REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2020
FROM
GILBERT RAMOS, Director, Transitional Assistance Department
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino for CalWORKs Housing Support Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Contract with the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino to provide CalWORKs Housing Support Services, in an amount not to exceed $6,480,000, for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
(Presenter: Gilbert Ramos, Director, 388-0245)
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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The amount of $6,480,000 is 65% federally funded ($4,212,000) and 35% state funded ($2,268,000) by the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Housing Support Program (HSP) Allocation. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Human Services 2020-21 recommended budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Under the terms of the recommended contract, the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB) will provide housing and rental assistance for CalWORKs families who identify themselves as homeless. Homeless is defined as lacking a fixed and regular nighttime residence; or having a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations; or residing in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; or in receipt of a judgment for eviction, as ordered by a court. Based on an average cost of $15,034 per family, a total of 431 families and approximately 250 new households will be served with the available HSP Allocation in 2020-21.
The CalWORKs HSP promotes housing stability for families in the CalWORKs program. In certain circumstances, CalWORKs offers its participants both temporary and permanent Homeless Assistance, however, this HSP differs in that all CalWORKs families are eligible to receive HSP assistance regardless of their asset or income levels. In addition, individuals are not precluded from participating in the HSP if they have received homeless assistance benefits previously. Treatment for mental health or substance abuse needs is also not a condition of receiving services. From January 2015 to date, the partnership between the Transitional Assistance Department (TAD), HACSB, and HACSB’s affiliate non-profit, Knowledge and Education for Your Success, Inc. (KEYS), has served 2,346 families, of which 6,181 are children; resulting in the placement of 1,675 households, including 4,076 children, in permanent housing.
In part, the legislation requires that counties use evidence-based models, including those established in the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing (RRH) Program, in the implementation of the HSP. The goal of the program is to assist families in quickly obtaining permanent housing and provide wrap-around supports to families to foster housing retention. RRH and targeted homelessness prevention programs have been implemented nationwide as cost effective strategies to help families exit or avoid homelessness and retain permanent housing.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) encouraged counties to partner with county and local community-based organizations that are experienced in providing housing services. The County of San Bernardino partnered with HACSB to provide RRH and rental assistance services, and TAD entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Behavioral Health to provide case management through the Family Stabilization and Life Skills programs.
HACSB has been the largest provider of affordable housing in San Bernardino County since it was founded in 1941 and is currently serving nearly 26,000 individuals and families. HACSB and KEYS will continue to work with families and private landlords to provide RRH and rental assistance, to ensure HUD’s Housing Quality Standards are followed and maintained, and to ensure the family knows and understands their tenant rights and responsibilities. Rents are assessed based upon applicable local sub-market rents, but in no circumstance exceed the local area’s Fair Market Rent established by HUD. Additionally, KEYS will partner with community and faith based organizations to negotiate and support payment of security deposits, utility assistance, rental assistance, furniture needs, and other housing costs as appropriate to the situation.
The RRH program offers time-limited, individualized financial assistance at a level that enables the family to maintain housing while they seek to increase income; learn to manage a household budget; relocate to less expensive housing; and/or reduce expenses to sustain their housing. Rental assistance will be provided in a manner that is intended to prevent families from experiencing a sudden and unmanageable increase in their housing expenses at the end of program assistance.
PROCUREMENT
The Purchasing Department determined that the non-competitive nature of a contract with HACSB is justified based on CDSS’ allocation to the County as a result of TAD’s proposal to partner with HACSB in its application for HSP funding.
TAD received notification of the 2020-21 HSP preliminary allocation in the amount of $6,480,000. The final notification will not be received until late June or early July of 2020. Any necessary budget adjustments will be brought before the Board of Supervisors for approval.
Contractor performance will be measured by reviewing invoices and monthly reports by County staff to monitor compliance with the requirements of the contract.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Jennifer Mulhall-Daudel, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on May 19, 2020; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 22, 2020; Purchasing (Leo Gomez, Purchasing Manager, 387-2063) on May 14, 2020; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on May 26, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer 388-0332) on May 26, 2020.