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Last week, the City of Antioch received a report on its non-residential resident services program claiming an 82% success rate. The only problem is that it doesn’t contain any data.
The 82% success rate is significant compared to the 74% success rate for Pittsburgh’s delta landings and the 67% success rate for its core team that Martinez reported Wednesday. Given the “eyeball testing” around Antioch, it’s hard to believe these numbers unless actual data and metrics are provided, but if anything, homelessness in Antioch is actually increasing, and that’s at Wilbur Street. You can observe it.
Unfortunately for Antioquia, the government continues to gloss over its achievements without providing substance or data. Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe Both falsely claimed to be down. As it turns out, both are successful! And quite a bit, according to crime data.
got it. Antioch needs a win at all costs when it comes to its homeless program. Because they received a lot of media attention and invested a lot of time, energy and money. I sincerely hope they succeed with his 82%, but that’s because they worked alone on this issue to achieve this number while everyone else was working with the counties and states. That’s hard to believe. Antioch isn’t exactly transparent about how they do things either.
Vendor BACS also said last week that Antioch needs to do more and partner with Contra Costa County and continuing care programs to open up more services and funding opportunities.
Regarding the report, I do not intend to criticize those who provide services to homeless people. Because it’s a difficult task and a no-win situation that no one seems to be able to solve. However, the report is weak and leaves much to be desired, although important information should be provided. It also raises questions about why this report was conducted at a facility that was not supposed to be recorded and posted on the city’s website. For those of you who don’t know, Mr. Hernandez-Thorpe has stated multiple times that this meeting will not be televised and that if you want information you will have to go to the meeting. In the end, the meeting was recorded so that the staff could make the right decision and take some responsibility for what was said.
But since there would have been so few participants, do you ever wonder if the purpose was to report information and claim victory? The report was meant to be a one-off ahead of election season. Will it happen? Most importantly, common sense tells us that if he has an 82% success rate, he would want to share his “victory” with the world and on record.
Unfortunately, Antioch has an error in its report that needs to be corrected immediately. To avoid incomplete reporting to the public going forward, here’s what Antioch should report on its Opportunity Villages program and homeless services:
- Chance Village Reception – How are people selected to participate in the program? Will Antioch cherry-pick the “easier cases” to increase the success rate, while the more difficult cases will be sent to Delta Landing or put on a waiting list? The criteria will be about why someone is selected or fired. Must be included in the reports and examples provided. It should contain metrics.
- 250 person waiting list – With such a long list, what is Antioch doing with these people? How will they be tracked and contacted when they are eligible to be accepted? ? Are they being helped in any way now? Are they still on the streets? Are you receiving any services? If the demand is so great, why hasn’t the council clarified what staff are doing while they wait?
- success rate – What counts as success? Is that number 65%? More than 75% or 80%? Did Antioch decide on program goals before spending tax dollars? What are the metrics for success, because success means different things to different people, programs, and funding sources? It could be as simple as providing housing, medical services, and food. Is the goal for them to stay in a home for one month, three months, six months, or a year? At Antioch, we want you to know more about what you want your home to be like before determining “success.” You need to judge accurately.
- follow up – I think people are just graduating from Opportunity Villages now, but perhaps the data is not available yet, but there is a follow-up plan to ensure that these people continue to receive services without returning to the streets. What is …?
- success story – Given the 42 positive departures, Antioch would want to share this information and provide examples of program success. None of these were provided. BACS said it had “touched” 90 lives this year, but no results were made available to the public. I heard someone was placed in Antioch, Brentwood, Concord and Stockton, but that was it. You must provide a complete list of your successes without violating HIPPA laws.
- housing– When people graduate from Opportunity Villages, who decides where they are placed? It is different if they are with family or friends, but if they are in housing somewhere, who decides where they are placed? Will they examine the matter in advance or pay compensation for damages afterwards? If Antioch is currently paying a deposit, 1cent Who pre-screens monthly rent and furnishings and financing approvals? Just because BACS has 2,500 landlord partnerships doesn’t mean they meet Antioch’s financing requirements. I could go down the rabbit hole of responsibility, but I’m sidetracked for now.
- Finance: This was the biggest failure last week, as the total amount of funds allocated, spent, and remaining available was not calculated. A complete list of expenditures, or a breakdown of funds paid for items. Each report must include an audit. An audit will show that any potential kickbacks are misappropriation of funds, but I hope that doesn’t happen. This is not a blank check with no requirements or rules, and Antioch should stop treating it as such.
- Community impact – The impact on the Antioch Police Department, Contra Costa County Fire and Rescue Services, non-profits, and impacts seen throughout the city.
- grant opportunities: What is being done to continue the program in the future?
Antioch needs better reporting and transparency going forward as it uses its own funds to fund homeless assistance programs. Accurate data is needed to make better decisions about future homelessness programs and services because funding is not sustainable in the future.
Having all this data available can help you not only continually improve your success rate, but also fix what isn’t working. Without data, it’s difficult to even make informed decisions.
If the City of Antioch is truly at 82%, then by all means double down and keep moving forward, but it is Antioch that demands better reporting metrics and data when presented by staff, third parties, or consultants. It is the duty of the city council.
It would be nice to see some transparency from the City of Antioquia about the changes, rather than just a vague statement with no substance.
mike burkholder
Publisher of ContraCosta.news
[email protected]
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