To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Nolan Sullivan, 707-565-4774
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Amendments to Encampment Resolution Funding Grant Agreements
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the Director of Health Services, or designee, to execute a no-cost extension amendment with Shared Housing and Resource Exchange dba SHARE Sonoma County, extending the term of agreement from September 14, 2026 through April 30, 2028.
B) Authorize the Director of Health Services, or designee, to execute a no-cost extension amendment with Reach for Home, extending the term of agreement from June 30, 2026 through April 30, 2028.
C) Authorize the Director of Health Services or designee, to execute any future non-substantive modifications to the foregoing agreements, subject to review and approval by County Counsel.
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Executive Summary:
In 2023, the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) awarded the County of Sonoma Department of Health Services (hereinafter, ”DHS” or ”the Department”) two Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Program grants totaling $7,330,272 to support the safety and wellness of individuals experiencing homelessness in encampments, resolve critical encampment-related concerns, facilitate transitions into safe and stable housing, and promote a coordinated approach to encampment resolution.
As of this writing, $5,557,208 of the grant funds awarded have been spent and $1,773,064 remains unspent and available.
In December 2025, HCD offered no-cost extensions to any ERF grant awardees to extend grant terms through April 30, 2028, to enable more time for awardees and contractors to spend down funds. This item requests the Board authorize the Director of Health Services, or designee, to amend grant funded agreements with Shared Housing and Resource Exchange California dba SHARE Sonoma County (SHARE) and Reach for Home (RFH) to align the agreement terms with the Encampment Resolution Grant (ERF) grant newly extended performance period through April 30, 2028.
Additionally, this item requests the Board authorize the Director of Health Services or designee, to execute any future non-substantive modifications to the foregoing agreements, subject to review and approval by County Counsel.
Discussion:
The California ERF grants are designed to help local governments and their partners resolve homeless encampments in a safe, humane, and coordinated way. The core purpose for ERF grant funding is to move people from unsheltered settings (encampments) into stable housing with services, rather than simply displacing them. ERF funding supports planning, outreach, interim housing, and permanent housing strategies that center dignity, public health, and long-term stability, ultimately ending encampments. During the ERF Program grant application process, the Department submitted two grant applications and was awarded funding for both. DHS received notice of award for the ERF-Joe Rodota Trail grant in June 2023 in the amount of $4,567,130, followed by notice of award for the ERF-Syar grant in August 2023 in the amount of $2,763,142. A key part of the successful application process was partnering with two local non-profit service providers (SHARE and RFH) aligning the grant applications and deliverables.
ERF-Joe Rodota Trail Grant
This grant award of $4,567,130 supports the provision of longer-term housing for individuals formerly on the Joe Rodota Trail encampment in Santa Rosa who are now residing at various DHS interim shelter sites, including Mickey Zane and Eliza’s Village. Through this funding allocation, approximately 50 individuals have been housed using DHS and SHARE resources across multiple locations. The agreement with SHARE pays for ten (10) master-leased community houses and includes site management and housing retention supports for long-term housing. The total cost associated with the SHARE agreement is $1,806,000 and currently ends on September 14, 2026.
ERF-Syar Grant
This grant award of $2,763,142 supports the provision of longer-term housing for approximately 27 individuals transitioning from the Syar Industries encampment in northern Sonoma County along the Russian River near Healdsburg. RFH partnered with DHS on the ERF-Syar grant application and was subsequently awarded an agreement to implement the program. The agreement with RFH funds housing-related accommodations, including sober living environments and housing retention supports, and also supported the purchase of a home to provide long-term permanent housing. The total cost associated with the RFH agreement is $2,403,013 and is currently ends on June 30, 2026.
This grant also included funding one or more master leases of homes for long-term permanent housing. Other housing proposed includes motel stays (and related meals and services), use of current Homekey sites, and sober living placements. Client care via supportive services is included as well, with a focus on supplemental mental health care.
HCD extended the grant expiration date to support more comprehensive, long-term housing solutions. Efforts to transition individuals from encampments into housing have taken longer than anticipated due to the limited availability of affordable housing resources. No additional funding was awarded; the grant term was simply extended to provide more time to expend the funds that had already been allocated.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Healthy and Safe Communities
Goal: Goal 4: Reduce the County’s overall homeless population by 10% each year by enhancing services through improved coordination and collaboration.
Objective: Objective 2: Identify and leverage grant funding sources for permanent supportive and affordable housing development.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
On November 7, 2023, the Board authorized the Director of Health Services, or designee, to execute an agreement with SHARE and RFH to provide rental assistance, housing retention counseling and related supports, and housing for persons associated with encampments on the Joe Rodota Trail or later placements in Interim Housing.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
This is a no-cost agreement extension with no fiscal impacts.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Draft Shared Housing and Resource Exchange Sonoma County Amendment
Attachment 2 - Draft Reach for Home Amendment
Attachment 3 - Encampment Resolution Funding Grant Amendments
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None