Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Claire Cunningham, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Agreement with Abode for Bringing Families Home (BFH) Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) Services
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing a waiver of the Request for Proposals (RFP) process and approving the execution of an agreement with Abode Services, to provide rapid re-housing services under the Bringing Families Home program, for the term of February 13, 2024 to June 30, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $786,264.
body
BACKGROUND:
The Bringing Families Home (BFH) program was established by Assembly Bill (AB) 1603 (Chapter 25, Statutes of 2016) and updated by Senate Bill (SB) 80 (Chapter 27, Statutes 2019) to reduce the number of families in the child welfare system experiencing or at risk of homelessness, increase family reunification, and prevent foster care placement. BFH provides housing first services including rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and housing vouchers to families experiencing homelessness when Children and Family Services (CFS) is involved.
The Human Services Agency’s (HSA) CFS branch applied for and received BFH grant funding to provide families with financial assistance and housing-related wrap-around supportive services including, but not limited to, rental assistance, housing navigation, case management, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, hotel and motel vouchers, legal services, and credit repair.
Per Administrative Memorandum B-1 (May 9, 2022) section IV. Waivers of Competitive Requirements, paragraph B. Non-Emergency - Specific Exemptions item 18, the competitive procurement requirements may be waived for Child Welfare Services or Behavioral Health and Recovery Services with any qualified provider, including long-term locked facilities without specialized treatment programs; housing and related support services; and individual private mental-health services.
DISCUSSION:
HSA requests this Board waive the Request for Proposals (RFP) requirement for the agreement with Abode Services (Abode) because it provides families at risk or experiencing homelessness with access to critical housing related and homeless prevention services. Under this agreement, Abode will provide rapid re-housing services that will include housing identification, landlord identification and recruitment, rent and move-in assistance, and case management services to support prevention of homelessness for families receiving child welfare services. The goal is to help families secure permanent housing, stabilize housing, and to connect to community services that will support housing permanency/sustainability.
HSA selected Abode based on their experience in providing similar services and their capacity to provide these services in San Mateo County.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions authorizing the Director of the Human Services Agency, or designee, to execute contract amendments which modify the County’s fiscal obligation by a maximum of $25,000 for the agreement.
County Attorney has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2023-24 Anticipated |
FY 2024-25 Target |
|
Percentage of households served that will exit to permanent housing (through BFH) |
80% |
85% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is February 13, 2024 through June 30, 2025. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $786,264. The total obligation of this agreement is anticipated to be funded through Child Welfare Services Bringing Families Home allocation. There is no Net County Cost. Funds for these services are included in the FY23-24 Approved Budget. Similar arrangements will be used for the FY24-25 budget year.