoC) Recruitment Open

Today is the launch of the 2023-2024 Annual CoC Board recruitment period! The CoC Board is accepting applications to recruit up to three new members starting today through Thursday, February 1, 2024. Explore the CoC Membership Application to learn about the application process, access helpful resources, and more! Be sure to share the application link with your network and community today.

In addition to applying to join the CoC Board, you can apply to join the CoC Committees. Please see the beginning of the application for details. If you have any questions, please reply to this email or email Michelle Charlton.

Request Free COVID-19 Test Kits

With the holidays ahead, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recognizes the importance of keeping COVID-19 from becoming an unwelcome guest. CDPH encourages local testing partners (e.g., CBOs, clinics, schools, food banks, libraries) to distribute free COVID-19 at-home tests to help the community safely prepare the season. Contact OTCTesting@cdph.ca.gov for questions about eligibility. Requests for this batch of test kits will be accepted before December 20, 2023. (Note that test kits have an extended expiration of January 31, 2024).

"Road to Safety" Simulation Tool Now Available

The "Road to Safety" simulation game is now available (English, Spanish), which is an interactive and educational tool proven to be fun and effective for educating community members on disaster preparedness and response strategies. This is a human centered simulation experience to help participants experience a disaster from “someone else’s shoes.” It involves assorted cases that have been tested by more than 650 community and emergency services leaders and was co-designed based on community input. Check out the simulation tool and other resources below.

Current Job Openings

Sacramento Steps Forward is currently looking for qualified candidates to fill a number of roles. If you or someone you know may be interested, please use the link below to learn more, share information, and/or apply.