DATE: March 24, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Retroactive Agreement for Emergency Shelter Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Agreement with RH Community Builders for Emergency Shelter Services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, effective March 16, 2020, which includes a 60-day base contract and four optional 30-day extensions, total not to exceed $2,125,590.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department of Social Services to provide 265 low-barrier emergency shelter beds in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in the County. This action is intended to provide an environment in which persons experiencing homelessness can isolate or quarantine if necessary, during the current COVID-19 pandemic. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Should the Board elect not to approve the recommended action, emergency State funds intended to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 in the homeless population would be returned to the State.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The COVID-19 outbreak requires immediate action to provide emergency shelter services to the County’s vulnerable unsheltered homeless population. The recommended agreement is retroactive to March 16, 2020 as RH Community Builders was contacted by the County to provide emergency shelter services on this date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum cost of the recommended agreement is $2,125,590 and will be offset with emergency funding recently authorized by the State Legislature for COVID-19 related activities. The Governor has directed $100 million to be allocated to local recipients through the funding formula from the Homeless Housing, Assistance & Prevention program, including direct allocations to cities, counties, and Continuums of Care to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The County has been allocated $382,081 and the Fresno-Madera Continuum of Care has been allocated $488,763 for this purpose. Upon approval of the recommended action, these funds will be utilized to provide the requested emergency shelter services. Additionally, the City of Fresno’s allocation would increase support of the services. There is no matching contribution requirement. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the FY 2019-20 Adopted Budget for the Department of Social Services Org 5610 and, if necessary, will be included in subsequent budget requests. Should there be a gap in funding to provide these services, the Department would request additional COVID-19 emergency homelessness funds from the State and would reallocate existing homeless services funding to meet the additional need.
DISCUSSION:
On March 15, 2020, the County’s Emergency Services Director/County Administrative Officer proclaimed a local emergency related to COVID-19.
On March 17, 2020, your Board ratified the proclamation of a local emergency related to COVID-19. The Department has received guidance from the State and Federal government regarding aiding unsheltered homeless and those living in large shelter settings who are particularly susceptible to COVID-19. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department recognizes the need to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency guidelines and implement measures to ensure that people experiencing homelessness have access to safe and adequate shelter or housing and medical care during this time, including the ability to isolate or quarantine.
On March 18, 2020, the Governor signed Executive Order N-32-20 providing flexibility to local governments to spend their emergency homelessness funding on immediate solutions tailored to combatting COVID-19 and its impacts on the homeless population. The Governor also waived certain regulatory barriers for any shelters or facilities provided with this emergency funding. The executive order broadens the purposes local recipients can spend existing State homelessness funds to include shelter capacity expansion, emergency protective measures and supplies to limit infection among vulnerable homeless individuals, and other prevention and containment efforts related to COVID-19 and its impact on California’s homeless population.
RHCB was selected due to their ability to quickly provide services to 265 persons in locations with isolation capability. The recommended agreement funds RH Community Builders (RHCB) to provide shelter beds at three facilities located in metro Fresno at the following locations: 2445 W. Whitesbridge Ave. (105 beds), 2550 W. Clinton Ave. (120 beds), and 1040 N. Pleasant Ave. (40 beds). Each facility will be staffed with monitors, janitorial staff, dedicated drivers, food service staff, and maintenance staff. Security will be provided on-site 24 hours a day. The recommended agreement also requires that RHCB provide sanitary supplies to all staff and guests, comply with public health directives, and ensure that protocols are in place to address both potential and confirmed cases of COVID-19.
If approved, the recommended action will enable the Department to substantially expand the low-barrier emergency shelter available during the COVID-19 State of Emergency and mitigate the risks of transmission among the unsheltered homeless population. The agreement may be terminated without cause by either party upon providing 30-day day advance written notice.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #2 - March 17, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE
On file with Clerk - Agreement with RH Community Builders for Emergency Shelter
On file with Clerk - Governor’s Executive Order
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa