To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
Professional Services Agreement in an Amount Not to Exceed $680,815 with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation Regarding the Provision of Temporary Shelter and Support Services to Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness in Humboldt County
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation regarding the provision of temporary shelter and support services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Humboldt County in an amount not to exceed $680,815 for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026; and
2. Approve, and authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Social Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one fully executed original copy of the attached professional services agreement with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan:
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
Since its grand opening in September 2016, Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation’s shelter program has been providing temporary shelter and housing relocation services, to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Humboldt County. To date, 559 families referred by the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Social Services (DHHS - Social Services) have been sheltered and a total of 117 families have been permanently housed since June 2017.
The shelter and housing relocation services provided by the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation are temporary in nature and residents are required to participate in housekeeping activities such as laundry, dishes, sweeping and vacuuming, in addition to either working, or seeking work, and ensuring children are enrolled in school or daycare programs, as appropriate. Residents leave the shelter program with greater family stability, and program staff are constantly working on improving and upgrading the program to provide better support and outcomes for families served.
Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation’s Day center program provides critical services needed to provide continuity, stability and support for homeless families. The after-school program ensures that children 6 to 12 years of age have consistency and can count on a supportive routine while their family receives housing stabilization support. The day center program also assists parents in becoming self-sufficient by providing mail and phone services necessary for housing and employment searches; computer access for employment and housing searches; assistance in acquiring necessary documentation such as birth certificates and government identification; and professional clothing for job interviews.
Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation’s shower facilities ensure that families experiencing homelessness have needed access to showers and hygiene materials, which is important not only for housing and employment searches, but also for maintaining dignity and a basic quality of life while undergoing difficulty in maintaining stable housing.
The attached professional services agreement will allow eligible DHHS - Social Services clients who are experiencing homelessness to continue receiving support and temporary shelter services from the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
Accordingly, DHHS - Social Services recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation regarding the provision of temporary shelter and support services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Humboldt County for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Staff also recommend that the Board authorize the DHHS - Social Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid any unnecessary delays in the provision of needed temporary shelter and support services to eligible DHHS - Social Services clients who are experiencing homelessness.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund (1160-511; 1160-508); Federal temporary assistance, state general fund, and realignment revenues
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1160-511; 1160-508) |
FY25-26 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$680,815.00 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$680,815.00 |
|
Funding Sources (1160-511; 1160-508) |
FY25-26 Projected* |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$680,815.00 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$680,815.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
The attached professional services agreement with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation has a maximum amount payable $680,815 for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. However, in the event local, state or federal funding is reduced or eliminated, the County of Humboldt may reduce the above-referenced maximum amount payable or terminate the attached professional services agreement with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation in its entirely.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached professional services agreement with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation have been included in the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 budget for DHHS - Social Services budget units 1160-511 and 1160-508. Funding for the attached professional services agreement with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation is available through federal temporary assistance and state general fund and realignment revenues received by DHHS - Social Services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve the attached professional services agreement with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation regarding the provision of temporary shelter and support services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Humboldt County. However, this alternative is not recommended because families currently receiving such services would be at extremely high risk of remaining homeless and experiencing increased family instability.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Services Agreement with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation Regarding the Provision of Temporary Shelter and Support Services to Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness in Humboldt County
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 06/27/17; 07/11/17; 06/19/18; 06/18/19; 6/23/20; 5/4/21; 5/24/22; 6/27/23; 4/9/24
File No.: 17-2010; 17-2097; 18-597; 19-784; 20-689; 21-461; 22-568; 23-726; 24-350