$1,001,838 to Abode Services for housing help for people with HIV/AIDS

In plain English

The county would sign a $1,001,838 agreement with Abode Services for fiscal year 2026-27 to help people find and keep permanent housing, including help paying rent. The new agreement widens the program so that people eligible for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program can also receive housing navigation and rehousing rental assistance. A yes vote approves the agreement and lets the Director of Human Services, or a designee, sign it.

The money pays for rent assistance and staff who help people find housing for residents referred through the countywide homeless Coordinated Entry System, plus, for the first time under this contract, people living with HIV/AIDS who qualify for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program.

Key facts

Agreement amount: $1,001,838 with Abode Services for fiscal year 2026-27.
The county has contracted with Abode Services for housing navigation and rehousing rental assistance since 2021.
Performance targets: 40% of participants increasing income and public benefits, 40% securing permanent supportive housing, and 90% maintaining health insurance.
Funding comes from the state Housing and Community Development Department's Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program and the California Department of Public Health (for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program); the money is already in the Human Services Department budget.
The expansion was directed by the Board at its Continuing Agreements List approval and Last Day budget meeting on June 24, 2026; the item is on the consent agenda, meaning it can pass with other routine items in one vote.

Reasons to support

The funds are already appropriated in the Human Services Department's fiscal year 2026-27 budget and come from state homelessness and public health sources, so approval continues services without new county spending.
Abode Services has delivered housing navigation and rental assistance for the county since 2021, and the contract sets measurable targets tied to income, housing placement and health insurance.
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS funding went to other vendors last year; folding those clients into the Abode agreement puts the targeted assistance under an existing county contract.

Reasons to oppose or change it

The agreement moves Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS services from the vendors that received the separate targeted funding last year to Abode Services, which could disrupt existing client relationships.
The contract sets fairly modest benchmarks — only 40% of participants securing permanent supportive housing and 40% increasing income — which some may see as too low for a $1,001,838 agreement.
Because the money relies on state Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program and California Department of Public Health funds, the expanded services depend on continued state funding rather than a local source.
Placing a $1,001,838 contract on the consent agenda means it may be approved without separate discussion of Abode Services' past performance.

Official wording

Approve agreement with Abode Services in the amount of $1,001,838 to expand permanent supportive housing navigation services and rehousing rental assistance to those eligible for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program, and take related actions (Human Services Department) Land Use & Community Services

Official agenda Staff Report 27W4089 Abode Services FY26-27 (eSign)

Summary written by claude-opus-5 from the agenda and the Staff Report. It can contain mistakes. The official documents govern.