Meeting Minutes - Final

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Contra Costa

Council on Homelessness

1:00 PM

Thursday, December 4, 2025

1025 Escobar St., Martinez | Register:

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

Zclf-uspzovGdR7op72t5-X4nsGdqdpvL-X#/reg

istration

Regular Meeting

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COH Agenda w Time 12.4.25

COH Slides 12.4.25

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

Present

Alejandra Chamberlain, Sherina Criswell, Hope Dixon, Maria E

Fairbanks, Carolyn Foudy, Susan Leslie Gleason, Nicole Green,

Gabriel Lemus, LeAnn Matthews, Yahel Moreno, Courtney Pal,

Shawn Ray, Bessie Marie Scott, Tony Ucciferri, and Heather

Worobey

Verneda Clapp, Wayne Earl, and Danielle Jimenez

Juno Hedrick

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).

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COH Staff Report 12.4.25

Attachments:

Advisory Body Annual Report Council on Homelessness 2025

COH Minutes 10.30.25

A. APPROVE minutes from the October 30, 2025 Council meeting

B. APPROVE staff report for the December 4, 2025 Council meeting

C. APPROVE Council members Dani Jimenez, Nicole Green, Shawn Ray, Bessie

Scott, Wayne Earl to serve on the Review and Rank Panel for the 2025 HUD CoC

NOFO competition

Motion:

Ucciferri

Second:

E Fairbanks

Aye:

Chamberlain, Criswell, E Fairbanks, Foudy, Leslie Gleason,

Green, Lemus, Matthews, Moreno, Pal, Ray, Marie Scott,

Ucciferri, and Worobey

Absent:

Clapp, Earl, and Jimenez

Abstain:

Result:

Dixon

Passed

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Mark and Jamie provided an overview of the 2025 HUD Continuum of Care (CoC)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which was released on November 13, 2025.

The consolidated application is due to HUD by January 14, 2026. Contra Costa County

received approximately $22.3 million in CoC funding in FY 2024. Key changes in the

2025 NOFO include a cap limiting permanent housing funding (Permanent

Supportive Housing and Rapid Rehousing) to no more than 30% of the CoC’s Annual

Renewal Demand (ARD), representing a significant shift from prior years. Tier 1

funding has also been reduced to 30% of ARD, compared to approximately 90% in

previous years, meaning more projects will fall into Tier 2, which is nationally

competitive. Additional changes include newly eligible project types (Transitional

Housing, Supportive Services Only, and Street Outreach), higher scoring for projects

with service participation requirements, and new restrictions related to harm

reduction practices, definitions of sex and gender, and activities perceived as

facilitating racial preferences. Mark and Jamie shared that CoC-funded renewal

projects have been coordinating with H3 to come up with a shortlist of permanent

housing projects to be included in Tier 1 within the new permanent housing funding

cap.

Discussion:

· Council members expressed concern about the potential loss of CoC subsidies

for permanent housing projects as grants expire over the coming year. Staff

noted that while impacts will occur on a rolling basis based on circumstances

for each project, nonetheless a significant number of households may be

affected. Staff emphasized ongoing collaboration between the county and

providers to identify alternative funding sources, temporary subsidy options,

and cross-system strategies to help residents remain housed.

· A Council member with lived experience shared personal concern about being

directly impacted by potential the policy changes. Another Council member

acknowledged the emotional weight of the discussion and emphasized the

importance of centering lived experience voices, particularly given the

uncertainty created by the policy changes.

· Discussion also included how HUD Opportunity Zones factor into application

scoring and concerns regarding how geographic boundaries may

disadvantage certain communities.

Committee Report Out: Point-In-Time Count Committee: APPROVE Point in Time

Count Methodology (ACTION ITEM)

Yessenia provided an overview of updates related to the Point-In-Time (PIT) Count planning.

The Committee reviewed preparations for the upcoming PIT Count, including outreach

strategies, coordination with community partners, and logistics for implementation. Staff

reviewed the proposed PIT Count methodology and shared that the approach aligns with HUD

requirements and builds on lessons learned from previous counts.

To approve the Point-In-Time Count methodology as presented.

Motion:

Second:

Criswell

Worobey

Aye:

Chamberlain, Criswell, Dixon, E Fairbanks, Foudy, Leslie

Gleason, Green, Lemus, Matthews, Moreno, Pal, Ray,

Marie Scott, Ucciferri, and Worobey

Absent:

Result:

Clapp, Earl, and Jimenez

Passed

Committee Report Out: Youth Advisory Board (YAB) Update

Presenter: Juno Hedrick, Vice Chair and Lived Experience Advisor

Juno shared regarding Youth Advisory Board activities, youth engagement efforts, and ongoing

advocacy to elevate youth and young adult perspectives within the homeless response

system. Anyone interested in connecting with YAB can send an email at

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

New Business: Coordinated Entry Housing Needs Assessment Replacement Project

Update

Speaker: Chela Shuster and Claire Burris, Focus Strategies and Mary Juarez-Fitzgerald, H3

Chela, Claire, and Mary provided an update on the Coordinated Entry Housing Needs

Assessment Project, including data collection efforts and how findings will inform system

planning and housing prioritization.

New Business: 2024 Annual Report Presentation

This item was tabled due to time constraints.

Learning Corner: College Is a Bridge”: How Community Colleges Support Unhoused

Communities Through Resources, Aid, and Opportunity

This item was tabled due to time constraints.

10.

11.

Farewell to outgoing members (5 mins)

Outgoing Council members were recognized and thanked for their service.

Announcements

The next meeting is currently scheduled for January 8, 2026

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.

For Additional Information Contact: contracostacoc@cchealth.org