To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Administration
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with Redwood Community Action Agency Regarding the Provision of Rental Assistance, Case Management and Supportive Services to Individuals Between 18 and 22 Years of Age Who Are Experiencing, or at Risk of 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 Redwood Community Action Agency regarding the provision of rental assistance, case management and supportive services to individuals between 18 and 22 years of age who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness in Humboldt County for the period of March 3, 2020 through March 2, 2021;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Action Agency after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to route one fully executed original copy of the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Action Agency to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Mental Health Fund
DISCUSSION:
On Aug. 15, 2018 and March 21, 2019, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) released Notices of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the California Emergency Solutions and Housing (CESH) Program. CESH Program funds are intended to allow public agencies that have been designated as the administrative entity by the local Continuum of Care to assist individuals and families experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness (Target Population).
The parameters of the CESH Program are intentionally broad in order to allow local governmental agencies to implement projects that meet the specific needs of their communities. As a result, CESH Program funds may be utilized for a broad range of activities including, without limitation, all of the following:
• Housing, relocation and stabilization services such as flexible housing subsidies that establish or support rental assistance and interim housing programs;
• Operational support for the provision of emergency housing interventions to eligible members of the Target Population, as approved by HCD;
• System support for the provision of necessary services to eligible members of the Target Population; and
• Administrative support for the development and implementation of housing delivery systems designed to serve eligible members of the Target Population.
On June 24, 2019, the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) submitted an application for CESH Program funding to HCD in accordance with the requirements of the NOFA dated March 21, 2019. On Oct. 8, 2019, HCD notified DHHS that the application was accepted and funds in the amount of $532,776.00 have been awarded to the County of Humboldt. Such funds are in addition to the CESH Program funds awarded to the County of Humboldt on Jan. 11, 2019 in an amount of $931,026.00.
On Sept. 3, 2019, DHHS issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) which solicited proposals from qualified community organizations interested in working collaboratively with the County of Humboldt to implement various eligible activities that address the needs of individuals and families experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness in accordance with any and all applicable CESH Program requirements.
DHHS received a total of five proposals in response to the above-referenced RFP, which contained funding requests totaling $3,386,001.07. After reviewing and evaluating each proposal in accordance with the applicable evaluation and selection criteria, the RFP Evaluation Committee recommended that the Board of Supervisors allocate funding to all five projects.
On Dec. 10, 2019 (Item C-14), the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors approved funding allocations recommended by the RFP Evaluation Committee for the above-referenced CESH projects, which included the CESH project proposed by Redwood Community Action Agency. The attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Action Agency will allow eligible members of the Target Population, who are between 18 and 22 years of age, to receive rental assistance, case management and supportive services that are consistent with the County of Humboldt’s goals and objectives for reducing homelessness in Humboldt County for the period of March 3, 2020 through March 2, 2021.
Accordingly, DHHS recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Action Agency regarding the provision of rental assistance, case management and supportive services to individuals between 18 and 22 years of age who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness in Humboldt County for the period of March 3, 2020 through March 2, 2021. It is also recommended that the Board authorize the DHHS Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all future amendments to the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Action Agency, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid any delays in the provision of needed rental assistance, case management and/or supportive services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Action Agency has a maximum amount payable of $175,841.00 for the period of March 3, 2020 through March 2, 2021. However, in the event that 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 Redwood Community Action Agency in its entirety.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Action Agency have been included in the adopted fiscal year 2019-20 budget for DHHS - Mental Health HOME budget unit 1170-426. Funding for the attached professional services agreement with the Redwood Community Action Agency is available through CESH revenues received by DHHS. As a result, approval of the attached professional services agreement with the Redwood Community Action Agency will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations, supporting self-reliance of citizens, improving the safety and health of our communities and providing appropriate levels of services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Action Agency regarding the provision of rental assistance, case management and supportive services to individuals between 18 and 22 years of age who are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, homelessness within Humboldt County. However, this alternative is not recommended since the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Action Agency will allow for the provision of needed housing assistance services through the use of funds that would not otherwise be available to the County of Humboldt.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Services Agreement with Redwood Community Action Agency Regarding the Provision of Rental Assistance, Case Management and Supportive Services to Individuals Between 18 and 22 Years of Age Who Are Experiencing, or at Risk of Experiencing, Homelessness in Humboldt County
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-11; C-14; C-14
Meeting of: 12/18/18; 07/09/19; 12/10/19
File No.: 18-1607; 19-1011; 19-1695; 20-227