County staff describe Community Connections’ permanent supportive housing intake, outcomes and coordination with HUD programs

Franklin County staff described how residents experiencing homelessness access permanent supportive housing and related HUD-funded programs, and commissioners heard questions about eligibility, landlord screening and program outcomes.

Quintin, Community Connections program staff, said there are three primary intake paths for people living on the street: calling 2-1-1, dropping in at the county office on Second Street for an in-person intake, and street outreach by staff. “At all of those stages, conversations for diversion are had,” Quintin said, explaining that staff first seek alternatives to shelter or program placement before adding a person to the homeless management information system and a by-name waiting list shared across the Eastern Continuum of Care (a 33-county region).

Quintin described the permanent supportive housing program as housing-first and aimed at people who are chronically homeless and have a disability. “In the program, they receive mandatory monthly case management with our staff. They also are given voluntary supportive service access,” Quintin said, adding that participants contribute up to 30% of their income toward rent, and that HUD covers the housing costs while local matching often comes from the housing trust fund.

Commissioners asked about background checks and landlord screening. County staff said landlords perform background checks for lease subtenants and that those checks are not used by Community Connections as a basis to deny services; staff review backgrounds for their own information but do not make eligibility decisions solely on criminal history.

Commissioners and public speakers emphasized the program’s role in diverting people from the criminal-justice system and in reducing taxpayer costs. One commissioner noted figures that keeping someone in the county jail can cost about $100 per day — roughly $3,000 per month — and explored the comparison to program costs. Quintin said roughly 75–80% of current participants have some charges in their histories, and that enrollment in the program requires acceptance of case management and supportive services.

Kim Wirtz, who identified herself as “one of the soon to be graduates” of the program, told the commissioners the program works and cited a participant who had not reoffended since leaving jail and moving into program housing. “If we didn't have that, this county would be very…in trouble,” she said.

Valerie Jordan, a Fayetteville resident who spoke during public comment, asked how the county coordinates with other shelters such as Waynesboro New Hope Shelter and whether county services connect to children who live in those facilities.

County staff and commissioners also approved agenda items 4.4 and 4.5 in a block vote after the Community Connections discussion; the record lists the items as approved but does not specify their contents in the public transcript.

The board did not take a separate formal vote on the Community Connections presentation itself; staff answered commissioner questions and described program outcomes, funding sources and intake procedures.