Venture Home: Enhancing Permanent Supportive Housing in Ventura County

Public Sector Solutions, Homelessness & Housing

Highlights

$2.2MOutcomes-based contract to scale permanent supportive housing services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

50

Ventura County residents experiencing homelessness to be served through the program

Social Finance worked with the Ventura County Executive Office (VCEO) to develop an outcomes-based contract to enhance permanent supportive housing (PSH) services for Ventura County residents who are experiencing homelessness, or have histories of chronic homelessness; have mental health diagnoses; and are justice-involved. PSH combines long-term housing with voluntary supportive services to help people achieve housing stability.

The program, called Venture Home, launched in June 2024 and will deliver voluntary services through the Ventura County Behavioral Health Department (VCBH) to 50 people in permanent supportive housing over two years. Venture Home employs an intensive case management model, staffed with case managers and peer support specialists with lived experience whose work is critical to understanding participant needs and building trust.

A $2.2 million federal Second Chance Act Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance funds the program. VCBH will receive upfront funds to scale services and can receive up to $1M in additional funding as outcomes are achieved.

Goals

Expand access to services for Ventura County residents in PSH who are experiencing homelessness, or have histories of chronic homelessness; have mental health diagnoses; and are justice-involved.
Reduce client recidivism and improve outcomes while centering client satisfaction and perception of dignity in provider interactions.
Support Ventura County during program development and implementation, and prepare it to independently govern program operations, accurately track outcomes, and maximize outcomes payments.

The Work

Operational management support: Identified and established data sharing for operational metrics, supported collaborative troubleshooting, provided discretionary budget guidance, and recommended opportunities for community feedback.
Data analysis and reporting: Created templates for grant-required data reporting and outcomes tracking and payment calculation, in coordination with the Ventura County Homeless Management Information System. Developed quality assessment and client satisfaction surveys.
Governance: Cultivated an environment of trust, enabling partners to proactively identify concerns and present solutions and use data and real-time community feedback in decision making. Met with governance committees monthly to provide progress updates until June 2024, when Social Finance’s planned transition off the project took place.
Transitioned key activities to VCEO and VCBH: Provided data and governance templates to facilitate program transition.

Social Finance was an integral partner in the launch of our new peer support program called Venture Home. They provided valuable guidance and expertise on the design elements, operational considerations, and stakeholder engagement. With their support, our community has developed a deeper understanding of the quality of services we fund and successfully dedicated resources to achieve better outcomes.
Jennifer Harkey
Homeless Solutions Director, Ventura County Executive Office