RES 97089 - Laserfiche WebLink

Appendix 3: Committee Guiding Principles Integrated HealthlMental HealthlAlcohol and Drug Committee Guiding Principles • The system of housing and services for special needs/groups who are homeless or at immediate risk, must be client centered and driven. • Housing and services should be provided to special needs groups in the spirit of creating client independence. Recommendations and referrals shall not preclude client choice. -' • Services must be provided in accordance with people's needs, services desired, as available. Capability to access them is a real issue for clients receiving services--in case management, some refuse housing. Client choice/need should govern service access, not program rules or funding streams. - • Create a flexible system that accommodates different structures we need to bridge. • Provide a spectrum of services within community so that people can be served somewhere, if not everywhere. • Services should meet people's willingness and interest, not program guidelines. • Eligibility guidelines should not unduly restrict clients access, especially in emergency - circumstances; shortage of supply of services is what cause restrictions, to reach those most in need; intake worker and agencies need to have discretion in allocating services. • Everywhere within the system, providers must take responsibility for the client who contacts them. _ • Housing must be equally available to all special needs groups, and not contingent on service access. Those who are service resistant, who do not meet program criteria or - who are active substance abusers, should receive housing and services somewhere within the system, and shall be appropriately directed by the first agency they contact. _ Clients should receive placement and/or referral through place they first contact. • Sufficient housing and services must be available and accessible to special needs groups _ so as not to force drastic client choices, such as incarceration or hospitalization, as the speedy path to housing, meals and medical attention. Alameda County-Wide Homeless Continuum of Care Plan: April 1997 - 160