Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Nicole Pollack, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Amendment to the Agreement with Abode Services for Rapid Rehousing
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of the Human Services Agency to execute an Amendment to the Agreement with Abode Services for Rapid Rehousing increasing the amount by $1,620,275 in Measure K funds and $538,684 in Housing and Disability Advocacy Program funds for a total obligation of $3,658,959 and extending the term by one year to June 30, 2019.
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BACKGROUND:
The County of San Mateo maintains a strong commitment to prevent and end homelessness for County residents, with the goal of reaching a functional zero level of homelessness by 2020.
San Mateo County’s Strategic Plan to End Homelessness by 2020 was designed to create a unified system, invest in best practices, and reorient the current homeless system towards housing crisis response. The plan addresses homelessness as a housing crisis and sets the path to develop a systematic approach targeted at helping people maintain their housing, returning unsheltered homeless people to housing as quickly as possible, and prioritizing existing system capacity for those who face the highest barriers and have the longest history of homelessness. Rapid Rehousing (“RRH”) is a type of homeless service that assists people experiencing homelessness with returning to permanent housing as quickly as possible; rapid rehousing includes housing location assistance, case management, and time-limited financial assistance (also known as subsidies). RRH was the first in a series of Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to procure services to implement all components of a housing crisis resolution system as identified in the County’s strategic plan to end homelessness.
The Human Services Agency (“HSA”) released an RFP in 2016 for RRH services. Abode Services was chosen as the provider who could best meet the needs of the County. The Board approved an Agreement with Abode Services by resolution 074892 in the amount of $1,500,000 funded by Measure K for the term of November 15, 2016 through June 30, 2018. Since the beginning of the Agreement, forty-five (45) homeless households have been housed through this program.
Recently, the California Department of Social Services (“CDSS”) created a new program called Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (“HDAP”), allowing counties to apply for HDAP funds to create a new program to serve people are experiencing homelessness and who also have a disability and are applying for disability benefits. HSA applied for HDAP funds and received a one-time allocation of $538,684 for use through June 30, 2020. These HDAP funds will be used to expand the RRH program to create services that meet the needs of this population.
DISCUSSION:
In the first year of the Agreement, there were a number of factors that resulted in a higher cost of services than originally budgeted, which reduced funding for the remaining seven (7) months of the Agreement.
• There were a higher number of families served than anticipated versus individuals, which increased the rental subsidy payments in the program as family subsidy amounts tend to be much higher than single adult subsidy amounts;
• The subsidy per household served was higher in cost than anticipated due to households requiring additional time with rental subsidy payments; and
• There were more households with zero income at the time of enrollment, which created the need for higher subsidies than planned for some households.
This Amendment to the Agreement with Abode Services will add additional funds for FY 2017-18 in the amount of $438,684 to support RRH services to additional households. In addition, this Amendment extends RRH services by one year to June 30, 2019 and increases the amount by $1,720,275 to support services through FY 2018-19. It is anticipated that the Agreement will serve 106 households.
The new CDSS HDAP funding will be used to create a new, specialized program for adults with disabilities experiencing homelessness to provide RRH services and assistance with the disability benefits application process. CDSS is requiring that HSA launch this program within a quick turnaround time. HSA and Abode Services are in the process of defining the details of the HDAP services. HSA is requesting Board approval for the HSA Director to execute the Amendment to the Agreement with Abode Services as soon as the details of the program are finished in order to serve as many individuals and families as possible for FY 2017-18.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The Amendment and resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
Approval of this Amendment contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of Prosperous Community. By providing funding for this contract, Abode Services can help end homelessness by providing RRH services for San Mateo County’s homeless families and individuals. It is anticipated that as a result of Rapid Rehousing Program services that individuals and families will quickly move into permanent housing with an average length of 40 days from enrollment to housing. It is also anticipated that Rapid Rehousing Program services will assist individuals and families with maintaining housing, with at least 80 percent of households exiting the program into permanent housing. The remaining 20 percent will be referred to other housing services.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY17-18 Target |
FY 18-19 Target |
|
Number of days from program enrollment to housed |
40 |
40 |
|
Percentage of households who exit the program into permanent housing |
80% |
80% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of this Agreement is amended by one year to November 15, 2016 to June 30, 2019. The amount of the Agreement is increased by $2,158,959 of which $1,620,275 is Measure K funds and $538,684 is Housing and Disability Advocacy Program funds for a total obligation of $3,658,959.