Youth Interim Housing Program

SMC’s Human Services Agency (“HSA”), through its Center on Homelessness (“COH”), contracts and oversees homeless services throughout San Mateo County. COH serves as the county liaison to Core Service Agencies, homeless service providers, and interim housing programs in the County, and establishes HSA's policies on homelessness. SMC strives to end homelessness in our community by reaching and maintaining Functional Zero, meaning that every unsheltered homeless person who chooses to receive assistance will be provided with interim or permanent housing. As part of the work towards achieving this goal, the County of San Mateo is seeking proposals to operate a Youth Interim Housing Program to serve transitional age youth (TAY) experiencing unsheltered homelessness in San Mateo County. Interim housing programs serve as short-term interventions that are designed to act as safety nets for households who are unsheltered (i.e. living outdoors, in vehicles or other places not meant for human habitation), are experiencing a housing crisis, and have no alternative housing options (after housing problem-solving brainstorming with Coordinated Entry System (CES) Diversion Specialists). Interim housing programs provide intensive services to assist clients with identifying and moving into permanent housing as quickly as possible. Interim housing programs do not charge any fees or rent to clients.