City Council votes to extend Whole Person Care program serving homeless in Sacramento
The Sacramento City Council Tuesday voted to continue its successful Whole Person Care program for another year while awaiting federal approval of a potentially longer extension.
Called Pathways, the program has been operating as a five-year pilot using federal Medi-Cal dollars along with contributions from the city and Sacramento’s health plans. Outreach teams connect with people experiencing homelessness and enroll them in the program, where they are matched with a health care provider, other services and housing.
Since inception, Pathways has served more than 2,000 people and helped many regain self sufficiency. It has collaborated with more than 20 health care, housing and social services providers, and has assisted in placing 857 clients in permanent or transitional housing.
“These are really vulnerable people, and the fact that we now get to continue this is really important,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg.
The state has applied for an extension from the federal government to continue using federal Medi-Cal dollars for Whole Person Care. A decision on whether to approve this request is not expected until February. Tuesday’s vote will allow the program to continue for a year and “ramp down” state funding to finish serving existing clients. even if the extension is denied.
