The Community Care Expansion Program (CCE) stands as a critical initiative in California, designed to bolster the network of care facilities for adults and seniors. This program is particularly focused on assisting individuals who are recipients or applicants of Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) or the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), demographics significantly vulnerable to or currently experiencing homelessness. By providing essential funding, the CCE Program aims to expand, improve, and preserve these vital community care settings.
Program Overview and Objectives
Established through Assembly Bill (AB) 172, the Community Care Expansion Program is backed by a substantial state budget allocation. Initially, the Fiscal Year 2021-22 earmarked $805 million for the program, distributed over three years until June 2024. Recognizing the ongoing need, an additional $55 million was allocated in FY 2022-23 via AB 178, specifically to provide operating subsidies for existing licensed facilities.
The core mission of the CCE Program is to strengthen California’s broader strategy to enhance the continuum of housing and care services. This initiative is designed to improve treatment outcomes for vulnerable populations and break the cycle of homelessness and unnecessary institutionalization. It’s part of a larger statewide investment, totaling $3 billion, channeled through competitive grants to qualified organizations for the construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of real estate assets. These opportunities are available not only through CCE but also via the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) managed by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).
For the most up-to-date information and a deeper dive into the Community Care Expansion Program, the official CCE Grant website serves as the primary resource.
Background and Program Components
Capital Expansion and Preservation Funding
The CCE Program operates through two primary funding avenues: Capital Expansion and Preservation. Approximately $570 million is dedicated to CCE Capital Expansion projects. This funding supports the acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation of residential care facilities. Grantees under this component may also receive approval to utilize a portion of these funds to establish a Capitalized Operating Subsidy Reserve (COSR). This reserve is designed to provide financial stability for up to five years of operation. Information on awards and the Joint Request for Applications (RFA) can be accessed here. Award decisions are made on a continuous, rolling basis.
In addition to expansion, the program recognizes the critical need to maintain existing care infrastructure. CCE Preservation allocates around $249 million in noncompetitive funds directly to counties. This funding is specifically for preserving currently licensed residential and senior care facilities that serve SSI/SSP or CAPI recipients, especially those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
Further details, including a list of participating counties, are available on the Building CalHHS Infrastructure website. The preservation funding is divided into two types:
- Operating Subsidy Payments (OSP): These payments are designed to address potential or existing operating deficits in licensed adult and senior care facilities. The goal of OSP is to prevent facility closures due to financial strain.
- Capital Project (CP) Funding: This component provides funding for essential physical repairs or necessary upgrades to existing facilities. CP funding aims to ensure facilities can meet licensing standards and avoid closure due to infrastructural issues.
Contact and Further Information
For comprehensive information about the Community Care Expansion program, please visit the CCE Grant website. For specific inquiries or to join the CCE program listserv for updates, you can reach out via email at [email protected]. This program represents a significant step towards strengthening community care and providing stable housing and support for California’s most vulnerable residents.
