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Adopt a Resolution Allocating Funding for the Orange County Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection Program.
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Staff:
Department:
Maurice Jones, Town Manager
Manager's Office
Loryn Clark, Deputy Town Manager
Christopher Blue, Police Chief and Executive Director for Community Safety
Police Department
Overview: The Reimagining Community Safety Task Force identified expansion of the Orange County Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection (SOHRAD) program as a priority. The Orange County Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflective Program1 (SOHRAD) connects people experiencing homelessness in Orange County with housing and services. The program provides peer support and clinical staff for unsheltered residents.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council adopt the resolution supporting expansion of the SOHRAD program and allocating up to $34,000 to support a fourth position for the SOHRAD program.
Background
* The SOHRAD program fills a gap in the County's homeless service system.
* The three-member SOHRAD team has been in place since October 2020 and conducts its outreach throughout the County.
* The program was initially funded by federal Emergency Solutions CARES Act (ESG-CV) funds.
* In 2021, the Orange County Board of Commissioners allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support the team's work from October 2021- through June, 2022.
* Some of the Team' s accomplishments since October 2020 - October 2021 include:
o Over 220 people served
o 55 have been permanently housed (20 with Housing Choice Vouchers)
o 69 entered transitional housing or shelter
o 13 entered other temporary destinations (friends/family, motel, etc.)
o Over 170 received supplies, food, transportation, etc.
o Over 55 law enforcement deflections
o 91 received clinical support
Key Issues:
* The final report prepared by the Town's Reimagining Community Safety Task Force2 identified 28 recommendations, including support to expand the SOHRAD program.
* T...
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