Title
a. Support authorizing the Auditor-Controller to amend the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Adopted Budget to increase appropriations and estimated revenues by $4,500,000 to Budget Unit 8054- FUND 001- Appropriation Unit CAO004, financed by a grant award from the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (CAL ICH); and
b. Support authorizing the County Administrative Officer or designee, to execute non-standard service contracts, as necessary, and upon approval by the Board of Supervisors, to effectuate the purchase of modular units to operate a low-barrier non-congregate shelter in Watsonville, California in partnership with Santa Cruz County, in an amount not to exceed the grant award of $7,986,354.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Budget Committee:
a. Support authorizing the Auditor-Controller to amend the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Adopted Budget to increase appropriations and estimated revenues by $4,500,000 to Budget Unit 8054- FUND 001- Appropriation Unit CAO004, financed by a grant award from the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (CAL ICH); and
b. Support authorizing the County Administrative Officer or designee, to execute non-standard service contracts, as necessary, and upon approval by the Board of Supervisors, to effectuate the purchase of modular units to operate a low-barrier non-congregate shelter in Watsonville, California in partnership with Santa Cruz County, in an amount not to exceed the grant award of $7,986,354.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Under the authority of Chapter 7 of Part 1 of Division 31 of the California Health and Safety
Code (sections 50250 et seq.), the Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Program was established to increase collaboration between the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (CAL ICH), local jurisdictions, and continuums of care (CoC’s) to accomplish the following:
• Assist local jurisdictions in ensuring the wellness and safety of people experiencing homelessness in encampments, including their immediate physical and mental wellness and safety needs arising from unsheltered homelessness and their longer-term needs addressed through a path to safe and stable housing.
• Provide encampment resolution grants to local jurisdictions and continuums of care to support innovative and replicable efforts to resolve critical encampment concerns and to
support individuals to access safe and stable housing, using Housing First approaches.
• Encourage a data-informed, coordinated approach to address unsheltered homelessness at encampments by establishing, through the encampment resolution grants, effective,
scalable, and replicable demonstration projects.
On February 14, 2023, Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved the submission of the ERF proposal in the amount of $7,986,354 and authorized the County Administrative Officer or designee to execute necessary documents to accept the funds, if awarded. On June 14, 2023, the County of Monterey was provided notice of an award for the total amount requested and the executed agreement with the State was finalized on August 7, 2023. The funds were received by the County on September 8, 2023.
In preparation for the receipt of the award, the Counties of Monterey and Santa Cruz partnered on an Encampment Resolution Funding project proposal to serve people living along the Pajaro River. This collaborative proposal includes the development of 34 modular units, dining room, outdoor seating area, offices, showers, and restrooms, 2 years of operations, and 5% administrative costs for the County of Monterey. This project will be located at Westview Presbyterian Church, 118 1st Street, Watsonville, CA. The modular units will be purchased by the County of Monterey from Dignity Moves, a private company, and transferred for a nominal fee to the County of Santa Cruz at the conclusion of the grant period in 2026.
Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties will partner to operate the shelter, and contract with a private service provider to operate the facility. Roles and responsibilities of both counties will be substantiated via Memorandum of Understanding.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County of Monterey will enter into an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Santa Cruz to establish and operate a low barrier navigation center program at 118 1st Street, Watsonville, CA. Additional collaboration may involve the Pajaro Flood Management Agency, CSUMB’s Community Health Engagement, and the Sheriff’s Office to determine eligibility and process referrals.
FINANCING:
The increase of appropriations by $5,000,000 to Budget Unit 8054- FUND 001- Appropriation Unit CAO004 is fully financed by the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (CAL ICH) and will include 5% administrative fees. The remaining grant funds will be fully expended no later than June 30, 2026. Upon conclusion of the Encampment Resolution Funding grant period, the County of Santa Cruz will work with the service provider to identify ongoing sustainable funds. Annual operating costs are approximately $1,820,796 and the development of the site is estimated at $3,834,459. Both Counties are currently in conversations with the Managed Care Plan provider to identify additional funds to support the two-county program.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This initiative correlates to the Health & Human Services Strategic Initiative adopted by the
Board of Supervisors by working collaboratively to address and develop a plan for ending homelessness.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
X Health & Human Services
__ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
This project aligns with the Health and Human Services Strategic Initiative to improve health and quality of life through County supported policies, programs, and services; promoting access to equitable opportunities for healthy choices and healthy environments in collaboration with communities.
Prepared by: Roxanne V. Wilson, Homelessness Services Director, ext. 5445
Approved by: Deborah Paolinelli, Assistant County Administrative Officer, ext. 5349