The Fresno County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4 authorized the county to pursue serving as the management entity for the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care (FMCOC), moving day-to-day oversight of the HUD-mandated coordinated entry system (CES) under the County Administrative Office.

Dylan McCully, homelessness program manager, explained the management entity’s role: administrative oversight of coordinated entry, implementing policies from the CES committee and the Continuum of Care, assessing and prioritizing people experiencing homelessness for housing interventions, and ensuring participating providers meet COC expectations. McCully said the county previously served as the administrative entity for state homelessness funds and as collaborative applicant for the federal NOFO process.

Deputy CAO Amina Flores Becker said consolidating the collaborative applicant and management entity functions is common in other regions and can strengthen accountability, data integration and strategic planning. She also outlined risks including administrative workload, HUD compliance and liability exposure, cash flow variability from federal funding, and increased public accountability for county-managed operations. Staff proposed transitioning the management entity work from Poverello House with a phased plan and recommended a competitive procurement approach to contract services where appropriate.

During public comment and board discussion supervisors emphasized the need for stronger oversight and performance outcomes and praised staff for stakeholder work. Some speakers said Poverello House was part of the conversation and could compete for any future county contract. The board voted to authorize the CAO to submit a letter of interest to the FMCOC, to create the management entity function within the CAO, and to work with Poverello House on transition logistics.

Staff said specific implementation steps, staffing needs, monitoring plans and any new procurement would be developed during the transition process and brought back to the board as needed.