REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 9, 2022
FROM
MARTHA ZEPEDA, Deputy Executive Officer, Community Revitalization
SUBJECT
Title
Budget Adjustment for Office of Homeless Services for Project Roomkey and Rehousing Strategy Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post appropriations and revenue adjustments as detailed in the Financial Impact Section to the Office of Homeless Services’ 2022-23 budget in the amount of $5,348,475 for the Project Roomkey and Rehousing Strategy Program Allocation (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Martha Zepeda, Deputy Executive Officer, 501-0641)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The increase of $5,348,475 in appropriation for Project Roomkey and Rehousing Strategy Program (Project Roomkey) is funded by grant funding for Project Roomkey from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
Community Revitalization requests the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the following adjustments to the 2022-23 Office of Homeless Service’s (OHS) budget totaling $5,348,475, which will support the Project Roomkey program:
|
Fund Center |
Commitment Item/GL |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
6210011000 |
53003230 |
Other Support and Care |
Increase |
$5,348,475 |
|
6210011000 |
40408955 |
State - Grants |
Increase |
$5,348,475 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In March 2020, Project Roomkey was implemented across California to provide emergency non-congregate shelter protective placements (e.g., hotel/motels) for people experiencing homelessness for public health-related reasons associated with COVID-19. CDSS utilized a $50 million state general fund appropriation to provide funds to counties and tribes to secure trailers, motels, and hotels to initiate and operate Project Roomkey. CDSS allocated an additional $59 million in one-time state general funds in December 2020 to support continued Project Roomkey operations while increasing the focus and resources to transition participants to permanent housing.
Project Roomkey was initiated through a collaboration between County, non-profit agencies, and local businesses, including the hospitality industry. Project Roomkey gives people who are experiencing homelessness and are recovering from, or have been exposed to COVID-19, a place to recuperate and properly quarantine outside of a hospital. It also provides a safe place for isolation for people who are experiencing homelessness and are at high risk for medical complications were they to become infected. The need for Project Roomkey remains critical to continue to keep people experiencing homelessness and their communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic while providing housing assistance to ensure that participants do not return to homelessness.
On July 29, 2021, CDSS released an All County Welfare Directors letter notifying county welfare directors of Project Roomkey allocations available for 2021-22. CDSS determined a 2021-22 noncompetitive need-based allocation of $11,409,117 for the County’s Project Roomkey efforts, which were calculated proportionate to the statewide number of occupied units as of June 28, 2021. County and tribal welfare directors were instructed that in order to accept the 2021-22 allocation they needed to submit their intent to request funds no later than August 20, 2021, and then review and complete the Rehousing Strategy Director Certification by September 10, 2021 to CDSS. On August 13, 2021, the County Welfare Director submitted to CDSS the County’s intent to submit the Rehousing Strategy Director Certification and on September 10, 2021, submitted the signed certification to CDSS. On December 14, 2021 (Item No. 28), the Board approved the budget adjustment for Project Roomkey and Rehousing Strategy fund of $11,409,117.
In order to maximize housing placements and transitioning participants to permanent housing for Project Roomkey clients, OHS is engaging other homeless and housing assistance programs and services to assist in the development of client-centered housing plans, disability assistance, and employment opportunities.
In 2021-22, the department expended $3,327,941 of the $11,409,117 CDSS grant for Project Roomkey. In addition, $2,732,701 of funding was encumbered for Project Roomkey service contracts, which will be expended in 2022-23. The table below shows the activity-level distributions, by project, for the remaining funding for Project Roomkey, which includes the balance of $5,348,475 and the $2,732,701 of encumbered contracts through the June 30, 2023 service period:
|
Project |
Activity |
Proposed Amount |
|
COVID-19 Motel/Hotel support and related services |
Motel/Hotel non-congregate shelter; meal assistance; housing barrier removal, landlord engagement; move-in services; housing stabilization costs, rental assistance; housing-related case management; housing navigation; short-term rapid rehousing assistance. |
$7,681,176 |
|
COVID-19 positive hospital discharge isolation assistance |
Hospital discharge isolation assistance for COVID-19 positive homeless individuals. |
$400,000 |
|
TOTAL |
|
$8,081,176 |
OHS projects $8,081,176 of expenditures for Project Roomkey in 2022-23. These costs include the leasing of motel/hotel rooms, meals, laundry services, tenant security for the project, and COVID-19 positive hospital discharge motel assistance for the recommended 10-day quarantine period.
On April 21, 2020 (Item No. 23), the Board ratified the acceptance of two grant awards from State of California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency for COVID-19 Emergency Homelessness Funding to assist people experiencing homelessness with isolation assistance to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The project would later be referred to as Project Roomkey.
On November 17, 2020 (Item No. 47), the Board approved the continued operation of Project Roomkey, the County’s emergency sheltering program, to add isolation and quarantine capacity to California’s shelter and housing inventory to slow the spread of the pandemic, through December 30, 2020. The item also approved a contract with Prime Hospitality, Inc. dba Woody’s Classic Grill for the period of July 6, 2020 through December 30, 2020.
On January 26, 2021 (Item No. 69), the Board ratified new Emergency Occupancy Agreements with Aviah Hospitality, Inc. dba Motel 6 (Motel 6) and Orange Show Hospitality, Inc. (Orange Show Hospitality) that were approved by the Chief Executive Officer on December 30, 2020, for the provision of rooms to provide isolation capacity as a response to COVID-19, for the period of January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021. On March 23, 2021 (Item Nos. 38 and 39), the Board approved amendments to extend the Emergency Occupancy Agreements with Motel 6 and Orange Show Hospitality and the contract with Woody’s Classic Grill for Project Roomkey services through September 30, 2021.
On September 14, 2021 (Item No. 17), the Board approved amendments with Motel 6, Orange Show Hospitality, and Woody’s Classic Grill for the continued provision of Project Roomkey services through June 30, 2023.
On December 14, 2021 (Item No. 28), the Board authorized the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post appropriations and revenue adjustments to OHS’ 2021-22 budget in the amount of $11,409,117 for the Project Roomkey Allocation.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 11, 2022; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Vanessa Doyle, Deputy Chief Controller, 382-3195) on July 19, 2022; Finance (Christopher Lange, Administrative Analyst, 386-8393) on July 22, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on July 7, 2022.