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Orange County DSS reports year-end increases in hotel placements and SNAP caseload; HEAP funding briefly paused
Summary
The Department of Social Services reported December and year-end 2024 figures showing increases in hotel/motel placements and average monthly homelessness service caseloads, a small increase in SNAP cases, HEAP program interruptions when federal funds ran out, and changes in Medicaid caseloads due to the post-pandemic 'unwind.'
Orange County Department of Social Services staff presented the December report and year-end 2024 summary showing higher counts in several homelessness-related measures, a small month-to-month increase in SNAP caseloads and changes in Medicaid case counts tied to the post-pandemic recertification process.
Key figures presented for December and 2024 year-end:
- Temporary Assistance (TA): Average family assistance cases rose to 554.3 in 2024 (from 517 in 2023). Safety net averaged 786.1 in 2024 (from 751.1 in 2023). TA case counts in December matched November; family assistance was down 9 cases and safety net up 9 cases, leaving the monthly total unchanged.
- SNAP: 18,922 cases received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in December; the 2024 monthly average was 18,364.2, up from 17,708.3 in 2023.
- HEAP: There were 737 HEAP payments in December. Staff said the state temporarily closed regular HEAP applications for several days after federal funds were exhausted; the state allocated $35 million in state dollars to re-open the program and staff expected HEAP to remain open through March. Emergency HEAP remained available during the interruption.
- Local fuel assistance: Staff said the county continued to accept applications when the state pause occurred by processing applications as soon as HEAP reopened; the county also referenced an Orange County Fuel Fund that can serve people who do not qualify for HEAP (the fuel fund has less stringent income requirements). On the record, staff said approximately $222,000 appears in the budget for the fuel fund, of which roughly $100,000 is in the fund itself and the remainder was allocated for administrative costs.
- Emergency housing and shelters: In December there were averages reported of about 20 families and 46.4 singles in refugee housing shelters and in hotels/motels the December snapshot showed 131 families and 161 singles placed. The 2024 monthly averages were 112.5 families and 116.5 singles in hotels/motels, a marked increase from 2023 averages of 63.7 families and 25.8 singles.
- Homelessness services: 822 individuals experiencing homelessness received services in December. The 2024 monthly average was 737 individuals, about 250 more than the prior year's monthly average.
- Medicaid and managed care: Locally managed Medicaid cases numbered 20,614 in December with a 2024 monthly average of 20,675. Staff noted an overall decrease compared with 2023 averages (22,007) tied to the Medicaid 'unwind' and the return of recertification requirements. Managed care case numbers showed declines year over year.
- Child protection and related measures: December had 292 child abuse/neglect reports investigated (180 traditional response, 112 alternative response); out-of-home placements numbered 77 children in December and the 2024 monthly average for out-of-home placements was 201, down from 220 in 2023. Child protective services reports and some other measures trended downward year over year.
- Raise the Age arrests: December recorded 10 total arrests (five felonies, five misdemeanors); staff said the increase from 2022 to 2024 may reflect changes in charging decisions and post-COVID behavioral trends among youth.
- Child support and special investigations: Child support served 9,616 cases in December and collected and disbursed $41,707,553 in 2024, about $2 million more than 2023. Special investigations produced cost avoidance estimated at over $9.4 million for beds and EDR cases in 2024; 721 investigations were conducted in 2024 with 509 substantiated and additional monthly fraud investigations in December (41 investigated, 28 substantiated).
Staff answered board questions about processing times and said the goal for determinations on ongoing benefit applications is 30 days (emergency benefits processed faster). For Medicaid long-term care and more complex cases, processing time varies because of documentation needs and coordination with nursing homes and other partners.
Why it matters: The report highlights growing demand for emergency housing and related services, the operational impacts of state HEAP funding interruptions, and the effects of Medicaid recertification on caseloads. Board members asked for follow-up details including the OC Fuel Fund balance and whether OCFS or other state agencies provide formulas for allocations to counties.
Board members requested follow-up items including a report from the agency that administers the Orange County Fuel Fund on fund balance and use and staff follow-up to request OCFS or state documentation on funding formulas for CAC allocations.
