DATE: March 28, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Amendment to Agreement with WestCare California, Inc. for Housing and Disability Advocacy Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive fourth Amendment with WestCare California, Inc. for Housing & Disability Advocacy Program services, effective March 1, 2023, extending the term by two months from July 1, 2023 through August 31, 2023 and increasing the maximum by $456,000 to a total of $2,966,080.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department of Social Services to utilize Senate Bill (SB) 129 funds to support the housing and case management staffing needs of the Housing & Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP). This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board elect not to approve the recommended action, there will be insufficient funding for housing assistance and supportive services staff to serve individuals with disabilities experiencing homelessness.
RETROACTIVE AMENDMENT:
The recommended amendment is retroactive to March 1, 2023 due to a shortfall in funding related to an increase in staffing as a result of increased client needs in the area of Disability Advocacy services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum cost of the recommended Agreement ($2,966,080) will be fully offset with the HDAP State allocation and Federal Emergency Services Grant (ESG) funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues have been included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2022-23 Adopted Budget and will be included in future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
The HDAP was established in 2016 to assist people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are likely eligible for disability benefits by providing advocacy for disability benefits as well as housing supports. Amongst those who are eligible, HDAP prioritizes individuals or families who are experiencing chronic homelessness and rely most heavily on government-funded services.
HDAP has four core requirements: outreach, case management, disability benefits advocacy, and housing assistance. Housing-related financial assistance and wraparound supportive services provided by HDAP include but are not limited to interim shelter assistance, rental assistance, housing navigation, case management, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, legal services, and credit repair.
On September 11, 2018, your Board approved Agreement No. 18-541, which authorized a 22-month program with WestCare to provide HDAP services to homeless, individuals with disabilities. Amendment No. 18-541-1, which added $30,013 in Federal (ESG) funds to the agreement, was approved by your Board on March 26, 2019. The second Amendment No. 18-541-2 was approved by your Board on June 23, 2020 and aligned the scope of Fresno’s program with revised State guidelines, extended the term by an additional two years, and increased the maximum compensation by $782,391. The third Amendment No. 21-554 was approved by your Board on December 14, 2021 to extend the term by an additional year and increase the maximum compensation by $739,876.
Approval of the recommended action will extend the agreement for an additional two (2) months to ensure the stability of housing and disability advocacy services for HDAP participants while a new service delivery plan is developed. The recommended amendment revises the FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23 budget line items to allow for necessary housing assistance, add additional staffing and supervision to better align caseload ratios, and permits the subcontracting of disability application review services. Each of these changes will support WestCare’s ability to achieve program objectives.
Approval of the recommended Amendment will be retroactive to March 1, 2023. The Agreement may be terminated without cause by either party upon providing 30-day advance written notice.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #87, December 14, 2021
BAI #54, June 23, 2020
BAI #51, March 26, 2019
BAI #55, September 11, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment IV to Agreement with WestCare
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander