Riverside County’s Housing and Workforce Solutions brings home CSAC Challenge Award

The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) presented its competitive Challenge Award to the County of Riverside for its continued dedication to Connecting Youth to Housing and Opportunities.

“We are extremely proud of the incredible work that the Housing Workforce Solutions department is doing,” said Supervisor Chuck Washington, Third District and CSAC Immediate Past President. “This program connects youth with the help they need to find housing and resources. Our goal is to make sure youth have what they need to be successful in life. The CSAC Challenge Award is a testament of these efforts and the county’s tireless fight to end homelessness.”

The county’s intentional mix of lived experience, data-driven choices, youth involvement, and collaborative leadership makes the county a pioneer in tackling youth homelessness in innovative ways.

"My goal is to provide support, resources and opportunities for these vulnerable individuals to break the cycle of homelessness,” said Homeless Youth Coordinator Monique Guerra. “By empowering them and connecting them with the necessary services, we can help them build a brighter future and ensure that they never have to experience homelessness again."

The county's Continuum of Care (CoC) appointed a homeless youth coordinator with a background in foster care and homelessness. This has placed a spotlight on youth and their distinct needs, integrated youth perspectives in resource allocation. According to the 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, there has been a notable reduction of 27percent in the homeless youth population compared to the 2022 PIT count. Moreover, this represents a remarkable 30percent decrease compared to the 2020 PIT count, underscoring the effectiveness of the system. 

CSAC awards recognize the innovative and creative spirit of California counties as they find new, effective and cost-saving ways to provide programs and services to their citizens. “All counties applaud the County of Riverside for your innovation and dedication. Congratulations on winning a prestigious 2023 Challenge Award,” Graham Knaus, CEO of the California State Association of Counties.

Visit counties.org/challenge-awards for additional information about the 2023 CSAC Challenge Award-winning programs.

# # #