With approval, the Flexible Housing Pool initiative will position Sacramento County at the forefront of statewide efforts to integrate health care, housing and homelessness response systems. Photo courtesy of Pexels

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - On Dec. 9, the Board of Supervisors approved a multi-year plan to launch a Flexible Housing Pool (FHP), a coordinated, countywide system that aligns rental assistance, housing navigation and supportive services for eligible Medi-Cal members.

With this approval, this initiative will position Sacramento County at the forefront of statewide efforts to integrate health care, housing and homelessness response systems.

A Flexible Housing Pool helps residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness secure and maintain stable housing.

The Flexible Housing Pool is envisioned as a centralized program to serve as the fiscal and administrative intermediary for the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Transitional Rent and Housing Deposits benefits.

The program will prioritize Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) participants experiencing homelessness with immediate housing needs to exit shelter in year one.

The county aims to expand the program over time to braid additional funding streams, including Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), Providing Access and Transforming Health Capacity and Infrastructure Transition, Expansion and Development (PATH CITED), and Managed Care Plan (MCP) contributions.

The Flexible Housing Pool provides landlord engagement, risk mitigation and tenancy support activities across multiple programs and populations.

The program is envisioned to establish a centralized referral, tracking and reporting system to streamline access to housing resources across County departments and Managed Care Plan partners.

Recent state policy shifts have established both the mandate and the resources for a pooled housing model to enhance a coordinated housing system for Medi-Cal members with complex needs.

CalAIM Transitional Rent, effective Jan 1, 2026, requires Managed Care Plans (Anthem Blue Cross, Health Net, Molina Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente) to provide short-term rental assistance for eligible members, prioritizing individuals with behavioral health needs.

Behavioral Health Services Act, effective July 1, 2026, requires counties to dedicate 30 percent of Behavioral Health Services Act funds to housing interventions.

The state also created the PATH CITED grant through the CA Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), of which Sacramento County was awarded $5.8 million to fund both the assigned Flexible Housing Pool contract with Brilliant Corners and some additional components that will come in the future.

By aligning county, state and Managed Care Plan investments, the Flexible Housing Pool creates a sustainable platform that strengthens accountability, expands housing opportunities and builds long-term community trust.

Sacramento County Department of Homeless Services & Housing (DHSH), in partnership with Sacramento County Department of Health Services (DHS), will function as the lead agency. Partnerships with Managed Care Plans and local housing providers are a critical piece to the success of this program. The county has selected Brilliant Corners to act as the third-party administrator of the program.

"We are honored to be selected as operator for the Sacramento Flexible Housing Pool," said William F. Pickel, Chief Executive Officer of Brilliant Corners.

"For over a decade, we've operated Flex Pool programs across California, helping municipalities meet the needs of our unhoused neighbors by scaling access to housing opportunities in real time, while always grounded in a person-centered approach that ensures quality housing outcomes for a range of populations; even those with complex needs.”

“We look forward to partnering with Sacramento County to operationalize its vision of coordinated, effective and compassionate housing approach that reduces homelessness and advances behavioral health recovery."

Brilliant Corners was selected through a competitive Request for Proposal process and brings more than a decade of experience managing large-scale flexible housing pools in Los Angeles and San Francisco with proven success in populations with acute behavioral health needs.

Brilliant Corners will administer rental subsidies, including CalAIM Transitional Rent and Housing Deposits, manage landlord incentives and risk mitigation, coordinate housing navigation and tenancy supports, including a robust landlord program and oversee financial, administrative and reporting systems for the Flexible Housing Pool.

Brilliant Corners will begin work on the Flexible Housing Pool immediately, and CalAIM Transitional Rent mandates will begin Jan. 1, 2026.