Meeting Minutes - Final

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Contra Costa

Council on Homelessness

1:00 PM

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Hybrid: 1025 Escobar St., Martinez or

https://homebaseccc.zoom.us/meeting/register/t

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istration

General Meeting

COH Agenda w Time 8.7.25

COH Slides 8.7.25

Attachments:

Agenda Items: Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the

Committee

Roll Call and Introductions

In-person: Thomas Fischer, HCEB

Remote: Christine Wetzel, Caminar; Ishani Rasanayagam, City of Pittsburg; Manav Chimakurthi,

community member; Ms. Evon Ufland, community member; Lisa Malul, Contra Costa Crisis Center;

Jennifer Quallick, Contra Costa BOS; Jaclyn Tummings, Contra Costa County Department of

Conservation and Development; Melanie Erickson, Contra Costa County Department of

Conservation and Development; Ashley, CCCOE; Elizabeth Winstead, DOR; Khougen, EHSD;

C.Williams, HCEB; Brittany Ferguson, H3; Carina Rodriguez-Pena, H3; Caroline Miller, H3; Cheryl

Leonor, H3; E. Jacobs, H3; Janel Fletcher, H3; Jacqueline Franco, H3; Jenny Robbins, H3; Latoya

Foskey, H3; Maria Dominguez, H3; Shelby Ferguson, H3; Stephanie Bodisco, H3; Yessenia Aguilar,

H3; Chaeana Williams, HCEB; Thomas Fischer, HCEB; Emily Bero, Hope Solutions; Angela Corona,

LFCD; Carmen Cano, LFCD; Julie Clemens, LSS of Northern California; Andrea Foti, SHELTER, Inc.;

Anastasia Lockwood, YAB; John Eckstrom, SHELTER, Inc.; Rebecca Gomez-Pellecer, SHELTER, Inc.;

Cynthia-Bella Chavez, SHELTER, Inc.; James.Worley, SHELTER, Inc.; Kathryn Ross, SHELTER, Inc.;

Mary Hill, SHELTER Inc.; Jai De Lotto, VA CES; Amanda Aschow, Zócalo Health

This was read into the record.

Alejandra Chamberlain, Sherina Criswell, Hope Dixon, Maria E

Fairbanks, Carolyn Foudy, Nicole Green, Juno Hedrick, Danielle

Jimenez, Gabriel Lemus, LeAnn Matthews, Courtney Pal, Shawn

Ray, Bessie Marie Scott, and Tony Ucciferri

Present

Verneda Clapp, Wayne Earl, Yahel Moreno, and Heather Worobey

Susan Leslie Gleason

Absent

Non-voting

Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda

(speakers may be limited to two minutes).

COH Minutes 7.10.25

Attachments:

COH Staff Report 8.7.25

This Discussion Item was approved.

Motion:

Second:

Criswell

Ray

Committee Report Out: Funding Committee

The Funding Committee has formed a Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity (CoC

NOFO) Work Group that is tasked with improving the NOFO competition process. The work group

will meet roughly every three weeks starting in August and will focus on revising scoring tools and

competition policies in preparation of a possible 2025 CoC NOFO competition. This is an

unexpected competition because HUD had announced in 2024 that the competition would take

place every two years. The committee expects significantly changes on the funding requirements

per new HUD priorities and renewal projects are advised on reviewing the APRs from the last

completed program year. Homebase will send an email to renewal projects with more

information.

Committee Report Out: Youth Advisory Board (YAB) Update

The Youth Advisory Board provided an overview of YAB's July activities, including subcommittee

meetings, new data and research projects, participation in Youth and Young Adult (YYA) strategic

planning, and CES Housing Needs Assessment Committee. Upcoming tasks include completing the

review of Transitional Housing RFP applicants, planning for a youth Point-in-Time count, and

preparing for Homelessness Awareness Month activities. Additionally, YAB is working on three

action steps derived from their strategic plan, with Anastasia Lockwood and Juno Hedrick

coordinating these efforts. The team also discussed the development of a web presence, the

continuation of training sessions, and awaits the release of the HUD Youth Homeless

Demonstration Program. Anyone interested in connecting with YAB may send an email at

ContraCostaYAB@cchealth.org <mailto:ContraCostaYAB@cchealth.org>.

2025 Recognition Categories and Descriptions for COH approval

HAM resolution for approval 8.7.25

Attachments:

Memorial resolution for approval 8.7.25

Nicole Green discussed the purpose and the planning activities for Homeless

Awareness Month in November. The list of tools and the number of events was

presented and it involves in looking at two resolutions for approval: a) Homelessness

Awareness month and Homeless Person’s Memorial Day. The group discussed the

recognition categories as volunteers, housing providers, partnership, and Phoenix

Raising. The recognition timeline was shown with plans to open nominations on

August 8th through September 18th, 2025. The presentation and reception with the

Board of Supervisors is scheduled for November 4th.

To approve: a) Homelessness Awareness Month and Homeless Persons’ Memorial

Day resolutions, and 2) Recognition categories, descriptions and criteria.

Motion:

Criswell

Second:

Marie Scott

Old Business: Sector Report Outs from Council Members

No report out updates.

Old Business: Funding Updates

The meeting covered several funding updates, including applications that were due on July 25,

2025 for Transitional Housing Request For Proposals (RFP) with notifications to providers

expected in August, the Community Care Expansion Preservation Program with a deadline to

submit Statements of Interest on August 11, 2025 - which can support operating subsidies or

capital projects for existing licensed facilities - and the Homeless Housing Assistance and

Prevention Program (HHAP) application for Round 6 due August 29. Lastly, the meeting also

covered updates on the Federal budget on the Transportation and Housing and Urban

Development (THUD) Bill, which included slight increases for the Continuum of Care program but

no additional funding for the emergency housing voucher program. Congress has until October 1

to pass a reconciled version or enact a continuing resolution, which would maintain current

funding levels.

New Business: (ACTION ITEM) Point in Time Count Committee Selection

Janel Fletcher went over the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count planning for 2026, outlining the timeline

and requesting volunteers from the Council. Three council members were appointed to the PIT

Count Committee: Bessie Scott, Juno Hedrick, and Sherina Criswell. The dates for the committee

meetings will be announced in the newsletter.

To approve Bessie Scott, Juno Hedrick, and Sherina Criswell to the PIT Committee.

Motion:

Second:

Leslie Gleason

Criswell

Memo Re Remote Meeting Attendance as a Reasonable

Accommodation April 2025

Attachments:

Memo Re Revised Limits for Meeting Participation - Alternate

Remote Teleconferencing Option April 2025

Jamie Schecter presented updates to the Brown Act requirements, explaining that as

of March 1, 2023, all council meetings must be in-person or hybrid, with all council

members attending in person unless they use just cause or emergency circumstances

exceptions. Starting in January this year, a new policy has been introduced where a

person using just cause and who has a need related to a disability for which is not

otherwise accommodated, allowing for flexible accommodations for members with

qualifying disabilities. Qualified members are allowed to attend virtually with specific

requirements such as two-way audio and video, camera on, and disclosure of

roommates who are present in the room and over 18 years of age. There is also no

limit in the number of meetings with this format once the disability accommodation

is approved. The procedure on how to request this accommodation was explained.

Council members must now complete all required trainings every two years,

including Brown Act, ethics, and implicit bias training.

Learning Corner: California Advancing Innovations in Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Enhanced Care Management

Pasia Gadson, a nurse practitioner and Director of CalAIM programs and transitional care services

at CCHP, presented an overview of the California Advancing Innovations in Medi-Cal (CalAIM)

Enhanced Care Management (ECM) program. She explained that ECM is a statewide Medi-Cal

benefit focusing on clinical and non-clinical needs of members, particularly people experiencing

homelessness, people with serious mental illness, with substance use disorders, or transitioning

from incarceration - these individuals are defined as Populations of Focus. Pasia highlighted the

program's core services, including outreach and engagement, comprehensive assessments, care

coordination, and referrals to community and social support services. She also discussed how

providers and community organizations can refer eligible individuals to the ECM program and

emphasized the importance of a holistic approach when managing complex cases.

The discussion covered the process for obtaining CalAIM benefits, which are limited to Medi-Cal

managed care plan members, and they must meet the criteria of ECM population of focus.

Eligible individuals must first have Medi-Cal and be assigned to CCHP, with Kaiser being an

alternative only if the member had Kaiser coverage in the previous 12 months. The healthcare

options listed on the ’California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)s website

<https://www.healthcareoptions.dhcs.ca.gov/en> helps members find the best plan for their

needs, and while CCHP cannot directly assist with switching plans, they can help prevent coverage

loss by providing redetermination dates to providers. To learn more about enrolling in MediCal in

Contra Costa County, prospective members may visit the ’Contra Costa County Healths website

<https://ehsd.org/medi-cal-and-health-coverage-options/>. To apply for Medi-Cal, you may call at

1-866-663-3225 or visit www.BenefitsCal.com <http://www.BenefitsCal.com>.

Council Membership: Recognize Outgoing Council Member: Leslie Gleason

Leslie Gleason’s seat membership as the ESG Program Grantee Representative will expire at the end of

August 2025. COH members thanked Leslie for her service and recognized all the work she has done

over the years. Leslie gave a short speech about the work and collaboration over the course of 10 years

and encouraged the rest of COH members to keep working in searching solutions for those who are most

in need

Announcements

Jamie Schecter shared the flyer of the Elevate East County program, a guaranteed income pilot

program in East County which targets young parents with minor children and who are engaged

in education at any level. Participants must be enrolled in at least one class at any Contra Costa

Community college, must reside in Big Point, Pittsburgh, Antioch, or another district, must be

between 18 and 30, must have at least one child ages 0 through 6, and must earn at or below

50% area Median income. The application period is open until August 29, 2025 and link to the

Google Form to apply can be found here

<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfK2VL0fb_LoO77zEKU-rFyVpRXB8rhtW8IJbjN41

06_QFDqA/viewform>.

Alejandra Chamberlain reminded COH members and the public that If anyone come across any

children and youth who are not enrolled in a school district, to please reach out to her and she

will connect people with the right person.

Members of the public were invited to the grand opening of the Executive Inn project, funded

through the Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) program in Antioch, on August 14th at

noon. H3 is working closely with CORE as well as with Hope Solutions to provide services for

the ERF grants in Antioch, San Pablo as well as in Richmond. The partnership also includes

Housing Consortium of East Bay, which will be supporting the Antioch projects.

Courtney Pal shared that she is part of a group of the Permanent Supportive Housing

providers who for the past few years have been looking for ways to improve the permanent

supportive housing system. Based on this need, they have formed the Nonprofit Housing

Association of Northern California (NPH). The main focus is looking at best practices and how

to implement it across five different Bay area counties plus Los Angeles. Based on a

presentation that H3 gave to NPH, they have developed a memo with best practices. A

webinar with their findings will take place on September 18th at 11 am and it will be targeted

to people working in the CoCs, with a section for feedback.

The next meeting is currently scheduled for 9/4/25

Adjourn

The Committee will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities planning to attend

the Committee meetings. Contact the staff person listed below at least 72 hours before the meeting. Any

disclosable public records related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda and distributed by

the County to a majority of members of the Committee less than 96 hours prior to that meeting are

available for public inspection at 2400 Bisso Lane, D2, Concord during normal business hours. Staff

connection malfunctions for any reason, the meeting may be paused while a fix is attempted. If the

connection is not reestablished, the committee will continue the meeting in person without remote

access. Public comment may be submitted via electronic mail on agenda items at least one full work day

prior to the published meeting time.

Council on Homelessness: contracostacoc@cchealth.org