DATE: June 23, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Amendment to Agreement with WestCare, California, Inc. for Housing and Disability Advocacy Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Second Amendment to Agreement No. 18-541 with WestCare California, Inc., to align the scope with updated California Department of Social Services guidance, extend the term by two years from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022, and increase the maximum by $782,391 to a total of $1,770,204.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the recommended action will allow WestCare, California, Inc. (WestCare) to continue providing Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) services for the Department of Social Services. HDAP provides disability income advocacy, client supports, and housing-based case management to individuals experiencing homelessness who are seeking disability income benefits. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. If your Board does not approve the recommended action, the agreement will expire and services that assist disabled, individuals experiencing homelessness to apply for disability benefits will no longer be funded, resulting in continued reliance upon General Relief funding.
FISCAL IMPACT:
As a result of the statewide success of the HDAP pilots, the 2019 California Budget Act codified County HDAP funding with an ongoing annual allocation. Fresno received $510,102 in California Department of Social Services (CDSS) funds through the FY 2019-20 funding formula and was notified that the initial pilot allocation of $755,864 may be used through June 30, 2021.
The increase in maximum cost of the agreement ($782,391) will be entirely offset with CDSS HDAP funds. Match requirements ($782,391) will be met with a combination of Federal funds available to the Department and the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care (FMCoC) member agencies. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget for the Department’s Org 5610 and in the FY 2021-22 budget request.
DISCUSSION:
On September 11, 2018, the Board approved Agreement No. 18-541, which authorized a 22-month pilot agreement with WestCare to provide HDAP services, prioritizing the chronically homeless and the homeless households who have received General Relief public assistance the longest. Participants in HDAP receive housing, case management to stabilize their situation, and support from disability income advocates who are specially trained to prepare disability benefits applications with strong supporting documentation.
The First Amendment, which added $30,013 in unused Federal Emergency Solutions Grant funds to the agreement, was approved by the Board on March 26, 2019.
As of April 1, 2020, in less than 18 months of operation, the program has accepted 44 clients, exited 10, and has been successful in getting 11 clients’ disability benefits approved. All active clients in the program are housed and receiving case management to resolve their barriers to housing stability.
The State has legislated several major changes to HDAP in the last 12 months. These changes impact both the ongoing structure of the program as well as establish ongoing State funding for the services. The CDSS has also issued guidance clarifying requirements and suggesting best practices for counties. In alignment with the new guidance, once a client has attained disability benefits income, the client will remain in HDAP until successfully stabilized. WestCare will contact exited clients at 6, 12, and 24 months after exit to determine whether they returned to homelessness.
Approval of the recommended action will extend the current agreement by up to two years and ensure that the Scope of Work for HDAP addresses all service components required by the State, align the target population with State regulations, and increase WestCare’s staffing to ensure the revised program outcomes can be met.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #51, March 26, 2019
BAI #55, September 11, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment II to Agreement No. 18-541 with WestCare
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa