The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors recently authorized the County Department of Human Assistance to enter into an agreement with Sacramento Self Help Housing (SSHH) to operate the Full Service Rehousing Shelter Program (FSRS). The agreement includes $850,000 for operation of the FSRS for those experiencing homelessness and $475,000 to provide rehousing services for FSRS participants for a total amount of $1,325,000 effective February 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018.
The Full Service Rehousing Shelter (FSRS) will serve as scattered – site shelter model to an estimated 250 to 300 homeless persons annually. In addition, the following housing services will be provided: housing location services, limited-term financial assistance, and housing stabilization case management. The scattered – site model will utilize currently vacant properties that will house individuals in need of shelter. Each house will have 24-hour in-house monitoring.
The FSRS is part of the overall County vision to serve and reduce the number of residents experiencing homelessness, approved by the Board in March 2017. This particular initiative will fund the operation of low barrier shelters for those that may be traditionally difficult to engage in services and assist them with shelter, services and housing. The shelters will not serve walk-up clients; rather, County staff will work with a variety of partners, including City of Sacramento staff and contractors to identify and engage shelter participants.
SSHH will provide interim housing, meals, case management, transportation, secure and accessible storage, and will coordinate supportive services, such as health, behavioral health, and income/employment. The planned FSRS will accommodate pets, partners and possessions, and emphasizes a range of services, including rehousing, to persons experiencing long-term homelessness who may not have been reached through traditional services.
“Sacramento Self-Help Housing is excited about the opportunity to operate the scattered-site housing model for the County of Sacramento.” Said John Foley, Executive Director of Sacramento Self-Help Housing. “We have been helping individuals experiencing homelessness find suitable living alternatives for more than 17 years. We believe in the housing first, scattered-site shared housing model and are excited to contribute to the County of Sacramento’s mission to serve this vulnerable population.”
Sacramento Self Help Housing, as operator of the facility, will be required to report the following outcomes on a monthly basis:
- Number of individuals served
- Number of individuals exiting to permanent housing
- Increases in stabilized income
- Number of individuals returning to homelessness within 12 months
For more information on the state of homelessness in Sacramento County, visit the Responding to Homelessness website. Or, to contribute to SSHH, a non-profit agency that relies partly on donations, click here.