STOCKTON — Three initiatives — aimed at dealing with homeless issues and addressing mental health and lead poisoning impacting children — were put in motion Tuesday by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.
The biggest item was accepting $11,172,187 in State Encampment Resolution Funding, It will be deposited into an interest-bearing trust fund to resolve critical encampment concerns and transition individuals into safe and stable housing.
Health Care Services will use the money for future outreach, service coordination, case management, and housing stabilization services within Caltrans District 10’s highest priority homeless encampment which is underneath the Highway 4 (Crosstown Freeway) and Interstate 5 interchange.
The funding is expected to engage 300 individuals from the interchange complex encampment, move up to 150 individuals into shelter, and move up to 54 individuals into permanent supportive housing.
It also well create sustainable pathways from all encampments to permanent supportive housing by increasing the number of available housing units and “move-on” partnerships with other housing resources.
“While we are pleased to receive this necessary grant funding, guidelines for spending this money will be critical,” noted Supervisor Robert Rickman, Chair of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors. “We need to know exactly where this money is going, how it’s being used and the projected outcomes.
“We need a plan and system in place to measure results, identify programs that aren’t working and shift support to programs that are successful. Taxpayers should know exactly where this significant amount of funding is being spent on. They want results.”
The board also approved an agreement with Mary Magdalene Community Services.
The agreement will provide $2,343,976 for a Full-Service Partnership (FSP) program to 50 adults and transitional age youth annually.
FSP services include case management, individual rehabilitation, individual therapy, treatment planning and monitoring of treatment progress, group rehabilitation, linkage to community providers, residential services and medication support services.
Eligible client risk factors include serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders, and additional risk factors include inadequate housing, involvement with the criminal justice system, frequent use of hospital and emergency room services in place of regular mental health treatment, and institutionalization
The supervisors also accepted an agreement with the California Department of Public Health for the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026.
The $3,323,127 will provide outreach, case management and environmental services. Outreach efforts target lead poisoning prevention and blood lead screening to increase the number of children screened.
Outreach activities target local health jurisdiction programs, community leaders, faith-based organizations, non-government organizations who interface with prenatal and postnatal families, businesses with high-risk exposure to lead, environmental and healthy housing organizations, property owner organizations, managed care organizations, childcare programs, and health care organizations throughout the County.
Staff will also provide home inspections and analysis of lead sources to identify lead hazards that are sources of exposure for children. on the State Encampment Resolution Funding stating,
