TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jennifer Yasumoto, Director Health and Human Services Agency
REPORT BY: Jennifer Ivancie, Staff Services Analyst I
SUBJECT: Amendment No. 2 to Agreement No. 190021B with Abode Services, Inc.
RECOMMENDATION
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Director of Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) requests approval of and authorization for the Chair to sign Amendment No. 2 to Agreement No. 190021B with Abode Services, Inc., for a new contract maximum of $337,168 per fiscal year, for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023, and each subsequent automatic renewal, to address housing and income needs of disabled individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, under the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP).
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of today’s action will increase the maximum contract amount by $243,682 for a new contract maximum of $337,168 per fiscal year and replace the current exhibits for the Scope of Work and Compensation, to accept an augmented allocation from California Department of Social Services (CDSS) under the HDAP Program.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Health & Human Services, Self Sufficiency Services |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
If this amendment is not approved, HHSA would be unable to make use of additional funding that benefits one of the most vulnerable populations in our community, chronically homeless disabled persons. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
This Agreement contains a provision for automatic annual renewal. Appropriations have been included in the approved Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget and future fiscal years will be budgeted accordingly. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
HHSA’s Self Sufficiency Services Division (SSSD) would be unable to make use of the additional funding to provide more services to clients in need of stable housing. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Livable Economy for All |
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Additional Information |
None |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Assembly Bill (AB) 1603 established HDAP, which is a county administered program that provides housing supports and disability benefit application assistance and advocacy to people likely eligible for disability benefits and experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. The goal of HDAP is to secure disability benefits for participants and stabilize them in permanent housing.
Services offered through HDAP include outreach, case management, disability benefit advocacy, and housing assistance. HHSA’s SSSD was awarded the HDAP allocation in January 2018. Abode Services entered into a contract with HHSA as a result of an RFP which was issued to incorporate HDAP in the redesign of the homeless services system, pursuant to the HDAP allocation award.
The Budget Act of 2022 (Assembly Bill 178, Chapter 45, Statutes of 2022) appropriated an additional total of $175 million for HDAP for FY 2022-2023 with $25 million to be expended through June 30, 2023, and the remainder to be expended through June 30, 2025. Each county was provided an augmented noncompetitive allocation to continue to run their individual HDAP programs. Counties were notified in early January of this additional allocation for HDAP.
This Amendment includes a cost increase to incorporate the ability for Abode to provide direct financial assistance in the form of temporary (bridge) housing, direct assistance payments for deposit and rent subsidies, as well as incentives to encourage clients to remain in shelter while concurrently working to obtain disability benefits and housing stability. An increase in staffing costs were included in order to issue and track these necessary, additional payments.
Additionally, this Amendment updates the Scope of Work. The Scope of Work under the original agreement with Abode was developed when HDAP was a new program and was created to implement the program as it was designed at its inception. Over the years, Abode’s HDAP has been refined to provide services best suited for this program and its population. This includes the addition of direct financial assistance, bridge housing, and customer incentives.