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Action Plan - FY2000 City of San Leandro Page 30 HOMELESS AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS ACTIVITIES Implementation of the County -Wide Homeless Continuum of Care Plan The Alameda Countywide Homeless Continuum of Care Plan, developed to strengthen and coordinate local efforts to address homelessness, was completed in April 1997. Since its completion, Alameda County has received two Best Practice Awards from HUD in this area, the first in 1997 for the Plans development, and the second in 1998 for its implementation, particularly related to appropriate homeless uses at closing military bases. These awards recognize Alameda Countywide efforts as a national model for multi - jurisdictional coordination. Since early 1998, the community's energies have focused on plan implementation. A full -time Continuum of Care Coordinator was hired in January 1998. The 60- person Continuum of Care Council was seated in February 1998 and includes representatives from each of the HOME Consortium member jurisdictions, the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, County representatives, service providers and advocates, homeless and formerly homeless persons, representatives from the faith community, and education and health care professionals. The Council adopted a 1999 -2000 Work Plan in April of last year. This plan was the result of a series of three community -wide meetings and a review process by the Executive Committee. These second year goals of the Continuum of Care Council included the expansion and preservation of permanent, supportive and transitional housing, elevating the importance of incomes and employment within the Continuum of Care, and a focus on improving the provision of support services, especially transportation and access to SSI benefits. Specific results -to -date include: • the development of annual priorities and goals leading to the receipt by local non - profits and government agencies of over $ 9.1 million in federal McKinney Act funds for FY 1999; • the development of a social service -based model to address homeless encampments which resulted from the successful collaboration between the city of Albany, social service providers and the police, spearheaded by the Continuum of Care Council; • a survey of homeless service providers to determine their level of data management efficiency and capability in preparation for a county -wide Management Information System; • developing and piloting a Standardized Intake Form which will be used by major service providers in March 2000. This will allow for the facilitation of data collection, case management and referral and the overall more efficient provision of services to homeless people;