Title
a. Ratify the execution by the County Administrator Officer’s approval of agreement with Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, signed on September 9, 2020 retroactively for $3,601,213 to operate the Project Roomkey program for “high-risk COVID-19” homeless residents of Monterey County for a term of 9/8/2020 through December 31, 2020; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) additional amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not increase funding for the Agreement and does not significantly change the scope of work.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Ratify the execution by the County Administrator Officer’s approval of agreement with Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, signed on September 9, 2020 retroactively for $3,601,213 to operate the Project Roomkey program for “high-risk COVID-19” homeless residents of Monterey County for a term of 9/8/2020 through December 31, 2020; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) additional amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not increase funding for the Agreement and does not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this agreement is to transfer oversight and operations of the ‘high-risk COVID-19” Project Roomkey services, which provides non-congregate shelter options for people experiencing homelessness and are at high risk for medical complications were they to become infected from COVID-19. Referrals to this program continue to be received and processed through the Monterey County Emergency Operations Center by way of the Health Department and local hospitals. Additionally, oversight and operations of the “COVID-19 positive and under investigation” portion of Project Roomkey remains within the County.
This agreement is sole sourced to the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers due to their unique position as the Continuum of Care Coordinator for Monterey County. The Coalition of Homeless Services Providers is the only provider able to coordinate the multitude of wrap around services necessary to meet the service populations’ needs which include program oversight, hotel room management, health services, behavioral health services, transportation, accommodations for disabilities and access/functional needs, and housing navigation services by tapping into their local provider network for these specialized services. Case management and housing navigation will be provided by the staff from Central Coast Center for Independent Living and Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra’s Dorothy’s Place program, Substance Use Disorder treatment will be provided by Sun Street Centers, and mental health treatment will be provided by Interim, Inc., respectively. The key service component of the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers operation of Project Roomkey will be the case management with focus on housing navigation. Transition out of the motel and into permanent or transitional housing is the operational goal of all services.
The total cost of this agreement is $3,601,213 and requires a payment of $525,000 in “start-up” costs upon execution of the Agreement. The Agreement also includes a $500,000 contingency set aside from daily operating costs to be utilized only in the event of uninsured damages or theft to the motel rooms utilized for the program. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the need for this program could potentially extend beyond December 31, 2020. DSS and other County department partners continue to assess current and future funding sources available to reimburse and/or continue to fund the operations of this program while COVID-19 risks remain high in order to prevent this vulnerable population from returning to homelessness upon program closure.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Auditor-Controller and Purchasing have reviewed and approved this agreement. County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
Funding for this Agreement will be provided by the approved Board’s plan for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funding of $2,646,850. The expenditures will be reported/claimed under the Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) less the CARES funding applied to the cost. There are no guarantees on receiving FEMA funding, however, the expenditures appear to be appropriate in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and will be submitted under the COVID 19 Disaster for this project. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for the Office of Emergency Services (OES) in CAO005 are included in the FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget.
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 providing access to a shelter to reduce risk and spread of COVID-19 to high risk individuals experiencing homelessness.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
__Economic Development
X Administration
X Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Lauren Suwansupa, CAM x8492
Approved by: Lori A. Medina, MSW, Director x4430
Attachments: Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, Project Roomkey Agreement and the sole source document.
The proposed Agreement is on file with the Clerk of the Board.