Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors (Acting as the Governing Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo)
From: Raymond Hodges, Executive Director, Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo
Subject: Agreement with the Mental Health Association of San Mateo County for Supportive Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Acting as the Governing Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo, adopt a resolution authorizing the Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo, or designee, acting in consultation with the County Attorney, to negotiate and enter into an agreement with the Mental Health Association of San Mateo County to provide supportive services for Permanent Supportive Housing programs for the term of February 1, 2024 through January 31, 2029 in an amount not to exceed $4,150,000.
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BACKGROUND:
The Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo (“HACSM”) provides rental subsidies to low-income families in the County through the administration of voucher programs and other rental assistance programs such as the Permanent Supportive Housing (“PSH”) program.
Through the Continuum of Care collaborative (“COC”), HACSM receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) to provide rental assistance and supportive services for PSH-eligible households within the County. To be eligible for the PSH program, applicants with disabilities must have experienced long-term chronic homelessness as defined by HUD. All potential program participants must be evaluated by and referred to HACSM through the County’s Coordinated Entry System.
HACSM administers over $12 million in federal COC funding that is directed to rental assistance and supportive services for 350 to 400 PSH households within the County.
DISCUSSION:
In December 2023, HACSM issued a Request for Proposals to solicit responses from interested and qualified service providers to receive federal COC funding by providing supportive services for PSH households within the County. Providers were asked to demonstrate their capacity and expertise in case management, service referrals and linkages, life skills training, housing counseling and working with property owners to resolve tenancy-related issues with the focus of keeping the PSH household stably housed.
HACSM received one proposal from the Mental Health Association of San Mateo County (“MHA”). MHA has a long and extensive history of working with homeless adults with disabilities; MHA has helped them to secure and maintain housing as well as working collaboratively with other providers and agencies to ensure the clients receive the necessary support and services. HACSM has partnered with MHA for close to thirty years in developing housing, securing funding for new programs and services through HUD’s COC and working to address homelessness and chronic homelessness in our community. MHA staff have the skills and experience needed to provide the services as well as the administration and documentation required for the programs. With the stability of PSH funding for the foreseeable future, HACSM is proposing to enter into a five-year agreement with MHA.
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no net County cost associated with this action because only federal funds would be used to fund this agreement.
ATTACHMENT:
RFP Matrix