Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Housing Resource Center of Monterey County for $1,250,000 to provide housing case management, program housing search, placement support, and rental subsidies for CalWORKs customers referred by Monterey County Department of Social Services, for the period of April 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% of the original contract amount ($125,000), and do not significantly change the scope of work.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Housing Resource Center of Monterey County for $1,250,000 to provide housing case management, program housing search, placement support, and rental subsidies for CalWORKs customers referred by Monterey County Department of Social Services, for the period of April 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% of the original contract amount ($125,000), and do not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this agreement is to provide temporary housing subsidy funding to the Housing Resource Center of Monterey County (HRC) to provide housing case management, program housing search, placement support, and rental subsidies for CalWORKs customers referred by Monterey County Department of Social Services (DSS) for the Housing Support (HSP) and Family Stabilization (FS) programs.
In 2014, FS became a new component of the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Program that provides intensive case management and services to clients that meet the criteria set forth in AB 74. FS is designed to ensure a basic level of stability within a family prior to, or concurrently with, participation in Welfare-to-Work (WTW) activities. The goal of the FS program is to increase client success in light of the flexible Welfare to Work (WTW) 24-Month Time Clock through more intensive case management and the assignment of clients to the additional activities or barrier removal services necessary to ultimately achieve self-sufficiency.
Also in 2014, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) received special authority to launch a new HSP program. Per Senate Bill (SB) 855 (Chapter 29, Statutes of 2014), housing support in the CalWORKs program is necessary to assist families working towards achieving self-sufficiency. Homelessness and housing instability in the CalWORKs program is a challenging problem that impacts children’s well being and their parents’ ability to engage in employment. The objective of the CalWORKs HSP program is to promote housing stability for families in the CalWORKs program.
The California Legislature and the Governor, recognizing the critical importance of stable housing, appropriated $35 million from the State General Fund to address homelessness and housing instability in the CalWORKs population as part of the Budget Act of 2016. DSS was awarded a share of these funds to continue the CalWORKs HSP program that currently offers rapid re-housing services to CalWORKs participants, as well as case management to assist families moving towards financial independence. In addition, the CalWORKs program provides a housing component through the CalWORKs FS program. The FS program serves CalWORKs Welfare-to-Work recipients with comprehensive case management services including housing support, behavioral health services, domestic violence intervention support, legal services child welfare support and employment resources.
HRC previously administered the contract for these critical HSP and FS services. A Request for Proposals was released on September 22, 2016 to provide a competitive process for selecting a provider that could continue services for these important programs. HRC was selected as the sole service provider for these two programs. HRC will collaborate with local resources to provide:
• Landlord outreach, recruitment, and engagement
• Housing search, placement, and retention
• Progressive ongoing case management including monthly office visits and home visits
• Financial literacy education, budgeting and money management services.
Direct financial assistance including rental application fees, rental arrears (up to three months), credit reports, moving expenses, rental payments, security deposits, unexpected financial burdens (emergency car repairs, etc.), utility deposits, and utility payments
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Auditor-Controller and Purchasing have reviewed and approved this agreement. County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
This agreement is funded by the CalWORKs Single Allocation and Housing Support Program funds. Sufficient estimated revenue and appropriations in 5010-8262-SOC005 are included in the FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget and the remaining balance will be budgeted in subsequent fiscal years. Approval of this action has no impact on the County General Fund.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Homelessness is an issue that has compounding effects on those experiencing it and the average life expectancy for individuals experiencing homelessness is 25 years less than those in stable housing. Services that support families in obtaining stable, permanent housing create a pathway to other systems that can ultimately lead to better health and quality of life.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
Economic Development
Administration
X Health & Human Services
Infrastructure
Public Safety
Prepared by: Lauren Miller, MAII, x3584
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director of Social Services, x4430
Attachments: Housing Resource Center Housing Support and Family Stabilization Agreement.pdf
Proposed agreement is on file with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report