DATE: May 14, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Agreement with Marjaree Mason Center for Homeless Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Marjaree Mason Center, Inc. for Emergency Shelter and Rapid Rehousing services, effective May 14, 2019 through August 16, 2019, total not to exceed $58,480.09.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department of Social Services to support Emergency Shelter and Rapid Rehousing services by reallocating expired Federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding within the County of Fresno. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently approved the County’s plan to reallocate expired ESG funding from previous fiscal years. A public hearing was held before the Board of Supervisors on March 12, 2019 to reallocate the funding. The recommended action provides funding to a previously unfunded proposal for County’s Request for Proposals (RFP) No.18-032 for Housing Services to Homeless in Fresno County, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. If the recommended action is not approved, the funds will be forfeited due to the short window in which they must be spent.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The total maximum cost of the recommended agreement with Marjaree Mason Center, Inc. (MMC) is $58,480.09, which will be offset with the reallocated ESG funds. The ESG program requires a dollar for dollar match that will be met by MMC. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget and will be included in the FY 2019-20 Requested Budget.
DISCUSSION:
On December 19, 2018, HUD approved the Department’s plan to reallocate expired ESG funding from previous fiscal years. Per HUD funding deadlines, all reallocated ESG funding must be claimed on or before September 20, 2019. At the request of HUD, the Department developed a plan for reallocating the expired ESG funds taking into account ESG activity caps, community need, and the County’s contracting requirements and implementation promptness. The Department’s recommendations were first taken to the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care (FMCoC) and then HUD for approval. A public hearing for the plan was held before the Board of Supervisors on March 12, 2019.
In accordance with the approved plan, approval of the recommended action will use a portion of the reallocated ESG funds to fulfill an unfunded proposal submitted by MMC for Emergency Shelter and Rapid Rehousing services in response to the County’s RFP No. 18-032. Two vendors submitted responses to the RFP, which closed on April 4, 2018. Although an agreement with MMC was not recommended due to limited availability of ESG funds, MMC has the capacity and experience to provide ESG services to the homeless population. The recommended agreement will end August 16, 2019, in alignment with ESG funding restrictions. The budget and outcomes for the agreement were amended to accommodate the shorter period.
The County’s District Attorney and Sheriff serve on the Board of Directors for MMC; therefore, any recommended agreements between the County and MMC are brought before your Board for authorization, pursuant to the Charter of the County of Fresno, Section 41. County Counsel has reviewed the recommended agreement and can approve as to legal form if your Board chooses to execute the agreement.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The FMCoC was consulted, as required by HUD, and supports the recommended action.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #10, March 12, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Marjaree Mason Center
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa