REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2020
FROM
GARY HALLEN, Director, Community Development and Housing
SUBJECT
Title
Amendments to Housing and Disability Advocacy Program and Emergency Solutions Grant Homeless Services Contracts
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 18-550 with Inland Counties Legal Services, effective July 1, 2020, to reduce amended contract amount of $570,000 by $85,671, resulting in a new total contract amount of $484,329, to expand the scope of the Emergency Solutions Grant Program scope of services to include social security and disability advocacy and application assistance, and extend the contract period through June 30, 2021.
2. Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 18-771 with Inland Empire United Way, effective July 1, 2020, to increase original contract award of $623,316 by $137,301, resulting in a new total contract amount of $760,617, to provide bridge housing, case management and Coordinated Entry System support services, and extend the contract period through June 30, 2021.
(Presenter: Gary Hallen, Director, 387-4411)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
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 will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The proposed contract amendments are funded with Housing Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) state funds and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) which is federally funded by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Community Development and Housing Department’s (CDH) (Cost Center 6210002496 and 6210002482) 2020-21 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On July 24, 2018 (Item No. 16), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved a contract with Inland Counties Legal Services (ICLS) (Contract 18-550), not to exceed $400,000, to provide disability advocacy services. On October 16, 2018 (Item No. 23), the Board approved the Amendment No. 1 to the ICLS contract (Contract No. 18-550-A1), which expanded the scope of services already being provided to ESG-eligible clients and increased the contract by $170,000 for ESG activities. On the same item the Board also approved a $623,316 contract with Inland Empire United Way (IEUW) (Contract 18-771) to provide bridge housing, case management and other related homeless services through HDAP ($400,000) and ESG ($223,316).
HDAP
Approval of this item will allow for funding to be reallocated between activities for the continuation of HDAP to meet current needs and demands. HDAP is a County administrated program to assist disabled individuals who are experiencing homelessness apply for disability benefit programs while also providing housing assistance. ICLS and IEUW are local service providers the County has partnered with to provide the short-term bridge housing leading to permanent housing, financial assistance, case management and legal/benefit advocacy services to eligible homeless clientele.
During the implementation of the program, the providers have identified an increase in the need for temporary housing, particularly with the onset of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. With Governor Newsome’s statewide Stay-In-Place order issued in March, the demand has significantly increased and exhausted the current budget allocated to bridge housing. To continue to isolate HDAP homeless clients in non-congregate sheltering and prevent the spread of the virus, the clients’ motel stays have been extended beyond the standard 90-days. Additionally, the Stay-In-Place order has impacted the provider’s ability to quickly identify and place clients in permanent housing options as many property owners have limited or restricted showings/staffing and are operating under modified or restricted service delivery methods, in conformance with social distancing rules. To continue to provide bridge housing through the HDAP and not displace/release the homeless clients back into homeless, CDH is requesting to modify ICLS’ and IEUW’s contracts.
The following activity program adjustments will be made to adequately fund the increase to the bridge housing activity and the associated case management and the Coordinated Entry System (CES) support required for the continuation of services:
|
Category |
Provider |
Activity |
Original Activity Budget |
Proposed Activity Adjustment |
Proposed Amended Activity Budget |
|
Outreach |
Inland Empire United Way |
CES Support |
$60,000 |
$18,301 |
$78,301 |
|
|
Inland Empire United Way |
Case Management |
$50,000 |
$25,000 |
$75,000 |
|
Housing Financial Assistance |
Inland Empire United Way |
Bridge Housing* |
$338,500 |
$103,566 |
$442,066 |
|
|
Inland Empire United way |
Housing Financial Assistance |
$51,500 |
($9,566) |
$41,934 |
|
Disability Benefits Advocacy |
Inland Counties Legal Services |
Legal Support |
$400,000 |
($85,671) |
$314,329.29 |
|
HMIS** |
N/A |
|
$51,630 |
($51,630) |
- |
|
Administration |
County of San Bernardino - CDH |
Administrative Costs |
$90,000 |
- |
$90,000 |
|
Total |
|
|
$1,041,630 |
(0) |
$1,041,630 |
*please note: $100,000 of the bridge housing budget is not part of these contracts.
** HMIS funding for HDAP is being reduced as the systems upgrades initially planned will be funded with a different funding source.
As shown in the table above, shifts were made within the overall program to ensure there are no impacts to the County budget. The program modifications that will be used to fund the contract amendments are based upon a current assessment of needs and overall program performance.
In addition, in response to COVID-19 and as part of other program improvements being made by the State of California Department of Social Services (CDSS), who funds the HDAP program, the expenditure deadline of the program has been extended until June 30, 2021, which is an additional year beyond the initial expiration date. CDH is requesting to extend the contracts to June 30, 2021 to conform with the State’s new deadline.
ESG
Approval of this item will allow the continued provision of these services until the funding expiration date of August 8, 2020, which has been established by HUD, to allow for adequate time for the provider to submit all relevant documentation pertaining to the expenditures on or before September 30, 2020. CDH administers the ESG program funding received from HUD to provide homeless services, and to promote housing stability through the provision of emergency shelters, homelessness prevention, housing/rental assistance, rapid rehousing, case management, housing search and stabilization, street outreach and related essential services. The County has partnered with ICLS to assist clients eligible for these services with obtaining documentation needed to secure housing. In addition, ICLS provides advocacy and assistance with the application process to obtain public benefits such as Social Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) for eligible applicants. The current contract expires on June 30, 2020; however, the provider currently has approximately 60 clients in the queue who will require additional services beyond the initial contract expiration date. CDH is recommending the extension to allow ICLS to complete these services, further assist the clients with obtaining housing stability, and meet the expenditure requirements of the grant. Since ICLS’ and IEUW’s contracts are associated with ESG funds which expire on August 8, 2020 and HDAP funds which expire on June 30, 2021, respectively, the amendment will clearly stipulate the performance periods for each respective funding source. The contract values funded by ESG are not changing; thus, there will be no fiscal impact to ESG activities resulting from the proposed amendment.
PROCUREMENT
No procurement is required for this action.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455 on June 11, 2020; Finance (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on June 11, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer 387-5423) on June 15, 2020.