HomeMy WebLinkAboutHomeless Response System presentation.HFB April 22 2026Homeless Response system
DISCUSSION WITH Housing Fund BoarD
Re: 5-Year plan Task 5.A.1 to Evaluate HFB/CoC models
April 22, 2026
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5-Year Plan Goals
Objective 2: Promote an equitable, accountable and transparent homeless crisis response system
Action 2.A.1: Research and evaluate different CoC and Housing Fund Board models for meeting Jefferson County’s COC responsibilities.
Measure of Success: Evaluation Report completed
Timeline/Milestone: May 2026
Lead/Responsible Party: Housing Fund Board
Action 2.A.2: Develop and seek service provider input on HFB/CoC restructuring/implementation plan with effort to minimize adverse impacts from change.
Measure of Success: CoC Restructuring Plan completed
Timeline/Milestone: November 2026
Lead/Responsible Party: Housing Fund Board
Action 2.A.3: Complete HFB/CoC reorganization.
Measure of Success: CoC Enactment completed
Timeline/Milestone: May 2027
Lead/Responsible Party: Housing Fund Board
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Consolidated Homeless Grant (CHG)
How does IT work?
Since 2012 Washington State Legislature has set aside pooled funding to support the emergency housing assistance continuum in every county. This pooled funding is called the Consolidated
Homeless Grant (CHG) and is provided to local jurisdictions and non-profits. Using this funding requires implementation of best practices, reporting and planning in accordance with
statewide goals for a homeless crisis response system based on Chapter 43.185C RCW.
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lead grantee
Jefferson County elected to delegate the role of Continuum of Care Lead during the 2025-2027 fiscal period.
The role is currently managed by Olympic Community Action Partnership (OlyCAP).
This opportunity will recur in early 2027 for the 2027-2029 fiscal year biennium. CHG follows the state fiscal year and is granted for a biennium from July 1 of the first year through
June 30 of the second year.
Deadline for decision is likely to be around January 20, 2027 (if similar to 2025). However, this will need to be confirmed with the Dept. of Commerce in light of recent decisions by
HUD that affect funding for CHG and other sources.
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Administrative Requirements of CHG Lead Grantee
Below are the administrative requirements of all CHG Leads statewide. They are updated regularly and contained in the CHG Guidelines produced by WA State Dept. of Commerce.
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#1 PERFORMANCE TARGETS
Grantees must improve housing outcomes by making progress towards the statewide performance targets.
For each housing intervention type funded by CHG, grantees must adopt the required housing outcome performance measure outlined in Table A, in Appendix D of the CHG Guidelines: Homeless
System Performance.
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#2 Low barrier projects
Each county must have at least one low barrier project serving homeless adults and at least one low barrier project serving homeless households with children.
As of July 1, 2025, no less than 80% of a county’s CHG funded projects (programs and facilities) are required to be low barrier.
All homeless housing projects must adhere to state and federal anti-discrimination laws:
✓ All projects ensure equal access for people experiencing homelessness regardless of race, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran or military
status, disability, or the use of an assistance animal.
✓ Projects designed to serve families with children experiencing homelessness ensure equal access regardless of family composition and regardless of the age of a minor child
✓ Projects that operate gender segregated facilities allow the use of facilities consistent with the person’s gender expression or identity.
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#3 Coordinated entry system
Each county receiving CHG funding must maintain a Coordinated Entry (CE) process. CE is a coordinated system of intake, assessment, and referral that gets households in a housing crisis
connected to available resources in the community. The goal of CE is to help communities prioritize assistance to ensure people who need the assistance the most can receive it in a
timely manner.
Lead/subgrantees providing direct service must enter client data into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for all temporary and permanent housing interventions regardless
of funding source.
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#4 Reporting requirements
Local Homeless Housing Plan: Lead must work with local task force to prepare this.
Annual county Expenditure Report: Lead must provide expenditure tracking to Commerce.
Point in Time Count: Lead must ensure it is performed in accordance with Commerce guidelines.
Essential Needs Report: Lead must ensure this reporting is completed.
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#5 Required training
Lead/subgrantees must identify staff to attend and complete trainings. These staff should include staff that provide direct services, supervisors of direct service staff, and staff that
manage homeless grants.
Must provide the “required trainings” (see next slide.)
Other recommended trainings include mental health first aid, motivational interviewing, crisis intervention, professional boundaries, Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA), and case
management.
In addition, lead/subgrantee staff are highly encouraged to attend the annual Washington State Conference on Ending Homelessness.
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#5 Required training (cont’d)
The following trainings are required at least every three years and attendance must be documented:
✓ Trauma Informed Services
✓ Supporting survivors of domestic violence
✓ Local coordinated entry policies and procedures as required by lead CE entity
✓ Fair Housing
✓ Housing First
✓ Racial Equity
✓ LGBTQ+ competency
✓ Rapid Re-Housing
✓ Progressive Engagement and Problem-Solving (Diversion)
✓ Low Barrier Services & Harm Reduction
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#6 BEnEfits Verification SYSTEM
Commerce maintains a data share agreement with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) so homeless housing grantees can access the Benefits Verification System (BVS) to confirm
HEN program eligibility.
Lead grantees manage BVS User access for their staff and subgrantees. Upon approval by Commerce, lead grantees may also appoint another agency as the BVS lead for their county.
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#7 Subgrantee requirements
Lead grantees may enter into an agreement with any other local government, Council of Governments, Housing Authority, Community Action Agency, nonprofit community or neighborhood-based
organization, federally recognized Indian tribe in the state of Washington, or regional or statewide nonprofit housing assistance organizations who operate programs to end homelessness
within a defined service area.
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Eligible activities (CHG is made up of several programs targeted to support specific populations and needs)
Temporary Housing Interventions
Emergency Shelter
Transitional Housing
Permanent Housing Interventions
Rapid Re-Housing
Permanent Supportive Housing
Street Outreach
Homelessness(Eviction) Prevention
Housing and Essential Needs
There are administrative, operations and facility budgets associated with CHG programs. All of these eligible activities are documented in the CHG Guidelines.
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Data on performance of the Homeless response system
Dept of Commerce CHG Performance Tracker
CHG Performance Tracker v2 | Tableau Public
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NEXT STEPS: Continuum of Care Decision
Finish County “Peers” interviews
Local Housing Service Provider feedback (joint meeting?)
Department of Commerce presentation at May 2026 Housing Fund Board meeting
Review County Peer examples and HSP input at May 2026 HFB meeting
discuss and make a recommendation to BoCC
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