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Alameda Countywide Homeless and Special Needs Housing Plan 37 Local and National Context for Planning The Alameda Countywide Homeless and Special Needs Housing Plan takes the unprecedented approach of combining housing planning efforts for three distinct and overlapping populations: individuals and families who are homeless, living with HIVIAIDS, andlor mentally ill. Substance use issues affect a substantial portion of each of these three populations, and playa significant role in the provision of housing and services. Substance use issues are addressed in the context of each of three primary populations. Similarly, physical disabilities are addressed with each population. This planning process drew on previous local and national initiatives to address the housing and services needs of these populations. This chapter provides the context for this plan. (Please refer to Companion Materials, 6. Local and National Context for Planning: Expanded Version for an expanded version of this chapter, which includes more detail and local history.) Origins of the Countywide Homeless and Special Needs Housing Plan In 2004, agencies representing the homeless services, mental health, and HIV / AIDS services systems in Alameda County came together in 2004 to develop a plan to address housing and related services needs of their respective target populations. These populations frequently face the same issues and are often the same households. Although each system had previously developed housing plans, undertaking a plan of this scope is unprecedented, both in Alameda County and nationally. The Sponsoring Agencies' recognize both the similarities between the population(s) served by each system and the similarities between the activities of each system. The Sponsoring Agencies also recognize that substance abuse and the availability of alcohol detoxification, ongoing treatment, and related housing are major factors for each of the three systems. This plan builds on previous successful multi-system programs nationally, as well as locally. Local examples of collaboration include the Health, Housing, and Integrated Services Network (HHISN) providing supportive housing and the City of Berkeley's AB 2034 program for people who are homeless and mentally ill. Each system has existing plans that formed the basis for this process. For example, a previous comprehensive homelessness system plan, called the Alameda Countywide Homeless Continuum of Care Plan, was completed in April 1997. This award-winning plan has guided activities in Alameda County since then. By 2004, the Continuum of Care (CoC) Council was ready to develop a ten-year strategic plan to end homelessness. Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services (BHCS) has been increasingly attentive to the issue of housing since the completion of the Front Door Report in 2000. The HIV/AIDS system has an ongoing planning function in the form of the Ryan White Planning Council. Meanwhile, the last HIV/AIDS housing plan for guiding HOPW A was a 1998 update to the 1996 Alameda County Multi-Year HIV/AIDS Housing Plan, which was due to be updated. I The Sponsoring Agencies for the Alameda Countywide Homeless and Special Needs Housing Plan include Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services, Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department, Alameda County Public Health Department Office of AIDS Administration, Alameda County Social Services Agency, Alameda Countywide Homeless Continuum of Care Council, City of Berkeley Health and Human Services Department, City of Berkeley Housing Department, City of Oakland Community and Economic Development Agency, and City of Oakland Department of Human Services.