Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Raymond Hodges, Director, Department of Housing
Subject: Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement between County of San Mateo and Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County for the provision of legal aid services
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Measure K: Authorize the Director of the Department of Housing, or the designee, to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement between the County of San Mateo and Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County for the provision of legal aid services to low-income residents, which extends the term of the Agreement by one year and adds $194,000 in Measure K funds for a new total Agreement amount not to exceed $388,000.
body
BACKGROUND:
On January 25, 2022, the Board of Supervisors (the “Board”) authorized Equity Innovation Fund (“EIF”) commitments for up to $1,269,770 in Measure K funds for six equity innovation service programs and authorized the Director of the Department of Housing to negotiate and execute contracts to provide said funding to the EIF programs (Resolution No. 078663).
Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County (“LASSMC”) was one such innovation service program to receive a Measure K commitment. On November 10, 2022, the Department of Housing (“DOH”) and LASSMC executed an agreement for the provision of legal aid services to low-income residents for a term of the January 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $194,000 in Measure K funds (“Agreement”).
As of March 30, 2023, with funds provided through this Agreement, LASSMC has provided 81 households facing eviction with full legal representation and/or pre-litigation advocacy that fully resolved the threat of eviction. LASSMC anticipates meeting its goal of serving 100 households by June 30, 2023.
DISCUSSION:
The next cycle of the EIF is scheduled for a request for proposals release of December 2023, with awards announced in or around May 2024 and agreements executed shortly thereafter. DOH established this schedule for the EIF in order for it to align with additional funding opportunities that it makes available to service providers so that (1) service providers need only to apply once per year or less to receive DOH funding and (2) DOH has the opportunity to review proposals for services all at once, instead of piecemeal, at multiple times throughout the year. DOH wishes to support programs like LASSMC’s in order to address the escalating eviction crisis caused by the expiration of both state rental assistance and COVID-19-era eviction protections. Funding through DOH’s EIF program will not be available for program reimbursement between July 2023 and June 2024 due to the adjustment in the EIF cycle schedule; DOH therefore recommends an extension to the Agreement which extends the term of the Agreement by one year, to end on June 30, 2024, and adds $194,000 in Measure K funds for a new total Agreement amount not to exceed $388,000.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form and will review the amendment prior to execution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement will utilize $194,000 in FY 2023-24 Measure K funds. Funding for this item has already been included in the FY 2023-24 Recommended Budget.