MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to support AT HOME, a first-of-its-kind comprehensive approach developed by the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) in collaboration with county leaders throughout the state to effectively and equitably address homelessness in California.
This program starts at the top, where critical decisions about homelessness are made. It includes broad goals and specific policy proposals to ensure clear lines of responsibility and accountability for every level of government while improving the way California collectively responds to homelessness.
“Counties are on the forefront of addressing our homelessness crisis in California. The County of Monterey now joins in support of the California State Association of Counties’ AT HOME plan to comprehensively address ongoing funding, accountability and programming needs,” said Luis Alejo, chair of the Board of Supervisors, in a May 23 news release. “There is much work to be done in reducing homelessness and getting our unhoused residents into services, but it must be done comprehensively in partnership with local governments and other stakeholders.”
AT HOME was developed nearly a year of an all-county effort to analyze barriers to addressing homelessness and developing solutions, tailored to the unique needs of communities.
The six pillars of the AT HOME plan are:
- Accountability: Clear responsibilities aligned to authority, resources, and flexibility for all levels of government
- Transparency: Integrate and expand data to improve program effectiveness
- Housing: Increase and maintain housing units across the spectrum
- Outreach: Develop sustainable outreach systems and increase workforce to support these systems
- Mitigation: Strengthen safety net programs
- Economic Opportunity: Create employment and education pathways, as well as supports for basic needs
“We want to incorporate CSAC’s AT HOME plan into the work we are already doing to produce results for hundreds of residents in Monterey County experiencing homelessness,” said Supervisor Wendy Askew, chair of the County of Monterey’s Homelessness Committee. “The County of Monterey has worked diligently to make inroads into the needs of homeless residents. Ensuring clear lines of responsibility and accountability will enhance our focus and efforts.”
Counties run or administer most health and human services programs on behalf of the state and federal governments. These programs include CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, mental health and substance use disorder services, In-Home Supportive Services, Child Welfare Services, Adult Protective Services and CalFresh.
Visit the CSAC website counties.org for more information about AT HOME.
