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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Make findings that the provision of disability benefits advocacy services provided by Maximus US Services, Inc. are in the public's best interest and that there are specialty skills, qualifications, and equipment not expressly identified in County classifications involved in the performance of the work in accordance with El Dorado County Ordinance Code, Chapter 3.13.030(B);
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 8629 with Maximus US Services, Inc. in the amount of $95,000 and for the term of two years from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026;
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute amendments relating to Agreement 8629, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, which do not increase compensation or extend term of the Agreement; and
4) Authorize the HHSA Director, or the Chief Assistant Director, to execute programmatic, administrative, and fiscal documents relating to Agreement 8629.
FUNDING: 47% California Department of Social Services Home Safe Program Funding and 53% HDAP Funding.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The County HHSA Social Services Division administers the Self Sufficiency Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) and the Adult Protective Services (APS) Home Safe Program.
HDAP was established in 2016 by Assembly Bill (AB) 1603 (Chapter 25, Statutes of 2016) and updated by Senate Bill (SB) 80 (Chapter 27, Statutes 2019) to assist people experiencing homelessness who are likely eligible for disability benefits by providing advocacy for those benefits as well as housing supports. In 2019, CDSS, as the administrator of HDAP funding, began making the funding available to all counties and federally recognized tribes throughout California, to establish, continue, and expand housing and homelessness assistance through their participation in the HDAP. Since 2021, HHSA has received annual non-competitive HDAP funding allocations by the CDSS, with most awards providing a one-year term. Most recently, the Budget Act of 2023 appropriated an additional $25 million in non-competitive, one-time funding for HDAP in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24. El Dorado County received an allocation in the amount of $100,000 for FY 2023-24, with the expenditure period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.
The Home Safe Program, also administered by CDSS, provides non-competitive funding to county and tribal APS jurisdictions to provide safety, housing stability, and homelessness prevention services to clients served by APS. Counties participating in the Home Safe Program serve APS clients through a range of strategies to prevent homelessness and increase housing stability for APS clients, including but not limited to housing-related case management, short-term housing related financial assistance, eviction prevention, landlord mediation, mental health services, and housing navigation services. On October 25, 2022, the Board accepted a non-competitive Home Safe Program funding allocation in the amount of $394,567 with a term through June 30, 2025 (Legistar file 22-1836).
In accordance with the California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 15771(c)(2), APS programs participating in the Home Safe Program must assess each APS client’s housing needs to create an individualized case plan for meeting those needs, with the plan to be developed in coordination with a multidisciplinary team that may include housing program providers, mental health providers, local law enforcement, legal assistance providers, and others as deemed relevant by the APS agency.
The proposed Agreement 8629 with Maximus US Services, Inc. is a renewal of Agreement 6410 which terms on June 30, 2024 (First Amendment to Agreement 6410 was approved by the Board on April 4, 2023, under Legistar file 23-0513). HHSA recommends the Board approve proposed renewal Agreement 8629 to ensure continuation of the HDAP services related to disability benefit application assistance for clients, including Social Security and income screening, application assistance, document readiness, and reconsideration hearings/disability reviews.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve this recommendation, HHSA Social Services Division’s would not be able to provide HDAP and Home Safe Programs services to clients.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 11/16/21, 21-1691, HHSA Housing and Disability Advocacy Program 2021
2) 11/16/21, 21-1711, Home Safe Program allocation acceptance FY 2021-22
3) 10/25/22, 22-1820, HHSA Housing and Disability Advocacy Program Funding FY 2022- 23
4) 10/25/22, 22-1836, Home Safe Program allocation acceptance FY 2022-23
5) 04/04/23, 23-0513, HHSA - 6410 Amendment 1
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel, Human Resources, Information Technologies, and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this agenda item. Sufficient appropriations were included in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget and will be included in future budgets for the term of the Agreement.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on one original Agreement for Services 8629.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency