Information collected by Gerry La Londe-Berg*.
Members of Homeless Action! are keen to stay abreast of local, state, and national homelessness policy issues. This is a collection of our effort.
Introduction
What are Non-Congregate Sites?
“Non-congregate sites, often referred to as NCS, offer temporary shelter to individuals who have not been diagnosed with coronavirus, but are considered at high-risk of serious complications should they contract the virus. Individuals who are unsheltered who are over the age of 65 or have underlying medical conditions meet the criteria for placement at NCS locations [Source: City of Sonoma]
The homeless services system incurs additional cost due to requirement of cutting capacity of the major homeless shelters to make them safe during time of the pandemic. Non-governmental homeless service providers get some funding, but not all their funding is from government sources. These include Catholic Charities, COTS Mary Isaac Center, West County Community Services, Reach for Home, SHARE Sonoma County, and others.
For comparison, historically the Continuum of Care distributed roughly $3.5 million for homeless services in Sonoma County. Two (2) years ago with HEAP special homeless funding, nearly $14 million was distributed. Sonoma County spent over $11 million on the Joe Rodota Trail and Los Guilicos Village efforts. (It does not appear that the Los Guilicos Village allocation is in this report.)
ACS/NCS Programs – Alternate Care Site and Non-Congregate Sheltering Descriptions from Sonoma County
Source: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Meeting on December 15, 2020, Agenda Item 22 – 1) Summary Report, 2) Description of COVID-19 Response Activities and Cost Estimates, 3) Enhanced COVID-19 Strategies and Vaccination Coordination, 4) Budget Resolution
* Total estimated cost is $13,283,192 for the operations of the non-congregate sites related to vulnerable individuals over 65 or with underlying health conditions who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
(Summary Report Page 5)
Alternate Care Site
The Alternative Care Site (ACS) is comprised of non-congregate spaces for COVID-19 persons with surge capacity available as necessary for additional residents. In August 2020, the ACS relocated to Best Western Dry Creek Inn in Healdsburg with a capacity of 60 rooms for COVID-19 or COVID-19 pending result patients. Since the move to the Healdsburg ACS (first guest was admitted on 07/20/2020), DHS has served 414 individuals. The breakdown of the type of clients served is as follows:
– 78 Contacts
– 173 COVID Positive Individuals
– 163 Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19
The cost estimate model assumes that 35 rooms out of the 60 rooms will be occupied through June 30, 2021; however, additional hotel rooms have been identified in Sonoma (See Strategy 5 under Section 4 below: Isolation and Quarantine Support for further information). DHS is also looking at securing additional hotel rooms in Santa Rosa.
Targeted populations include those who are COVID-19 positive that do not require hospitalization, but still require some level of monitoring by medical staff such as Registered Nurses and Medical Assisted Personnel; and those who are pending COVID-19 tests who are unable to isolate at home. The estimated cost in Attachment 1 for the ACS includes non-congregate space rental, space design and set-up services, meals, security, medical staff, emergency transportation, portable toilets and hand washing stations, portable showers for medical staff, medical supplies and equipment, PPE, custodial services, ambulance services, and biohazard waste disposal.
Non-Congregate Sheltering (NCS)
Non-Congregate Sheltering (NCS) Non-Congregate Sheltering (NCS) are comprised of motel rooms and shelter with projected occupancy of 34 rooms and space for 60 individuals at another NCS site with a surge capacity of up to 99 individuals. Targeted populations include FEMA eligible homeless vulnerable individuals over 65 with certain underlying health conditions (respiratory, compromised immunities, chronic disease). The cost estimate model assumes that this capacity will remain the same through June 30, 2021. The estimated cost in Attachment 1 includes room rental, special room cleaning, meals, security, laundry services, and service providers.
Sonoma County Fairgrounds NCS
Sonoma County Fairgrounds NCS Is comprised of 10 FEMA trailers with projected occupancy of 22 individuals through mid-September and 24 additional trailers with projected occupancy of 48 individuals thereafter through March 31, 2021. Ten of the additional 24 trailers are located at the Fairground ball field. The ten trailers opened as of December 1, 2020 and have begun taking clients. Targeted populations include FEMA eligible homeless who are COVID-19 vulnerable individuals over 65 with certain underlying health conditions (respiratory, compromised immunities, chronic disease.) The estimated cost in Attachment 1 includes general services trailer set-up, sewer and trash services, clinic in a can service, meals, security, janitorial and laundry services, household supplies, and service provider.
The sources of funding for the Alternate Care Sites and Non-Congregate Sites from December 31, 2020 through March 31, 2021 is $6,892,495 ??
– FEMA reimbursement estimated at $4,825,871 (75%).
– County match of $1,608,624 (25%) and
– Project RoomKey grant of $458,000. (Total $13,784,987.00 / $11,718,366 ??)
