DATE: June 6, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Amendments to Emergency Solutions Grant Agreements with Community-Based Organizations for Homeless Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Amendment I to Agreement A-15-075, Master Agreement for rapid re-housing services with community-based organizations, extending the term by one year from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 and increasing the maximum compensation by $60,000 to a total of $175,240.
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Amendment II to Agreement A-15-056-1 with Turning Point of Central California, Inc. for emergency shelter services extending the term by one year from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 and increasing the maximum compensation by $165,600 to a total of $476,360.
3. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Amendment II to Agreement A-15-057-1 with WestCare California, Inc. for rapid re-housing services extending the term by one year from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 and increasing the maximum compensation by $144,900 to a total of $543,800.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Department to continue utilizing Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide homeless services for an additional year without interruption. Services include an emergency shelter for those seeking to be re-housed, financial assistance to move people experiencing homelessness into housing, and staff to provide Coordinated Entry System (CES) homeless services. As required by ESG regulation, the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care (FMCoC) was consulted and is in agreement with the recommended extensions. There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. If your Board does not approve the recommended actions, current homeless services will cease, and the County will be at risk of forfeiting ESG funds.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended Amendments will increase the total maximum compensation by $370,500; $60,000 for the Master Agreement, $165,600 for TPOCC, and $144,900 for WestCare. The maximum compensation for the recommended Amendments for the period of February 10, 2015 through June 30, 2018 is $1,195,400 ($175,240 - Master Agreement, $476,360 - TPOCC, and $543,800 - WestCare). The recommended Amendments will be entirely funded by the HUD ESG Grant awarded annually and CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP) funds. ESG requires a dollar for dollar match that will be met by the Department with CalWORKs HSP funding. Sufficient appropriations to fund each of the three Recommended Amendments will be included in the FY 2017-18 Recommended Budget for the Department of Social Services Organization 5610.
DISCUSSION:
The goal of the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program is to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless and quickly re-house those experiencing homelessness. ESG funds can be used for Rapid Re-Housing, Homeless Prevention, Emergency Shelter/Street Outreach, Homeless Management Information Systems and Administration. All clients served with ESG funds are at or below the 30% median income for Fresno County. The Department currently funds three services with ESG funding: Rapid Re-Housing financial assistance through the Master Agreement, Rapid Re-Housing services provided by staff with WestCare California, Inc., and Emergency Shelter provided by Turning Point of Central California,
The Master Agreement allows community partners to provide rapid re-housing financial assistance through move-in costs to quickly re-house those experiencing homelessness. The Master Agreement was approved by your Board on February 24, 2015 with the following vendors participating: Marjaree Mason Center, WestCare of California, Inc., and Turning Point of Central California, Inc. Services provided assist individuals or families experiencing homelessness to move as quickly as possible into permanent housing and achieve stability. Services include assistance in the form of rental application fees, security deposits, last month’s rent, utility deposits, utility payments, and moving costs. To date 53 families and individuals have been assisted under this Master Agreement and have moved into permanent housing.
The Agreement with WestCare provides Housing Match/Community Coordinator services that assist in the community’s CES for homeless services. These services/positions serve as the primary contact for the Homeless Coordinated Entry System (CES) utilized by all FMCoC providers. As part of the CES system, those requiring homeless services are identified, provided information, and provided a standardized intake and assessment. They are matched to available housing that meets their individual needs and matched with a Housing Navigator that will assist the individual or family obtain stable housing. Through the Agreement, 97 individuals or families have been matched with housing.
The Turning Point of Central California, Inc. Agreement provides for 30 emergency shelter beds for those individuals assessed for housing through the CES. The goal of the program is to place individuals into safe and secure shelter while acquiring the documentation needed to enter into permanent housing. TPOCC provides shelter, food, case management, 24/7 staff presence, assistance with housing placement, and personal and hygiene needs to homeless male and female adults without children, in Fresno County. To date the emergency shelter has provided beds for 91 individuals and has an average utilization rate of 70%.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The Fresno Madera Continuum of Care was consulted and is in agreement with the recommended extensions.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #33, January 12, 2016
BAI #52, February 24, 2015
BAI #45, February 10, 2015
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On File with the Clerk - Amendment I to Agreement No. A-15-075-1
On File with the Clerk - Amendment II to Agreement No. A-15-057-2
On File with the Clerk - Amendment II to Agreement No. A-15-056-2
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander