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Health department seeks CJTA plan approval and proposes $53,000 tenant-based rental assistance and other homeless-grant projects
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Summary
Gina James presented the Criminal Justice Treatment Account (CJTA) local plan for board approval and outlined potential uses of consolidated homeless-grant funds, including a $53,000 tenant‑based rental assistance request from Community House and projects with Family Promise and Faithful Servants; she noted grants are reimbursement‑based and subject to state approval.
Gina James, health and human services (speaker 5), asked the board to approve the county's Criminal Justice Treatment Account (CJTA) local plan, which the CJTA panel approved, and to authorize the commissioner signature required to submit the plan to the state as part of the county’s contractual obligations.
"The local plan has to be approved by our CJTA panel... She has signed it. So we're bringing it now to the board, for approval and, hopefully, a signature from Commissioner Dahl, and then we have to submit that to the state as part of our contractual requirement," James said.
James also reviewed a list of proposed projects for a consolidated homeless grant. She described several potential uses: youth services with Janice House to support trafficking‑involved youth with safe housing and transitional services; Faithful Servants to add a transitional home and a program vehicle; Family Promise for short‑term eviction prevention assistance; and Community House’s tenant‑based rental assistance program. James told the board Community House has requested $53,000 for a one‑year tenant‑based rental‑assistance program, which the county would reimburse after expenditures.
She emphasized that the projects are largely reimbursement grants and that the state’s contract allows some flexibility but that ongoing operational funding can be uncertain. "The caveat with that is, you know, it's a grant... grants sometimes end and get reduced," James said, noting the county typically uses end dates in contracts to limit exposure. She suggested inviting project representatives — Janice House, Faithful Servants and Family Promise — to present more detail to the board.
Commissioners generally signaled support for further review and asked staff to return with program details, metrics and oversight approaches, including how funds would be spent and tracked. James said therapeutic courts have historically used CJTA funds and that some CJTA funding could be directed to housing assistance linked to drug and mental‑health courts.
What happens next: Staff will follow up with project leads, gather additional detail and bring return recommendations to the board for further consideration and possible contract or award actions.
