Technical Assistance to Improve the Delivery of Homelessness Programs
HCD is offering technical assistance to California counties and Continuums of Care (CoCs) to enhance, develop, build capacity, or improve the design and the delivery of programs and services for people experiencing homelessness. Using an on-demand response model, HCD will deploy consultants to provide more than13,000 hours of assistance, at no cost to the jurisdictions.
HCD will evaluate each technical assistance request based on its unique circumstances and challenges. Once selected, eligible recipients may receive:
- In depth remote or on-site assistance from a dedicated expert homelessness consultant.
- Information on "how to guides" through online resources, toolkits, and FAQs.
- Interactive training and knowledge-building through online courses or webinars, regional workshops and peer to peer learning.
Questions on the available technical assistance opportunities can be directed to HomelessnessTA@hcd.ca.gov.
Who is Eligible?
California counties and COCs that are eligible for either or both of the following programs:
What Type of Technical Assistance is Available?
| Housing First | Housing Stability |
|---|---|
|
Developing policies and procedures to convert existing emergency shelters to a low-barrier or Housing First emergency shelters. Developing policies and procedures to adopt and incorporate the core components of Housing First for all homelessness funded programs. Developing policies and procedures to improve or establish a diversion strategy to prevent homelessness or reduce the demand for shelter beds. |
Establishing or improving rates of exits from homelessness into permanent housing. Developing written standards, policies, or procedures to assist rapid rehousing funded programs move individuals and families into permanent housing. This may include assisting rapid rehousing programs to align with widely accepted practices in a standardized way across a CoC service area and assistance in increasing utilization and expenditure rates of existing rapid rehousing resources. Establishing or improving innovative solutions to engage landlords and identify creative housing solutions in challenging rental markets. This may include developing a flexible housing subsidy program, Whole Person Care Program increasing voucher utilization, housing navigator training or recruitment strategy etc. |
How Can I Access Technical Assistance?
Step 1. Request technical assistance using buttons above.
Step 2. HCD staff will review and approve or disapprove your request*. HCD staff may contact you to clarify any information submitted in your request.
Step 3. If approved, HCD's technical assistance consultant will contact you and provide the assistance.
*Once you submit your request, HCD will respond within one to two weeks, depending on the complexity and breadth of your request.
Who are the Selected Technical Assistance Consultants?
Three expert consulting firms have been selected and contracted to provide this assistance, each with a distinct specialty and expertise:
- Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) will assist jurisdictions with providing housing stability; and
- The Center for Common Concerns (Home Base) will help jurisdictions advance Housing First principles.