Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Iliana Rodriguez, Interim Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Agreement with Project WeHOPE for Shelter Operation Expansion
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing:
A) An agreement with Project WeHOPE to expand shelter operations and add additional case manager capacity for the term of December 3, 2019 through June 30, 2021 in an amount not to exceed $493,104; and
B) The Director of the Human Services Agency or designee to execute amendments to said Agreement which modify the County’s maximum fiscal obligation by no more than $100,000 (in aggregate) during the same term for the purpose of expending Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) funds by June 30, 2021 as mandated by Health and Safety Code Sections 50214 and 50215.
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BACKGROUND:
In close collaboration with many County and community partners, the Human Services Agency (HSA) coordinates homeless services throughout the County of San Mateo. HSA also serves as the lead agency in the County for the Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) and is the administrative entity for Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP), which is a one-time block grant program funded by the State of California.
HSA was awarded a HEAP grant in the amount of $4,933,138.71 by the State of California’s Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH) to address the emergency needs of homeless individuals and individuals at imminent risk of homelessness by providing services such as rapid re-housing, rental assistance or subsidies, capital improvement to shelter facilities, and services for youth experiencing homelessness.
On June 19, 2019, guided by the priorities of the County's strategic plan on homelessness and with opportunities to fund new or enhanced services with the awarded HEAP funding, HSA released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for homeless services, including the expansion of shelter operations.
Project WeHOPE’s proposal for expanded shelter operations and additional case management services was selected based on the impact to clients and client outcomes
DISCUSSION:
Project WeHOPE is an emergency shelter for adults experiencing homelessness in San Mateo County. Currently, the shelter operates in the evening and overnight hours, but does not operate during the daytime hours.
Under this Agreement, Project WeHOPE will expand its shelter services to the daytime and will begin operating 24 hours per day. Daytime hours of operation will enable Project WeHOPE to provide shelter residents with a safe place to spend the daytime hours, opportunities to access case management and housing-focused workshops, and opportunities to access additional resources. expanded case management, nutritious meals, housing search workshops, classes, and access to showers, laundry, and a safe place to spend the day. Under this Agreement, Project WeHOPE will also provide additional case manager capacity to offer more intensive case management to shelter residents, to assist them with developing and implementing a housing plan. After the implementation of the expanded shelter services, Project WeHOPE is planning to begin providing drop-in services for unsheltered individuals as an engagement tool to engage unsheltered individuals to homeless services.
The goal of these services is to provide additional resources to people experiencing homelessness to assist each of them with moving back into housing as quickly as possible and with connecting with resources, such as employment and public assistance programs, in order to stabilize housing.
The resolution has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
It is estimated that 19% of shelter residents will exit the shelter to permanent housing in FY 2019-20 and 25% in FY 2020-21.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY19-20 Target (12/03/2019 - 06/30/20) |
FY20-21 Target (07/01/20 - 06/30/21) |
|
Percent of shelter residents who will exit to permanent housing |
19% |
25% |
|
Increased employment income |
10% |
20% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of this Agreement is from December 3, 2019 through June 30, 2021. This Agreement is funded using 100% of the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) State of California grant. Budgetary appropriation for this Agreement is included in the FY 2019-20 Adopted Budget and FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget.