To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Administration
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with SoHum Housing Opportunities Regarding the Provision of Street Outreach, Case Management and Supportive Services to Individuals and Families Who are Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness in Humboldt County
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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 SoHum Housing Opportunities regarding the provision of street outreach, case management and supportive services to individuals and families who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Humboldt County for the period of July 1, 2021 through July 30, 2022;
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 SoHum Housing Opportunities, 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 SoHum Housing Opportunities to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund (1160)
DISCUSSION:
On June 1, 2020, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced the availability of funding under the Emergency Solutions Grants Program - Coronavirus (ESG-CV Program). ESG-CV Program funds may be used for various purposes, including, without limitation, all of the following:
• Preventing, preparing for, and responding to, coronavirus among individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or receiving homeless assistance.
• Supporting additional homeless assistance through the provision of direct services, including, without limitation, street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing, case management and supportive services, that are designed to mitigate the impacts created by the Coronavirus pandemic.
On July 14, 2020, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 20-60, authorizing the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to apply for and accept ESG-CV Program funding in an amount not to exceed $3 million. DHHS subsequently applied for, and was awarded, $983,800 in ESG-CV Program funding.
On October 16, 2020, DHHS issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) which solicited proposals from qualified community organizations and governmental agencies interested in implementing eligible homeless assistance projects as part of the ESG-CV Program. DHHS received two proposals in response to the above-referenced RFP, which contained funding requests totaling $271,426. However, after reviewing and evaluating each proposal in accordance with the applicable evaluation and selection criteria, the RFP Selection Committee was unable to recommend an award of ESG-CV Program funding to either proposer due to concerns around whether the proposed projects were fully aligned with ESG-CV Program requirements.
On Nov. 17, 2020, the Board adopted Resolution No. 20-109, authorizing DHHS to apply for and accept additional ESG-CV Program funding in an amount not to exceed $4.5 million. DHHS subsequently applied for, and was awarded, $4.5 million in ESG-CV Program funding.
On March 19, 2021, HCD informed DHHS that the ESG-CV Program funding awarded to the County of Humboldt on Nov. 18, 2020 and Feb. 24, 2021 would be combined into a single award. As a result, adoption of an amended resolution authorizing DHHS to accept ESG-CV Program funding in an amount not to exceed $5,483,800 was required. The Board subsequently adopted Resolution No. 21-38 authorizing DHHS accept ESG-CV Program funding in an amount not to exceed $5,483,800 on April 20, 2021. The County of Humboldt then entered into a State of California Standard Agreement with HCD regarding the appropriation and expenditure of ESG-CV Program funding.
On Feb. 25, 2021, DHHS contacted all homeless service providers operating within Humboldt County to request letters of intent to apply for ESG-CV Program funding to implement eligible homeless assistance projects. DHHS received letters of intent from four organizations, which contained funding requests totaling $5,563,460. All four organizations were invited to submit an application for ESG-CV Program funding. As of Aug. 1, 2021, DHHS had received applications from two organizations, including SoHum Housing Opportunities, which contained funding requests totaling $616,179. After reviewing each application in accordance with the applicable evaluation and selection criteria, DHHS determined that both projects are qualified to receive ESG-CV Program funding.
The attached professional services agreement with SoHum Housing Opportunities will allow individuals and families who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Humboldt County to receive street outreach, case management and supportive services that are consistent with the goals and objectives of the ESG-CV Program for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. It should be noted that the attached professional services agreement with SoHum Housing Opportunities comes to the Board after the start date thereof due to inadvertent delays that occurred during the contract development process.
Accordingly, DHHS recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with SoHum Housing Opportunities regarding the provision of street outreach, case management and supportive services to individuals and families who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Humboldt County for the period of July 1, 2021 through July 30, 2022. Staff also recommends that the Board authorize the DHHS Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with SoHum Housing Opportunities, 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 street outreach, case management and supportive services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The attached professional services agreement with SoHum Housing Opportunities has a maximum amount payable of $218,093 for the period of July 1, 2021 through July 30, 2022. 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 SoHum Housing Opportunities in its entirety.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached professional services agreement with SoHum Housing Opportunities have been included in the adopted fiscal year 2021-2022 budget for DHHS - Behavioral Health HOME budget unit 1160-520. Funding for the attached professional services agreement with SoHum Housing Opportunities is available through ESG-CV Program revenues received by DHHS. As a result, approval of the attached professional services agreement with SoHum Housing Opportunities 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 local communities and providing community-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 SoHum Housing Opportunities regarding the provision of street outreach, case management and supportive services to individuals and families who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Humboldt County. However, this alternative is not recommended since the attached professional services agreement with SoHum Housing Opportunities will allow for the provision of needed street outreach, case management and supportive services through the use of funds that would not otherwise be available to the County of Humboldt.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Services Agreement with SoHum Housing Opportunities Regarding the Provision of Street Outreach, Case Management and Supportive Services to Individuals and Families Who are Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness in Humboldt County
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-8; C-11; D-7
Meeting of: 7/14/20; 11/17/20; 4/20/21
File No.: 20-830; 20-1472; 21-423