Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Claire Cunningham, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Measure K: Agreement with Samaritan House for Emergency Financial Assistance and Homelessness Prevention Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Samaritan House to provide Emergency Financial Assistance and Homelessness Prevention services for the term of July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027, with a total obligation amount not to exceed $10,500,000.
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BACKGROUND:
The Emergency Financial Assistance and Homelessness Prevention program provides point-in-time financial assistance to eligible San Mateo County residents to help those at risk of becoming homeless to stay housed, and to assist people experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis with a security deposit to be able to move into a new rental housing unit.
On November 3, 2023, the County Executive’s Office (CEO) released the Measure K Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for interested applicants to submit proposals to provide services in San Mateo County that target three specific areas: children, families, and seniors; emergency preparedness; and housing and homelessness. Samaritan House submitted a proposal in response to the Measure K NOFO that requested funding to continue providing emergency financial assistance services. Following an evaluation process conducted by the CEO, Samaritan House was selected to be awarded Measure K funding for Emergency Financial Assistance and Homelessness Prevention services.
On March 26, 2024, by Resolution No. 080240, this Board approved the FY 2024-25 Measure K Budget as presented by the CEO, which included awarding Measure K funding to Samaritan House for the Emergency Financial Assistance and Homelessness Prevention program.
DISCUSSION:
This agreement with Samaritan House will provide time-limited financial assistance to remove immediate barriers to housing stability. Samaritan House will work closely with the Core Service Agencies (Cores) and the Human Services Agency (HSA) to provide financial assistance tailored to meet the needs of eligible applicants, to the extent feasible within the available resources. Financial assistance may include point-in-time rental assistance, security deposits, payment of utility arrears, and/or other costs associated with housing stability such as car repairs. This program serves as a critical and effective resource for preventing homelessness among lower-income San Mateo County residents.
This program has two components: General Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) and Senior Emergency Financial Assistance.
The Senior EFA component is a specific set-aside of $500,000 of the funding within this program to serve eligible senior households. A senior household is defined as a household that has one or more persons who are 60 or older. This is the first County-funded EFA allocation to target older adults. The General EFA component may serve the general population, including senior households.
Additionally, Samaritan House and the Cores provide other housing crisis support to clients such as information and assistance with applying for public benefits (such as CalFresh, unemployment benefits, Medi-Cal, etc.), direct referrals to legal services agencies and/or community-based financial assistance programs, credit repair and budgeting workshops, and other services.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in the aggregate).
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution and the agreement as to form.
It is anticipated that this agreement will serve 3,045 households from FY 2024-27.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
General EFA
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Target |
FY 2025-26 Target |
FY 2026-27 Target |
|
Number of households who receive financial assistance (unduplicated) |
828 |
828 |
828 |
|
Percent of participants contacted who have remained housed 6 months after receiving financial assistance |
92% |
92% |
92% |
Senior EFA
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Target |
FY 2025-26 Target |
FY 2026-27 Target |
|
Number of households who receive financial assistance (unduplicated) |
167 |
167 |
167 |
|
Percent of participants contacted who have remained housed 6 months after receiving financial assistance |
95% |
95% |
95% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027, for a total obligation amount not to exceed $10,500,000. This agreement is 100% funded by Measure K sales and use tax. Budgetary appropriation for this agreement will be included in the FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget and will be included in future budgets. There is no General Fund Net County Cost associated with this agreement.