Columbia hires Health Management Associates for eight-month homeless-services assessment
Summary
City leaders heard a presentation from Health Management Associates, the consultant selected to conduct an eight-month needs assessment, community engagement and recommendations on homeless services; HMA plans interviews, focus groups, a survey and geospatial data analysis, with recommendations expected in July and a final plan in September.
Columbia city leaders on Feb. 6 heard a presentation from Health Management Associates Inc., the consultant selected to conduct an eight-month assessment of the city’s homeless services and a community-engagement process aimed at producing actionable recommendations.
The consulting firm outlined a multi-phase plan that begins with project initiation and data collection and runs through a draft recommendation phase in July and a final plan in September. "We are a 40 year firm that operates nationally," said Trish Marcik of HMA, introducing the team and noting the firm’s experience working in behavioral health, housing and Medicaid-funded services.
Why it matters: Council members pressed consultants for concrete, visible results rather than another cycle of public meetings that rehash prior work. Mayor Daniel Rickerman described political pressure on the city, saying, "I'm the one who catches all the crap from everybody about homelessness," underscoring the expectation for measurable outcomes.
What HMA will do: The firm described a community engagement program that includes 10 one-hour stakeholder interviews (by Zoom), six in-person focus groups with up to 15 participants each, a community survey and a town-hall meeting. HMA also plans to draw on local and state data and federal sources such as HUD and HMIS; geospatial mapping will be part of the data analysis. HMA said it will look for what is working, what is missing and where gaps exist so it can recommend prioritized, fundable interventions.
Financing and examples: HMA reviewed national examples and financing approaches: flexible cash assistance and case management (citing a Santa Clara model the consultants said generated about $2.50 in savings per $1 invested), targeted outreach and increased shelter capacity (examples cited from Denver), and landlord incentives paired with risk-mitigation funds (examples from Dallas). The consultants told council they will explore federal funding opportunities, managed-care partnerships and philanthropic/private investments as potential revenue sources.
Council concerns and approach: Several council members asked the consultants to avoid duplicative engagement and to focus early analysis on existing data to identify the highest-impact "levers" that will yield quick, visible results. Trish Marcik said HMA will perform preliminary data analysis ahead of broader convenings and will tailor recommendations to Columbia’s local context.
Timeline and next steps: The consultants presented a timeline that allocates February–May to data collection and engagement, May–June to program mapping and gap analysis, July for initial recommendations, August for a draft plan and September for a final plan and presentation. City staff and the consultants will coordinate data requests and schedule a community kickoff and town hall. Kanisha (homeless services director) and city staff were named as points of contact for coordination.
What’s next: The advisory committee and consultants will move forward with the needs assessment and community engagement. HMA will deliver draft recommendations in July and a final plan in September; councilmembers said they will be watching for clear milestones and measurable outcomes.
Reporting note: Articles quote speakers as they appear in the transcript: Trish Marcik (consultant), Kanisha (homeless services director), Mayor Daniel Rickerman and other city council members.
