Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Community Human Services to operate the Salinas Housing Advancement, Resource and Education (SHARE) Center, for the period of September 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, in the amount of $220,000; and
b. Authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three amendments to this Agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($22,000) of the amended contract amount, do not significantly change the scope of work, and not to exceed the maximum aggregate amount of $242,000.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Community Human Services to operate the Salinas Housing Advancement, Resource and Education (SHARE) Center, for the period of September 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, in the amount of $220,000; and
b. Authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three amendments to this Agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($22,000) of the amended contract amount, do not significantly change the scope of work, and not to exceed the maximum aggregate amount of $242,000.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The SHARE Center, located at 845 Laurel Drive, Salinas opened in May of 2021 and has been operating at 100% capacity with a current waitlist of over 600. This agreement with Community Human Services (CHS) is for the Salinas Housing Advancement, Resource & Education (SHARE) Center operations and provides the County’s occupancy terms. The SHARE Center has a capacity of 104 beds for families and individuals experiencing homelessness and provides comprehensive services in a housing navigation center model, including emergency shelter and wraparound services with a Housing First and pet friendly approach. The agreement with CHS has a service goal at least 70% of the SHARE Center guests exit into permanent housing.
The City, in collaboration with the County, conducted a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify a new operator for the SHARE Center. At the conclusion of the RFP process, CHS was selected as the new operator, effective September 1, 2024. This venture is a partnership with the City of Salinas where both parties will have separate agreements with CHS and will share in the SHARE Center costs using various local and regional funding streams. The City will execute a separate agreement with CHS to include $2,807,415 for FY 2024-25 operational costs.
CHS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides mental health, substance abuse, and homeless services to Monterey County residents. CHS has a proven track record of operating multiple emergency shelters in the Monterey Peninsula region for single women and families with children. CHS will partner with Dorothy’s Place to provide additional housing navigation support at the SHARE Center for single adults and couples without children. Dorothy’s Place operates a drop-in center in Salinas Chinatown, conducts homeless outreach services to encampments, and provides housing navigation to chronically homeless single adults. The partnership between CHS and Dorothy’s Place will ensure guests receive comprehensive and individualized housing services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County continues to work collaboratively with the City of Salinas per the existing Memorandum of Understanding. The City will maintain a separate operational agreement with Community Human Services. Housing and Community Development supports the program with contributions from the Permanent Local Housing Allocation funding. The Office of County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Agreements as to form, as has the Auditor-Controller’s Office as to financial provisions.
FINANCING:
This agreement is funded with $220,000 of General Fund Contributions for homeless services. Sufficient appropriations are included in the Social Services Community Programs, Fund 001, SOC004 unit for the FY2024-25 Adopted Budget.
This venture is a partnership with the City of Salinas where both parties will use multiple funding streams to support the operational agreement. Both the City and County will have separate agreements with CHS and will share in the costs using various local and regional funding streams. The County is currently working with the City on a reconciliation and the City is taking the lead this year with executing an agreement with CHS of $2,807,415, while the County has provided $500,000.00 for the two-month transition period with the current operator, and this current agreement proposes $220,000, for a county total of $720,000.
The total cost for the City and County partnership for SHARE Center operations for FY 2024-25 is $3,527,415.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This agreement correlates to the Public Safety, Health & Human Services, and Administration Strategic Initiatives adopted by the Board of Supervisors by promoting access to safe shelter and housing navigation services to reduce risk for physical and mental health issues and other chronic illness to individuals experiencing homelessness and allows the County to work collaboratively with the City of Salinas in this shared operation.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
Economic Development
X Administration
X Health & Human Services
Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Alex Soltero, Management Analyst II, x3584
Approved by: Lori A. Medina, Director, x4430
Attachments: Agreement
Proposed agreement is on file with the Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report.