Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Cole, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Measure K: Amendment to the Agreement with Samaritan House for Homeless Prevention and Emergency Financial Assistance Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to the agreement with Samaritan House to increase the total obligation amount by $542,933 for a new total obligation amount not to exceed $1,895,933 with the term remaining July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023 to increase Homeless Prevention and Emergency Financial Assistance program services.
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BACKGROUND:
The Homeless Prevention Services and Financial Assistance Program provides crisis support and short-term financial assistance to San Mateo County residents to help those experiencing homelessness return to housing, and those at imminent risk of becoming homeless stay housed.
On June 30, 2020, after obtaining Board approval by Resolution No. 77560, the County entered into an agreement with Samaritan House for a total obligation amount not to exceed $1,353,000, for the term of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023, to provide Homeless Prevention and Financial Assistance services.
Samaritan House works closely with the Core Service Agencies (Cores) to provide financial assistance tailored to meet the needs of eligible households. This includes one-time rental assistance or security deposit, payment of utility arrears, and/or other costs associated with housing stability such as car repair, transportation and childcare. In addition to emergency financial assistance, Samaritan House and the other Core Service Agencies provide housing crisis support and other safety net services (i.e., food resources, information and assistance for applying for public benefits, direct referrals to legal services agencies, community-based financial assistance programs, etc.).
DISCUSSION:
Additional resources were recently identified to provide emergency financial assistance services to additional eligible households. This amendment would increase the allocation for client assistance by $14,311 for each fiscal year (2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023) and adds an additional one-time $500,000 to the current fiscal year (2021-2022) for client assistance. The additional funds for the current fiscal year, in particular, will be of the utmost importance as renter protections sunset in addition to the State COVID-19 Rent Relief Program (Emergency Rental Assistance Program) also ending. In direct response to the current need in our community, these additional funds will allow for additional households experiencing housing instability to access resources to support their housing stability.
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).
County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution and the agreement as to form.
It is anticipated that this agreement will serve 410 unduplicated households in Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and 200 unduplicated households in Fiscal Year 2022-2023. It is also anticipated that, for each year of the agreement, more than 80% of participants contacted will have remained housed for six (6) months after receiving financial assistance.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2020-21 Actuals |
FY 2021-22 Target |
FY 2022-23 Target |
|
Number of households who receive financial assistance (unduplicated) |
171 |
410 |
200 |
|
Percentage of participants contacted who have remained housed 6 months after receiving financial assistance |
99% |
80% |
80% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
This amendment increases the obligation amount by $542,933 for a new total obligation amount not to exceed $1,895,933 with the remaining July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023. This agreement is 100% funded by Measure K sales and use tax. Budgetary appropriation is included in the FY 20-21 and FY 21-22 Adopted Budgets, and in the FY 22-23 Recommended Budget. There is no Net County Cost associated with this amended Agreement.