Alternate Care Site at Sonoma State University (SSU) and Other location
Prior to July 31, 2020, the Alternative Care Site (ACS) was located at Sonoma State University (SSU) and comprised of non-congregate spaces for COVID-19 persons with surge capacity available as necessary for additional residents. In August 2020, the ACS relocated to another location with a capacity of 60 rooms for COVID-19 or COVID-19 pending result patients. The cost estimate model assumes the capacity will be scaled down by half, effective January 1, 2021. Targeted populations include those who are COVID-19 positive that do not require hospitalization, but still require some level of monitoring by medical staff such as Registered Nurses and Medical Assisted Personnel; and those who are pending COVID-19 tests who are unable to isolate at home. The estimated cost for the ACS includes non-congregate space rental, space design and set-up services, meals, security, medical staff, emergency transportation, portable toilets and hand washing stations, portable showers for medical staff, medical supplies and equipment, PPE, custodial services, ambulance services, and biohazard waste disposal.
– July 1, 2020 – December 31 2020 = $5,685,573
– January 1, 2021 – June 30 2021 = $11,582,248
Sonoma State University Non-Congregate Sheltering (NCS) through mid-July. In July 2020, the NCS relocated from SSU to a new site. [Does not include March 2020-June 30, 2020 when SSU was a primary NCS site]
– July 1, 2020 – December 31 2020 = $426,344
– January 1, 2021 – June 30 2021 = $426,344*
Motels and Shelters – Non-Congregate Sheltering
Motels and Shelters – non-congregate sheltering are comprised of motel rooms and shelter with projected occupancy of 34 rooms and space for 60 individuals at another NCS site, with surge capacity of up to 99 individuals. Targeted populations include FEMA eligible homeless vulnerable individuals over 65 with certain underlying health conditions (respiratory, compromised immunities, chronic disease). The estimated cost includes room rental, special room cleaning, meals, security, laundry services, and service provider.
– July 1, 2020 – December 31 2020 = $4,537,153
– January 1, 2021 – June 30 2021 = $10,404,742
Sonoma County Fairgrounds Non-Congregate Sheltering
Sonoma County Fairgrounds non-congregate sheltering is comprised of 10 FEMA trailers with projected occupancy of 22 individuals through mid-September and 24 additional trailers with projected occupancy of 48 individuals thereafter. Targeted populations include FEMA eligible homeless who are COVID-19 vulnerable individuals over 65 with certain underlying health conditions (respiratory, compromised immunities, chronic disease.) The estimated cost includes general services trailer set-up, sewer and trash services, clinic in a can service, meals, security, janitorial and laundry services, household supplies, and service provider.
– July 1, 2020 – December 31 2020 = $815,709
– January 1, 2021 – June 30 2021 = $2,452,107
Sanitation Stations
– July 1, 2020 – December 31 2020 = $1,106,667
– January 1, 2021 – June 30 2021 = $2,313,334
* Total estimated cost is $13,283,192 for the operations of the non-congregate sites related to vulnerable individuals over 65 or with underlying health conditions who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
Overall Item 22 Budget Summary
COVID-19 Emergency Response Activities (Lines 1 – 11) Enhanced COVID-19 Strategies (Line 12) Vaccination Coordination (Line 13)
- FEMA 75% 7/1/20 – 12/31/20 = $13,698,545
- CARES Act 7/1/20 – 12/31/20 = $ 25,000,000* CARES and 869,386 County Fund
- FEMA 75% 1/1/21 – 3/31/21 = $ 4,825,871
- Grants 1/1/21 – 3/31/21 = $ 3,782,427
- County Contribution 1/1/21 – 3/31/21 = $ 14,731,486 **
- Unfunded 4/1/21 – 6/30/21 = $ 22,406,388 ****
Total – $85,314,103
Notes:
*CARES Act amount includes $4,566,181 for the FEMA 25% required match. The Board approved $25 million in CARES Act funding on September 1, 2020, to fund a portion of the COVID-19 Emergency Response. The Department anticipates using $17.4 million of the $25 million allocation due to (i) the extended FEMA funded availability through at least December 31, 2020, for the Alternate Care Site and Non-congregate Site expenditures and (ii) OptumServe contract extension with the State for testing at no cost to the County. We anticipate that the remaining $7.6 million will be redirected to fund Non-DHS County Departments for COVID-19 related activities.
**County Contribution from January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021, includes $1,608,624 for the FEMA 25% required match.
***Activities 6, 7 and 8 assume that the populations at the NCS are homeless individuals. We anticipate that the expenditures will be FEMA reimbursable during the period of January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021, although end date of FEMA funding availability is unknown at this point in time. The Community Development Commission will continue to seek other funding sources for homeless vulnerable individuals who are staying at non-congregate sites. We estimated that the $500,000 of the $958,000 in RoomKey funding will be applied to the July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 period.
****Assuming that the COVID-19 Emergency Response is to continue beyond March 31, 2021, we anticipate that the Paycheck Protection Program ELC grant will fund $2.5 million of the projected $22.6 million in expenditures during the April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 period.
* Gerry La Londe-Berg has been a social worker for 37 years. He was a founding member of Homeless Action! and also SHARE Sonoma County. He has worked for Human Services Departments in Sonoma, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Prior to his public sector work, Gerry worked for eight (8) years with Catholic Charities in Santa Rosa and Eureka. Gerry began his career working with people who had developmental disabilities. Gerry grew up in Southern California and now lives in beautiful Sonoma County.