(240) Community Service & Workforce Development

The mission of San Benito County’s Health & Human Services Agency is to support and strengthen individuals and families by assuring safety, supporting self-sufficiency, eliminating poverty, and improving the quality of life in our community.

Community Services and Workforce Development provides services benefiting the low-income community members with housing assistance, homeless services, energy assistance, workforce development and supportive services.

STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS AREAS

• Operational Development & Excellence
• Community Engagement
• Healthy & Safe Communities

RECENT DIVISION ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• The H.O.M.E. Resource Center rehabilitation project was completed. The renovations include interior and exterior painting, new interior flooring, repairs to the roof, new windows, a new front parking lot concrete with new paint striping, a back emergency gate, and the replacement of several security cameras rehabilitating the courtyard, installing new front signage, and purchasing and installing two gazebos.
• The Homeless and Housing Division has completed its transition with the hiring of a Manager. This completes the full transition of the Housing Support Program (HSP), the Housing Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP), Bringing Families Home (BFH) and Home Safe (HS) programs.
• Over $3 million in grant funding has been awarded for various programs, including the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP), HUD Helping Hands Program, Uplift Catalyst-CA Jobs First Grant, Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program (TBRA), and the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA).

TOP DIVISION CONCERNS:

• Lack of ongoing, renewable funding is forcing the Agency to invest significant time and effort into securing grants to support homelessness, housing, and workforce services.
• Insufficient operational funding for the local homeless shelter, the Housing Opportunities Meals & Empowerment (HOME) Resource Center, prevents the shelter from operating the shelter 24/7 year-round. Additionally, the lack of resources/funding to provide essential wrap-around services, such as case management, rapid rehousing, and other supportive services.
• Shortage of low-income housing and affordable rental units for low-income residents and homeless individuals, making it difficult to place the residents in permanent housing.

LONG RANGE PLANNING GOALS (3-5 YEAR) FOR DIVISION:

• Increase workforce funding by at least 50% of its current budget.
• Build housing units specifically for homeless individuals and families and low-income residents with at least 150 housing units in the next three years.
• Reduce homelessness by 50% by 2026.
• Complete the development of at least 30-40 housing units for homeless individuals at the Chappell property by 2026-2027.

NEW REQUESTS FY 25/26:     Personnel & Fixed Assets/ 1-Time Items

• None

The following budget unit information details the different sections found under the Community Services & Workforce Development fund (240), a division of the Health and Human Services Agency. The sections are as follows outlined by their coded number:

• (2336) - Homeless Emergency Aid Program - No funding beginning in FY 21/22
• (2555) - Community Services & Workforce Development