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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Make findings pursuant to Section 3.13.030 (B) of the El Dorado County Ordinance, Contracting Out, that the provision of Transitional Housing and associated services for homeless Transitional Age Youth provided by Tahoe Youth and Family Services (TYFS), 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;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign competitively bid Agreement for Services 9428 with TYFS, in the amount of $99,672, and for the term of two years from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027;
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute amendments relating to Agreement 9428, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement; and
4) Authorize the HHSA Director, or Chief Assistant Director, to execute programmatic, administrative, and fiscal documents relating to the agreement.
FUNDING: 100% State grant funding awarded through the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On November 15, 2022, the Board authorized HHSA to apply for and accept HHAP Round 4 grant funding if awarded (Legistar file 22-1921). On March 12, 2024, the Board authorized HHSA to apply for and accept Round 5 HHAP grant funding if awarded (Legistar file 23-2113). As a requirement for applying to the HHAP Round 4 and Round 5 grant funding opportunities, HHSA and the El Dorado Opportunity Knocks Continuum of Care (EDOK CoC) had to allocate at least ten percent of its allocation as Youth Set-Aside funding, for services for unaccompanied youth who are between 12 and 24 years old and experiencing homelessness, in accordance with Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section 50218.5(f).
On October 9, 2024, at the request of HHSA, the County’s Chief Administrative Office (CAO) Procurement and Contracts Division released Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 24-0103 to solicit providers of Homelessness Outreach, Prevention, Housing Supports and Supportive Services (HOP-HSSS). Housing supportive services and case management were included in the services solicited in that RFQ. As a result of the RFQ evaluative process, TYFS was the sole respondent added to the RFQ’s Qualified List for the provision of housing supportive services targeting Transitional-Age Youth (TAY), aged 18 to 24, in the Tahoe Basin.
TYFS has successfully provided Transitional Housing services to TAY aged 18 through 24 experiencing homelessness in El Dorado County since 2021. These services include providing an intensive housing program for persons aged 18-24 who benefit from stable housing and case management, providing life skills, job readiness, and housing search support. Tahoe Youth’s current Agreement 6954 expires June 30, 2025. The proposed Agreement 9428 with TYFS is a renewal of Agreement 6954 approved by the Board on December 6, 2022, to ensure continuity in services (Legistar file 23-0886).
HHSA recommends approval of this agreement to reduce the number of youths entering homelessness, and to allow HHSA and the EDOK CoC to meet the required HHAP grant Youth Set-Aside budgeted commitments.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the Board declines to approve this recommendation, HHSA and the EDOK COC would be unable to meet the Youth Set-Aside requirement of the HHAP Round 4 and Round 5 Funding Agreements and will be out of compliance with the contracts with the state funding agency. Additionally, there would be a service gap in the provision of youth-targeted housing and case management services in South Lake Tahoe.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 11/15/22, 22-1921, HHSA HHAP Round 4 Funding
2) 06/27/23, 23-0886, HHSA Agreement 6954 Tahoe Youth & Family Services (TYFS)
3) 03/12/24, 23-2113, HHSA HHAP 5 Application
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel, Human Resources, Risk Management, CAO Procurement and Contracts Division.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this agenda item. This Agreement will be 100% funded by awarded HHSA Housing and Homelessness Services grants. Sufficient appropriations were included in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget request, and will be included in future budgets for the term of the agreements.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Obtain signature of Chair on the original Agreement for Services 9428.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Area of Focus: Safe and Healthy Communities
Priority: Develop a continuum of support and housing opportunities for unhoused individuals
Action Item: Continue Engagement with County departments, the homeless community, and countywide partners to develop effective strategies including for example, transitional housing
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency