Report 2020-112 Recommendation 20 Responses

Report 2020-112: Homelessness in California: The State's Uncoordinated Approach to Addressing Homelessness Has Hampered the Effectiveness of Its Efforts (Release Date: February 2021)

Recommendation #20 To: Mendocino, County of

To expand access to the coordinated entry process, the County of Mendocino should, by August 2021, work with its CoC to establish an outreach team to assess the needs of individuals in rural communities who are homeless and to connect them to appropriate service providers.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022

County of Mendocino has entered into a contract agreement with Manzanita Services to provide homeless outreach services to the north inland area. This agreement extends outreach services to more isolated rural areas of Mendocino County. The contract number is BOS #22-137. The contract term is December 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022, with the likely option to renew and extend through September 30, 2023.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented


1-Year Agency Response

In addition to the Homeless Outreach Team staffed by County of Mendocino employees, two other community-based organizations have stated their intent to implement Street Outreach programs in calendar year 2022. The two organizations are Mendocino Care and Prevention Network and Manzanita Services. The funding contracts for these two organizations are in development, and will be complete by March 2022. These contracts will be included as evidence in our next annual report.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending


6-Month Agency Response

In December, 2020, the County implemented the Mendocino County Homeless Outreach Team (McHOT) pilot project with the goal of providing street outreach services in Ukiah. The Outreach Team currently works in the field three days per week, and has also assisted local law enforcement personnel with their interactions with homeless encampments throughout the County. The Team intends to expand to additional communities in FY 2021-2022.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

The County of Mendocino provided documentation demonstrating that it has created the outreach team as a pilot program in Ukiah as it indicates in its response. However, as stated in its response, the county plans to expand to additional communities in fiscal year 2021-22. As such, we have assessed its response as partially implemented.


60-Day Agency Response

In December, 2020, the County implemented the Mendocino County Homeless Outreach Team (McHOT) pilot project with the goal of providing street outreach services in Ukiah. The Outreach Team currently works in the field three days per week, and has also assisted local law enforcement personnel with their interactions with homeless encampments throughout the County. The Team intends to expand to additional communities in FY 2021-2022.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented

The County of Mendocino provided documentation demonstrating that it has created the outreach team as a pilot program in Ukiah as it indicates in its response. However, as stated in its response, the county plans to expand to additional communities in fiscal year 2021-22. As such, we have assessed its response as partially implemented.


All Recommendations in 2020-112

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.