Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Cole, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Measure K: Agreement with Abode Services for Rapid Re-Housing and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Abode Services for Rapid Re-Housing homeless services and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program services for the term of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $4,070,914.08.
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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.
The goals of the homeless crisis response system are to prevent homelessness and to assist people experiencing homelessness with returning to housing as quickly as possible.
Rapid re-housing (RRH) as one key component of the homeless crisis response system, as RRH programs provide intensive services to individuals and families with significant barriers to returning to housing. RRH is a type of homeless service that provides enrolled clients with intensive housing location assistance, time-limited rental subsidies, and case management.
In June 2019, HSA released an RFP for Homeless Services, including continuing RRH Services for the period of July 2020 through June 2023. Abode Services was selected to continue to provide these services because of its experience, qualifications and program approach that best meets the needs of the County.
Housing and Disability Benefits Advocacy Program (HDAP) is a state-funded program that provides RRH services and also assistance with applying for applicable disability benefits.
DISCUSSION:
The approval of this Agreement will allow Abode Services to provide RRH services for the term of July 2020 through June 2023 and to provide HDAP services for the term of July 2020 through June 2021.
Abode Services will provide RRH services for families and adults experiencing homelessness who have significant barriers to returning to housing, such as long periods of homelessness, history of evictions, physical and mental health challenges, and other challenges. This RRH program will provide intensive short- to medium-term rental subsidies, comprehensive housing identification services, and case management services. After the program assistance clients with identifying and moving into housing, the program then provides assistance in maintaining that housing by continuing case management services and providing rent subsidies that gradually reduce over time as the clients build resources to take on the full cost of rent.
Abode Services will also provide HDAP services which are specialized services that include the RRH components described above and also intensive assistance in applying for disability programs, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI). HDAP serves adults who are experiencing homelessness and also may be eligible for disability programs but are not yet enrolled in the applicable disability programs. Under this HDAP component, Abode also serves clients who are searching for housing with a housing voucher but who also need assistance in applying for disability programs.
While RRH services are critical components of the homeless crisis response system, they are an intensive intervention due to the rent subsidies and high level of supportive services that are provided, so RRH services only have capacity to serve a small portion of people experiencing homelessness. Clients will be referred to these RRH programs by the County’s Coordinated Entry System, to ensure these programs are serving clients with significant challenges.
This agreement is expected to serve at least 70 homeless households per year.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendments of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The resolution has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2020-2021 Target |
|
Percentage of the households enrolled in the rapid re-housing programs who will move into permanent housing within 45 days of referral to the rapid re-housing program. |
65% |
|
Percentage of households served who maintain housing at 12 months after move-in |
85% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
This Agreement with Abode Services is for the term of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023 in the amount of $4,070,914.08. Of the total amount, $187,155.04 will be funded by the state HDAP grant, and $3,888,759.04 will be funded through Measure K sales and use revenue. Budgetary appropriation for this amendment is included in the FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget, and will be included in subsequent, affected, budgets.