NEW BUSINESS  25.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

KEY INTENDED OUTCOME:
Enhance Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

HISTORY:

At its February 28, 2018 meeting, the Committee on the Homeless hosted representatives from the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust and Camillus House. At the meeting, Camillus House presented its specialized outreach program known as the Lazarus Project. This specialized outreach team targets homeless persons suffering from mental illness who are reluctant to engage or accept services including shelter because of their impaired ability. The Lazarus Project’s primary goal is to have those served complete the evolving 60-day treatment plan, which could consist of the administration of psychotropic medication and primary medical care, so that clients can subsequently achieve a level of cognition required to access further services (including housing).

After the presentation, the Committee requested a budget proposal for a one-year pilot program in the City that would target 10 chronically homeless individuals identified by the City’s Homeless Outreach Team and Police. At the Committee’s April 10, 2018 meeting, Camillus House presented its proposal via telephone conference addressing the scope discussed at the February meeting.

After the presentation, the Committee on the Homeless passed a motion to support the pilot program with the understanding that the agreement would delineate specific outcome measures to determine the efficacy of the program.  The Committee’s motion was subsequently referred by Commissioner Gongora to the Neighborhood/ Community Affairs Committee for further discussion at the May 16, 2018 City Commission meeting.

ANALYSIS:

Camillus House, a shelter provider contracted by the City, submitted a budget proposal for a pilot project addressing the 10 chronically homeless individuals discussed at the Committee on the Homeless. The proposed attached budget for the pilot project is $91,572.

The Camillus House pilot project would engage a team of five employees comprised of:

·        Project Supervisor

·        Psychiatric Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)

·        SOAR Case Manager (a person to assist with disability benefits’ applications for the clients)

·        Case Manager (to assist with care coordination, housing, benefits and other services)

·        Medical Assistant (providing medical and data entry support to the ARNP)

As directed by the Committee on the Homeless, City staff has identified program measures to help determine the efficacy of the pilot program. Suggested measures include:

• Document the targeted encounters engaging clients at least twice weekly;
• Provide medication administration as medically needed;
• Use of Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database to track client contacts, services, referrals and placements;
• Provide written acknowledgement of receipt of City referrals to program;  
• Provide a determination on City referrals and develop engagement strategy, to include (as applicable and appropriate) housing and service plans, within five (5) business days of client assessment;
• Conduct case staffing with City staff at least once a month; and
• Provide outcome measures and client determinations quarterly with a final report at the end of the one-year pilot project.

CONCLUSION:

The Administration is seeking direction on this issue.