2021 DPSS Annual Report Online_FINAL

Annual Report 2020/2021

Adult Services

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR INCLUDE: WE EXPANDED OUR CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT. WE PARTICIPATED IN THE 100-DAY CHALLENGE.

With funding available to support serving homeless and unstably housed individuals, our department was able to expand the Adult Protective Services (APS) Crisis Response and Intervention Services unit (CRIS). This team of APS social workers was created to serve seniors who are already homeless or at risk for becoming homeless. We now have four units staffed with social workers who can spring into action to provide targeted, short-term interventions to aid seniors in crisis due to housing instability or homelessness. A key example of the work this team does: helping seniors procure transitional housing to get them off the streets and out of the shelters so they can obtain more permanent housing with the support of section 8 vouchers. Since March 2020, more than 260 seniors received Section 8 vouchers. We also work to identify and remove barriers so seniors can independently function in their new living environments. WE UTILIZED OUR MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM. For years, Riverside County has been forming multidisciplinary teams to help solve some of the most difficult cases. Professionals from across the county come together to create a safety net for clients with complex needs. For seniors experiencing homelessness, or those at risk of losing housing, Riverside County works through a specialized multidisciplinary team focused on stability through the “housing-first” concept. This team of public and private stakeholders continued to change lives throughout the pandemic by housing vulnerable seniors.

In late 2019, the state issued the 100-Day Challenge Initiative for California Cities & Counties to Fight Homelessness — and we jumped right in. Riverside County was one of four counties selected to participate. In the first 100 days, Riverside County successfully housed 74 seniors in permanent housing and issued a total of 120 housing vouchers to seniors preparing for this transition. Most importantly, the County leveraged the challenge to broaden the range of organization involved in solving the homelessness and housing crisis for seniors in Riverside County to include non-profit service providers and government agencies. WE HELPED SENIORS AT RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS. Homelessness prevention is one of the most important things we as a community can do. We are proactive about finding solutions to keep seniors in their homes, so they don’t have to experience homelessness. If a senior is facing eviction due to code enforcement violations, unpaid back taxes, or limited income, we work to help them address the issues to help them remain safely housed.

WE PARTNERED WITH PROJECT ROOMKEY

With the aid of Project RoomKey funds, we helped more than 100 seniors find emergency housing when stay- at-home orders were issued in response to Covid-19. Typically, the seniors received vouchers that paid for a hotel room. In addition to safe, clean lodging, each senior was also assigned a case manager and caseworkers to help them get connected with other benefits and supportive services to help them begin to find permanent housing.

After bouncing between shelters and living in his car, Raphael was able to move into a safe casita with resources accessed through DPSS: Project RoomKey and Section 8 Housing.

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