REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 25, 2025
FROM
GEORGINA YOSHIOKA, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to the Subcontractor Agreement for the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No.1 to the Subcontractor Agreement No. 23-1285, with Advocates for Human Potential, Inc., on behalf of the California Department of Health Care Services, effective December 11, 2024, for the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program, which modifies the Statement of Work and Payment Schedule, with no changes to the contract amount of $27,375,170, or the period of June 23, 2023, through June 30, 2027.
(Presenter: Georgina Yoshioka, Director, 252-5142)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) Program grant award in the amount of $27,375,170 is funded by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). The BHBH Program grant does not require a local match. Adequate appropriation and revenue are included in the Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) 2024-25 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The DHCS BHBH Program was signed into law in September 2022 under Assembly Bill 179, providing funding through June 30, 2027. The BHBH Program is designed to complement capital investments that address the issue of homelessness including Project Homekey, Community Care Expansion, and the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program. The BHBH Program primarily funds operational and supportive services to expand bridge housing implementation. The primary focus of the BHBH Program is to help individuals experiencing homelessness who have severe mental illness (SMI) and/or substance use disorders (SUD) that prevent them from accessing help and securing housing.
Currently, DBH utilizes the BHBH Program grant funding to operate a variety of bridge housing programs to address the immediate and sustainable housing needs of individuals experiencing homelessness who have SMI and/or SUD. Once long-term housing goals have been established, DBH helps these individuals identify housing options and available resources, then secure housing with the assistance of Housing Navigation. This includes assisting with housing applications, obtaining proper paperwork, and initiating utility service. In addition, DBH will expand several programs for this vulnerable population, including Emergency Shelter Services, Recovery Residences, and hotel/motel beds.
The Emergency Shelter Services program provides temporary housing solutions for individuals experiencing SMI and SUD and are experiencing homelessness. It offers short-term shelter while individuals work with DBH staff to develop and implement long-term housing plans. The Recovery Residences program supports individuals participating in treatment services with SMI and SUD in their journey to recovery. The Hotel/Motel beds program is for individuals who can live independently and is used for individuals with SMI and/or SUD waiting for a treatment bed to become available.
On April 25, 2023 (Item No. 21), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved authorization for DBH to submit the BHBH Program grant application to DHCS in the amount of $27,375,170, for the anticipated period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2027.
On December 5, 2023 (Item No. 21), the Board approved Subcontractor Agreement No. 23-1285 (Subcontractor Agreement), including non-standard terms, with Advocates for Human Potential, Inc., on behalf of DHCS for the BHBH Program, to address the immediate and sustainable housing needs of individuals experiencing homelessness who have SMI and/or SUD, in the amount of $27,375,170, for the period of June 23, 2023, through June 30, 2027.
Amendment No. 1 to the Subcontractor Agreement (Modification) adjusts the allocated implementation and infrastructure reimbursement from 25% of total grant funds to a set amount of $1,443,500. In addition to the change in allocated funds for project implementation, the cost of furnishings, appliances and equipment are now included in reimbursable costs. Start up and Infrastructure Projects disbursement of funds has been added to the Payment Schedule to include specific invoice guidelines.
Negotiation of the Modification to the Statement of Work and Payment Schedule with DHCS involved lengthy internal DBH discussions regarding the Subcontractor Agreement. The item is being presented at this time, as this is the first Board date available, following receipt of the Modification from DHCS, after the required DBH program, fiscal, administrative, and legal reviews. The Modification is considered effective as of December 11, 2024. Approval by the Board at this time will have no impact on DBH’s services.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Behavioral Health (Lisa Rivas-Ordaz, Contract Supervisor, 383-3940) on February 26, 2025; County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 27, 2025; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on March 6, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on March 10, 2025.