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Chapter 5: 1997 Plan Priorities Maintenance of Current Capacity: A clear priority throughout the county is the maintenance of the current capacity of the system. This means that the current number of shelter beds, permanent supported housing units, residential treatment beds, multi-service centers etc. must be maintained. Creating new capacity will not result in a net increase if at the same time we are losing capacity elsewhere. This does not necessarily mean supporting all of the same providers to provide the exact same services in their current locations. Services which cannot meet minimum standards with training and technical assistance once those standards have been set, should be replaced. Services may be able to be delivered in a more cost effective, yet still effective, manner or may be better suited to a different location. What this priority does mean, however, is that as grant terms expire, funding is lost, or other challenges arise, we commit to preserving the ability, at a minimum, of serving the same number of people that are currently served. The priorities pulled out for the first implementation year assume maintenance of effort under a variety of programs that are not homeless specific, such as fair housing and tenant/landlord counseling and development of permanently affordable rental housing targeted to very low- income people. Improvement/Strengthening: These recommendations address the issues related to improving and strengthening current providers in the homeless continuum of care, and improving the system itself. In some cases, particularly the area of health care, these recommendations have to do with reorienting and redirecting existing services in a more effective way to meet the needs of homeless people. Included under this recommendation area is the commitment to increase involvement of services consumers and housing assistance recipients in the planning and implementation of all activities contemplated by the Plan. Expansion/New Program Creation: Recommendations for the expansion of the current system are intended to fill critical gaps in the continuum and serve those who are underserved. The planners recognize that expansion efforts must be carefully targeted as we face reductions in funding and support. Nevertheless, certain areas of the Continuum are so underserved that expansion must be considered to meet the growing need. This is particularly critical to consider when special or time-limited opportunities to expand the service or housing base emerge. Advocacy: Recommendations under advocacy are both part of supporting priorities under the above categories (such as advocacy for sufficient funding to maintain current capacity) or actions in and of themselves, such as advocacy work undertaken to increase community understanding of homelessness and support of programs and housing to assist homeless people. Alameda County-Wide Homeless Continuum of Care Plan: April 1997 67