Following an updated presentation of homeless programs currently in process to advance the City’s Draft Comprehensive Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness (CSPAH) at the April 27, 2021 meeting, staff received Council direction to explore implementation of a mobile mental health unit to enhance the City’s homeless resources.  

The City of Garden Grove has experienced an increase in homeless activity in the community due to COVID-19 and a growing number of homeless individuals who experience some form of mental illness. Annually, the Garden Grove Police Department (GGPD) responds to over 3,066 calls for services specifically involving mental health related needs. In addition, GGPD handles another 11,425 calls related to homelessness in which mental illness is either the primary cause or a significant contributing factor.

While GGPD continues to serve as the primary first responders, the City does recognize opportunities to partner with mental health experts who are more specifically trained to navigate Orange County’s mental health care options, especially to at-risk individuals in-need. A recent innovative approach was brought forward by the City of Huntington Beach following an extensive RFQ process seeking service providers to develop and deploy a mobile mental health program. In April 2021, the selection of Be Well OC (Mind OC) was approved by Huntington Beach to launch a one-year pilot program. Details of the mobile crisis services designed into the Huntington Beach Pilot Program were modeled after a very successful program based in Eugene, Oregon called Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets or CAHOOTS in which teams of mental health workers and case managers respond to non-violent calls for service.

Since the April 27 City Council meeting, staff has expedited discussions with the City of Huntington Beach to expand deployment of a comprehensive approach to address certain mental health calls for service. Staff has further discussed our desired scope of services with Be Well OC. The City Manager, Asst. City Manager, Police Chief, and Asst. Police Chief have visited and toured the Be Well OC facility in the City of Orange. Staff reviewed the proposals submitted to the City of Huntington Beach through their RFQ process and concurs with their determination to select Be Well OC (Mind OC) as the preferred service provider for the deployment of a mobile mental health unit in Garden Grove based on the following factors:

1. Experience and qualifications of the overall Project Team led by CEO Marshall Moncrief;
2.  Demonstrated ability to implement a coordinated, holistic approach to address mental illness;
3.  Knowledge and success of navigating through Orange County’s mental health care options;
4.  Comprehension of how to deploy a mobile mental health unit;
5.  Proximity and accessibility to the Be Well OC facility in Orange; and,
6.  Ability to scale and leverage costs with partner agencies such as Huntington Beach and other Orange County cities.

It is anticipated the Mobile Crisis Response Team program would be an 18-month pilot program. This incorporates a ramp-up period of 6-months with GGPD, followed by a full 12-month implementation period. The Mobile Crisis Response Team would operate 7-days per week from 8:00am to 1:00am (or up to 18 hours), with one (1) City dedicated mobile van, and staffed with two (2) mental health experts. The estimated cost to undertake this pilot program is $1.3 million for 18-months. 

The $1.3 million contract will be funded with $750,000 from CDBG-CARES Act3 (CDBG-CV3) allocations, $150,000 from Low Moderate Income Housing Asset Fund (LMIHAF), and $400,000 from the General Fund. Funds will be appropriated accordingly in the upcoming FY 2021-22 budget.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Be Well OC (Mind OC) substantially in the form presented for an amount not to exceed $1.3 million to implement a Mobile Crisis Response Team pilot program; and

• Authorize the City Manager to sign the Agreement, and make minor modifications as appropriate on behalf of the City Council.