DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style only – No concept changes

The Single Adult Model (SAM) is a multi-departmental collaborative that includes the Los Angeles (L.A.) County Departments of Mental Health (DMH), Health Services (DHS), Public Health (DPH), Public Social Services (DPSS) and Community Development Commission (CDC). SAM offers the County the infrastructure for assisting homeless single adults within all regions of L.A. County. The goal of the program is to permanently house and provide assistance to locate housing, complete housing forms, and provide move-in assistance to homeless single adults who have physical or mental health conditions, and who may also have a co-occurring substance use disorder, and are the heaviest users of County services.

The SAM Project will provide 330 permanent supportive housing subsidies of up to $750 for General Relief (GR) participants who are identified as SAM eligible. These individuals have granted access to Enterprise Linkages Project (ELP), and are identified as the heaviest users of County services. DMHs Multi-Disciplinary Intergrated Teams (MITs) will also identify 80 additional street-based homeless men and/or women for the project.

SAM GR participants will contribute 30% of his/her income toward rent and the balance of the rent will be covered by the subsidy up to an average rent of $750. CalFresh benefits will not count toward monthly income.

In June 2013, the Board directed the Chief Executive Office (CEO) to reprogram Homeless Prevention Initiative (HPI) funds to promote permanent supportive housing to reduce homelessness for the single adult. The implementation plan for SAM was approved by the Board in the Spring of 2014 for Fiscal Year 2014/2015.

The DPSS SAM Coordinator will outreach to eligible SAM GR participants by phone, email, mail (homeless mail process), outbound call and texting to schedule appointments to begin the SAM application process. The coordinator will also assist the MITs at DMH with SAM eligibles in accessing DPSS services.

The Executive Steering Committee (ESC), comprised of staff from CEO, DMH, DHS, DPSS, DPH, and CDC, will oversee the development of this project.

Below are the roles and responsibilities of each partnering County Department.

Department of Health Services (DHS)

To provide administrative oversight of SAM activities and the Rental Subsidy Operator (RSO) contract

1. Participate in the ESC;
2. Hire and supervise the SAM Director, with input from the ESC;
3. Hire and supervise the SAM triage navigators who will report to the SAM Director;
4. Oversee and manage the RSO contract; and
5. Oversee coordination between Triage Navigators, DPSS’ Housing Case Managers (HCMs), MIT Coordinator, and DHS or DMH case manager.

Department of Mental Health (DMH)

To direct administration of the MITs

1. Participate in the ESC;
2. Hire and supervise the MITs Coordinator;
3. Implement, oversee, and monitor all activities related to the MITs and corresponding contractors; and
4. Oversee coordination between Triage Navigators, DPSS HCMs and DHS or DMH case manager.
   

Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) GR Program

To ensure that eligible homeless disabled GR participants on the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) track are linked to SAM and assist eligible SAM participants (from MITs) who are not eligible for, or not yet on SSI, with access to DPSS services

1.  Participate in the ESC;
2. Identify GR SAM eligible participants;
3. Supervise DPSS staff assigned to SAM; and 
4. Oversee coordination between DPSS staff; assigned to SAM, Triage Navigators, and DHS or DMH case manager

Department of Public Health (DPH)

To provide access to substance use disorder recovery treatment for SAM participants

1. Participate in the ESC;
2. Train DMH and DHS case managers on the Screening Brief Intervention and Referral Treatment (SBIRT) tool which indicates what intervention should be used for low-risk individuals; and
3. Accept referrals at the DPH funded Community Assessment Services Center (CASC) for high risk individuals who need treatment or detox.

Community Development Commission (CDC)

To provide access to project- based permanent housing units and housing vouchers, when available

1. Participate in the ESC;
2. Notify the RSO of new housing units that require rental subsidies; and
3. Prioritizes SAM participants.

Chief Executive Office (CEO)

Coordinate and support the SAM implementation and offer technical assistance, as needed

1. Assist the collaborative with SAM implementing; and
2. Provide technical assistance or consultation, as needed.
    

SAM Participant Selection

The participants selected for SAM will be identified by DPSS using the primary and secondary “heavy user” criteria as defined below. DPSS will outreach to the heaviest users of L.A. County services.

PRIMARY HEAVY USER CRITERIA

GR participants who made extensive use of the services from DHS, serviced received:

• Two or more admissions for Inpatient Hospitalization and/or Emergency-based services.

GR participants who made extensive use of the services from DMH, service received:

• Four or more visits to the Emergency Room within the last 12 months;
• Four or more visits for Outpatient services within the last 12 months;
• Three or more Urgent Care visits within the last 12 months; or
• Has been discharged from a psychiatric ward within the last six months.

SECONDARY HEAVY USER CRITERIA

GR participants who had been receiving GR, service received:

• The length of time aided on GR (history for past five years).

GR participants who had substance use disorder, service received:

• Enrolled in a mandatory substance use disorder recovery program while receiving GR benefits.

GR participants who had been incarcerated in a L.A. County Jail for over 60 days from Los Angeles Sheriff Department (LASD)service received:

• Used medical or mental health services while incarcerated within the last 12 months.
  
  

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