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Commission authorizes one-year MOU to launch Flexible Housing Pool to serve chronically homeless residents
Summary
The commission authorized a one-year memorandum of understanding among Douglas County, the Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority and Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center to implement a Flexible Housing Pool, funded in the 2025 budget to provide vouchers and supportive services for chronically homeless people; vote 5-0.
The Board authorized the county administrator to sign a memorandum of understanding among Douglas County, the Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority (LDCHA) and Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center to implement the Flexible Housing Pool Program for calendar year 2025. The motion passed 5-0.
Assistant County Administrator Joe Jolicker described the Flexible Housing Pool as a locally administered voucher-and-support model recommended by the Corporation for Supportive Housing in a 2022 needs assessment. County staff said the program is funded in the 2025 budget and aims to expand housing access for people who meet chronic homelessness criteria by pairing vouchers with intensive supportive services provided by partners such as Bert Nash. The initial funding covers roughly 22 vouchers; staff said the Housing Authority will manage vouchers and that Bert Nash will provide supportive services.
Speakers noted landlord recruitment and retention as the program’s principal operational challenge. Matthew Falk of Bert Nash said the program will rely on private-market landlords and suggested risk-mitigation measures such as landlord guarantees or a reserve fund to cover damages and encourage participation. County staff said they had begun landlord outreach and planned to expand contacts and incentives for landlords to accept participants with higher-acuity needs.
Commissioners and public speakers discussed outcome reporting, residency prioritization and data transparency. County staff said a homelessness dashboard will go live in a few weeks and that outcome measures (housing retention, reduced emergency-service use and exits from homelessness) will be tracked and reported. Staff emphasized that the program will prioritize Douglas County residents to the extent possible and that coordinated entry and the regional homeless coordinator will manage referrals. Public commenters urged clear metrics for success, demographic breakdowns and annual reporting of outcomes and funding.
Commissioners voted to authorize a one-year MOU for calendar year 2025 and to proceed with program implementation; staff said they will return with additional reporting and, if successful, may seek future funding to expand the pool.
