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: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Measure O Behavioral Health and Homelessness Pathways to Sustainability Agreement Awards
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the County Executive Officer, or designee, to execute agreements with community partners listed in Attachment 1, using the sample agreement in Attachment 4 and based upon proposals selected through the Measure O Behavioral Health and Homelessness Pathways to Sustainability Notice of Funding Availability, for various terms up to three (3) years from the time of contract execution and a total cumulative not-to-exceed $12,400,000, subject to review and approval by County Counsel.
B) Authorize the County Executive Officer, or designee, to execute modifications to the agreements awarded in this Board Item in order to address increased/decreased service needs, subject to available funding and review and approval by County Counsel.
C) Adopt a Budget Resolution authorizing budgetary adjustments to the Department of Health Services Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Adopted Budget by increasing appropriations in the amount of $2,172,989 to reflect revenues and expenditures associated with the increased use of funds and increased cost of the program. (4/5th Required Vote)
end
Executive Summary:
The Department of Health Services (hereinafter, “the Department” or “DHS”) released the Measure O Behavioral Health and Homelessness Pathways to Sustainability Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) on August 6, 2025. The goal of this NOFA was to support the community and help protect the County’s investments in Behavioral Health and Homelessness services and programs utilizing Measure O dollars. The Department invited applications from community-based organizations and local government partners with existing projects that are essential to these service networks and currently facing funding uncertainties.
The NOFA proposals were due September 17, 2025. 52 proposals were received, requesting a total of $35,629,116 in funding. Counsel determined that two proposals were ineligible because they did not fit into any of the Measure O expenditure plan categories. A Community Advisory Panel composed of five community members reviewed and scored the remaining 50 proposals. DHS staff reviewed the Panel’s recommendations and developed funding allocation recommendations that balance geographic and programmatic diversity to address the varied needs of communities across Sonoma County.
DHS recommends the Board consider allocating $10,000,000 in Measure O funding and $2,400,000 in Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) funding for a total of $12,400,000.
Discussion:
Measure O Background
In 2018, the need for behavioral health and homelessness services had reached crisis levels in Sonoma County. The health care delivery system had been decimated by COVID-19, budget cuts to essential services, and decreased housing stock due to wildfires. These compounding issues demanded additional revenue to support the needs of the most vulnerable residents of Sonoma County. This led to the development of Measure O.
Passed by Sonoma County voters in 2020 with over 2/3rd of the vote, Measure O is a one-quarter cent sales tax over 10 years that generates approximately $30 million each year. Revenue is spent exclusively on the five funding categories identified in Sonoma County Ordinance No. 6316.
1. Behavioral Health Facilities
2. Emergency Psychiatric/Crisis Services
3. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Services
4. Behavioral Health Homeless/Care Coordination
5. Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing/Supportive Housing Pool
Measure O Behavioral Health and Homelessness Pathways to Sustainability Notice of Funding Availability
On August 6, 2025, the Measure O Behavioral Health and Homelessness Pathways to Sustainability Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was released. DHS invited community-based organizations (CBOs) and local government partners to apply to provide Behavioral Health and Homelessness programming to the residents of Sonoma County in order to address one or more of the defined areas of need. A maximum total award amount was set at $10,000,000 for Measure O funding. Proposals were due on September 17, 2025. 52 (50 eligible) proposals were received with requests totaling $35,629,116. Counsel determined that two proposals were ineligible because they did not fit into any of the Measure O expenditure plan categories.
Community Advisory Panel
DHS issued a call for community members to express their interest in serving on a Community Advisory Panel for upcoming NOFAs. Interested individuals completed an interest form, which gathered information on their relevant experience, areas of expertise, organizational affiliations, and demographic background. DHS convened a review team with representatives from Behavioral Health, Homelessness Services, Administration, and the County Executive’s Office to evaluate the 25 interest forms that were received using a set of established criteria:
• Relevant experience in behavioral health and/or homelessness
• Experience serving on boards, committees, or review panels
• Diverse representation
• Experience working with local government
• Did not have any conflicts of interest with an applicant
Following individual reviews, the group held a consensus meeting to discuss and finalize the selection of candidates. Based on their evaluations, 14 individuals were invited to participate in the Measure O Community Advisory Panel (4 did not respond, 4 were found to have conflicts of interest, 1 was unable to participate due to capacity constraints, 5 accepted and had no conflicts).
The five selected panelists bring extensive experience in homelessness and behavioral health, have served on boards and committees, and reflect the diversity of Sonoma County. All proposals were scored, based on a set of established criteria, by the five-member Community Advisory Panel. See pages 18-21 of Attachment 2 for the scoring criteria. Community Advisory Panel recommendations were brought to Department of Health Services leadership to review and determine award allocations. Award allocations were determined based on geographic and programmatic diversity in order to meet a variety of needs of communities across Sonoma County. The following proposals are recommended for funding with the $10,000,000 available Measure O funds.
Measure O Recommendations - $10,000,000
1. Catholic Charities - Caritas Bridge to Housing - $924,818
2. Town of Windsor & City of Cloverdale - Interim Housing Scattered Site Project - $650,000
3. City of Santa Rosa - Safe Parking Program - $479,040
4. Community Support Network - Integrated Recovery Transitional Age Youth Housing Program - $560,415
5. West County Health Centers - Maintaining Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health services for youth and homeless - $474,078
6. Child Parent Institute - School-Based Youth Mental Health Services - $700,000
7. Positive Images and Latino Service Providers - Culturally Affirming Mental Health Services for Latine and LGBTQIA2S+ Youth - $750,000
8. City of Healdsburg - L&M Village - $121,700
9. Verity - Healing for Youth and Homeless Sexual Assault Survivors - $500,000
10. St. Vincent de Paul - Gravenstein Commons - $1,000,000
11. Sonoma County Office of Education - Schools as Centers of Wellness - $500,000
12. City of Rohnert Park - Labath Landing - $836,686
13. City of Petaluma - Care Coordination - $100,000
14. City of Petaluma - Committee on the Shelterless Collaboration (People’s Village) - $750,000
15. HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County - Sonoma Valley Rapid Rehousing Renewal - $709,075
16. Committee on the Shelterless - Rapid Rehousing - $162,154
17. Committee on the Shelterless - Permanent Supportive Housing - $392,034
18. California Indian Museum and Cultural Center Tribal Youth Ambassadors: Being with Bears - $390,000
Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Funding Background
HHAP is a block grant provided by the State of California Interagency Council on Homelessness to both counties and continuums of care (CoCs) to support best practices and interventions in homelessness services. HHAP funding aligns closely with Measure O funding priorities in permanent supportive housing and interim housing projects and was included in this NOFA to support projects receiving Measure O funding and also support existing projects that have received funding reductions over the past year. HHAP funding is based on annual results of the Homeless Point in Time Count, among other factors. Funding is not ongoing and is granted year-to-year as one-time funds. Each round of HHAP has different expenditure deadlines. To date, five rounds of HHAP have been provided to CoCs and counties. Sonoma County’s CoC is currently known as Homeless Coalition. Eligible projects for HHAP funding include Permanent supportive housing, Rapid Rehousing, Emergency Shelter/Interim Housing, Street Outreach, Capital expenses for permanent supportive housing or enhancing existing emergency shelter projects for privacy, and Operating subsidies for permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing.
HHAP funds include a requirement to provide a minimum of 10% of total funds for projects serving transitional age youth (TAY), defined by the funder as ages 18-24. HHAP funds are administered in compliance with Emergency Solutions Grant standards and projects are monitored by the Ending Homelessness Team in the Homelessness Services Division of the County DHS. The following projects are being recommended for funding using unallocated HHAP funds:
HHAP Funding Recommendations - $2,400,000
1. Committee on the Shelterless - Permanent Supportive Housing - $196,017
2. City of Santa Rosa - Safe Parking Program - $500,000
3. Committee on the Shelterless - Rapid Rehousing - $81,077
4. Committee on the Shelterless - Mary Isaak Center Emergency Shelter - $102,851
5. Community Support Network - Integrated Recovery TAY Housing Program - $239,585
6. Committee on the Shelterless - Kids First Family Shelter - $65,867
7. City of Healdsburg - L&M Village - $778,300
8. City of Rohnert Park - Labath Landing - $436,303
Contracts funded through this NOFA will have terms of either one or three years depending on project and funding source (See attachment 1 for details).
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 3: Increase investment in programs that treat underlying causes of homelessness, including substance abuse, mental illness, poverty, and lack of affordable housing.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
June 3, 2025, the Board appointed Colleen O’Neal to the Measure O Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
March 18, 2025, the Board Approved Measure O Behavioral Health and Homelessness Community Solution Agreements
December 10, 2024, the Board received the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
November 5, 2024, the Board approved the re-appointments of Edward Sheffield, Betzy Chavez, Shannon McEntee, Gregory Fearon, Shirlee Zane, Ben Ford and Kevin McDonnell to the Measure O Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
February 27, 2024, the Board received the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2022-2023
April 18, 2023, the Board received the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.
May 24, 2022, the Board received the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2020-2021.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 25-26 Adopted |
FY 26-27 Projected |
FY 27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$5,934,011 |
$2,739,920 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$2,172,989 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$2,172,989 |
$5,934,011 |
$2,739,920 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$1,214,603 |
$1,185,397 |
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
$958,386 |
$4,748,614 |
$2,739,920 |
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$2,172,989 |
$5,934,011 |
$2,739,920 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
$958,386 from Measure O, $239,524 from HHAP-3, and $975,079 from HHAP-4 (totaling $2,172,989) will be allocated to support current year contracts: $1,272,989 Labath Landing, and $900,000 L&M Village.
All remaining NOFA-recommended agreements will be executed in FY 2026-2027 and will be funded by a combination of HHAP 4, HHAP 5, and Measure O. The total remaining appropriations of $10,227,011 will be included in the regular budgeting cycles (dependent on term of agreement) for FY 2026-2027, FY 2027-2028 and FY 2028-2029 as follows:
• $9,041,614 from Measure O funds
• $793,576 from HHAP Round 4 and $391,821 from HHAP Round 5
A detailed breakdown by contractor and funding amount is provided in Attachment 1.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Funding Recommendations
Attachment 2 - Budget Resolution
Attachment 3 - Copy of Notice of Funding Availability
Attachment 4 - Sample Agreement from NOFA
Attachment 5 - List of Applications Received
Attachment 6 - Presentation
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None