Title
Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 3334 with The Center for Common Concerns, Inc. (HomeBase), for the provision of strategic and technical assistance to the community collaboration known as El Dorado Opportunity Knocks Continuum of Care (EDOK), for the term upon execution to continue for one (1) year, with a maximum contractual obligation of $82,000;
2) Make a determination that providing $82,000 for a contract for strategic and technical expertise to support EDOK in developing a Coordinated Entry System for homeless individuals provides a public benefit to residents of El Dorado County; and
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute further documents relating to Agreement for Services 3334, including amendments which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement, and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: County General Fund up to $82,000. Community sponsors may also contribute to the funding of this Agreement, at their discretion, which would defray a portion of the cost to the County General Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) provides numerous services to the community that intersect with the relevant subpopulations of homelessness - persons experiencing domestic violence; public health issues; behavioral health issues; housing issues; events resulting in child welfare services including youth aged out of foster care; veterans, etc. As such, HHSA is recommending that the Agency function as the entity contracting with The Center for Common Concerns, Inc. (HomeBase), to secure a consultant with specialized knowledge and experience in providing technical assistance (TA) and strategic planning to further the activities of EDOK. The Board identified $82,000 in General Fund for this purpose. In addition, various community stakeholders have expressed an interest in sponsoring this consultant’s activities. Contributions by these sponsors will help to defray the cost of this Agreement with HomeBase.
In 1987 Congress passed the first federal law specifically addressing homelessness, later renamed as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento), to provide federal financial support for communities to address homelessness. Since 1994, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has required each community to come together to plan a single system response to homelessness and submit a single comprehensive Continuum of Care (CoC) application to receive federal funding. A CoC entity serves two purposes: (1) to develop a long-term strategic plan and manage a year-round planning effort to address the identified needs of homeless individuals and households; identify the availability and accessibility of existing housing and services; identify opportunities for linkages with mainstream housing and services resources; and (2) to prepare an application for McKinney-Vento competitive grants.
Following a November 5, 2013 meeting of the Board of Supervisors, the County encouraged the development of an inter-agency taskforce to examine homeless sheltering locations, which developed into a group of community stakeholders called Opportunity Knocks. In addition, for many years a separate collaboration of local agencies and providers have administered El Dorado County’s CoC with limited expertise in accessing/increasing funding to support local system enhancement.
On May 8, 2017, to maximize administrative expertise in CoC development, and leveraging of increased funding, Opportunity Knocks issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to obtain a consultant with specialized expertise to provide technical assistance in the development and management of CoC activities, which resulted in an award to The Center for Common Concerns, Inc. (HomeBase).
During 2017-2018 the Opportunity Knocks stakeholders received a presentation on HUD CoC administration, grant requirements and processes, which convinced the stakeholders of the value in merging with El Dorado County’s CoC to maximize local stakeholder support and establish cohesive system planning, which in turn would leverage increased federal funding for evidence-based homeless programs. This merger of community stakeholders is now known as El Dorado Opportunity Knocks CoC (EDOK).
With support from HomeBase in the 2017 McKinney-Vento federal funding cycle for CoC’s, EDOK was awarded the single largest federal homeless grant ever received in El Dorado County’s history. The success of the CoC in developing and applying for this federal funding under the guidance of HomeBase resulted in the County’s support of further technical assistance by HomeBase via this Agreement #3334.
Prior Board Actions:
1) November 5, 2013 (File ID: 13-1132), following a presentation on homelessness from Hangtown Haven and the Mayor of the City of Placerville, the County encouraged the development of an inter-agency taskforce to examine homeless sheltering locations, which developed into a collaboration of community stakeholders called Opportunity Knocks.
2) February 28, 2017 (File ID: 17-0185), the Board of Supervisors (Board) contributed $20,000 in Board salary savings for use by Opportunity Knocks in their ongoing efforts to develop a CoC, stating that they found this contribution provides a public benefit to the residents of the County of El Dorado.
3) August 15, 2017 (File ID: 17-0741 Ver1), presentation on the status of the CoC and Opportunity Knocks, and their activities.
4) December 5, 2017 (File ID: 17-0741 Ver2), update on status of EDOK activities and opportunities.
ALTERNATIVES:
In the event the Board should decline to approve this Agreement for Services with HomeBase, EDOK would continue to self-educate on the requirements of a CoC.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This Agreement has a General Fund impact of $82,000 for FY 2018-19 and is included in the approved Recommended Budget. Community stakeholders have agreed to sponsor a portion of this Agreement for Services and thereby defray a portion of the cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on two (2) original Agreements for Services ___.
2) Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed Agreement to HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Road, Suite B.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
County Strategic Plan - Healthy Communities: Improved health, well-being and self sufficiency of El Dorado County communities, residents and visitors.
CONTACT
Patricia Charles-Heathers, Ph.D., M.P.A., Director