About this archived opportunity

The VSB has several programs that address shelter needs and supportive services for victims of crime. However, traditional shelters and services aren’t always the best choice for victims with specialized needs (e.g., elderly, youth, men, disabled, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+), non-English speaking, culturally or religiously marginalized, etc.). Barriers exist that affect their ability and willingness to engage, and finding alternative shelter can be extremely challenging. Since 2017, California has implemented the Housing First Model as defined in Welfare and Institutions (W&I) Code Section 8255 to address the prevalence of homelessness in California. The Housing First Model is an approach to connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness quickly and successfully to permanent housing without preconditions and barriers to entry, such as sobriety, treatment, or service participation requirements.In fiscal year 2021-22, W&I Code Section 8255 was amended and the language to exempt “programs that fund state shelters” was removed. Therefore, shelter programs such as the KE Program are required to adopt guidelines and regulations of the Housing First Model (see W&I Code Section 8255 for the core components of Housing First). The purpose of the KE Program is to expand emergency shelter/emergency housing assistance and provide supportive services for victims of crime with specialized needs (e.g., elderly, youth, men, disabled, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+), non-English speaking, culturally or religiously marginalized, etc.) who cannot be served through a traditional shelter. In addition, victims must be allowed to choose which supportive services best fit their needs.