Homelessness Response System 101 for Health Care Providers and Stakeholders

The report contains foundational information for health care providers about how homeless assistance works at the local level, with a focus on Continuums of Care (CoCs) and Coordinated Entry (CE). The report includes practical, action-oriented suggestions on how to participate in a local community's homelessness response.

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California Statewide Initiatives to Address Complex Needs of People Experiencing Homelessness

This suite of reports offers a deep dive into the impact, challenges, and opportunities made possible by two critical and complementary state initiatives aimed at improving health and housing outcomes of Californians experiencing homelessness: CalAIM’s housing-related services – Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports (collectively referred to in these materials as ECM/CS) –and the Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program (HHIP).

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Transferring Knowledge: Improving Medicaid Access for People Experiencing Homelessness

When we set out to help homeless service providers navigate Medi-Cal renewals, we didn’t expect to uncover another systemic challenge faced by people experiencing homelessness: keeping Medi-Cal when moving across county lines. In this blog post, Policy Analyst, Riley Meve, and Senior Directing Attorney, Julie Silas, share how community conversations led to new collaborations and resources.

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Strategies for Increasing Staff Wages in CoC-funded Projects

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) introduced a new policy priority focused on building an effective workforce in the Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). During the awards process, HUD will automatically apply cost of living adjustments to supportive services activities and other staffing-focused budget lines to allow renewal project budgets to keep up with rising costs. This document offers suggestions for how communities and project applicants can leverage this new policy priority to support appropriate staff wages across all CoC-funded projects.

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Taking Action to Increase Wages for Direct Services Staff

Across the country, organizations serving individuals experiencing homelessness face challenges with recruiting and retaining direct service staff due to low wages. The research is clear – low wages are directly related to challenges with employee recruitment and retention. This resource offers steps organizations and funders can take to improve wages and support front-line workers.

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Improving Medi-Cal Renewals for People Experiencing Homelessness

This report explores ways to streamline and improve the Medi-Cal renewal processes for people experiencing homelessness, with recommended strategies and best practices based on Homebase’s understanding of the common barriers people experiencing homelessness faced during Medi-Cal’s continuous coverage unwinding, as well as the direct feedback that Homebase received from people experiencing homelessness, their health and homeless services providers, and advocates during our Medi-Cal renewal campaign.

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Grants Pass v. Johnson: Overview and Action Steps

On 6.28.24, the Supreme Court released their decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. They ruled that it isn’t “cruel and unusual punishment” for governments to pass or enforce laws that criminalize sleeping or camping on public property. While this decision overturns Martin v. Boise, it doesn’t require governments to enforce or create laws making sleeping outside or camping a crime. This guide offers resources and steps communities can take to protect people experiencing homelessness and continue to work towards better housing outcomes for residents.

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Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-1-24: Overview and Action Steps

On 7.25.24, the California Governor issued Executive Order N-1-24. The Order directs State departments and agencies under his authority to adopt policies consistent with the California Department of Transportation’s (CalTrans) encampment policy. The Order follows the Supreme Court’s decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which held that bans prohibiting camping and sleeping in public areas may be enforced. This guide covers what Californians should know about the Order and ideas for how to respond.

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