TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jennifer Palmer, Director of Housing & Homeless Services
REPORT BY: Jennifer Palmer, Director of Housing & Homeless Services
SUBJECT: Request to extend agreement with Kamer Consulting Group for homeless services communication.
RECOMMENDATION
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Director of Housing and Homeless Services requests authorization for the Chair to sign an agreement with Kamer Consulting Group extending the contract term one additional year, through June 30, 2022.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2018, Napa County applied for and received a Community-Based Transitional Housing Grant from the State of California. This grant will fund many activities that will benefit the South Napa Homeless Shelter including additional security, enhanced street outreach efforts in the immediate vicinity, as well as behavioral health and criminogenic treatment services.
In additional to shelter and outreach services, the grant includes funding for a community outreach plan. The community outreach is intended to educate residents and community members about the role of the homeless services system, the three shelters in the community (South Napa Shelter, Winter Shelter, and Rainbow House Family Shelter) and the housing-first housing navigation and tenancy sustaining programs. Kamer Consulting Group was selected to assist with development of the plan and communication channel design and implementation through a competitive RFP process. Kamer Consulting Group is a local vendor.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the work agreed upon in the original contract was significantly delayed. Today’s action will extend the contract by one year in order to complete the previously agreed upon work, with no change to the overall contract maximum.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Housing and Homeless Services Division |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
This item is discretionary in that there is no mandate to develop a community outreach plan for homeless services, nor to extend the service period to complete the contract scope of work. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
None |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If this item is not approved Napa County will be unable to pay Kamer Consulting Group to complete the contract deliverables. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Effective and Open Government |
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
In 2016, the City and County of Napa jointly engaged in a redesign of the homeless services system, with the goal of increasing the system’s efficiency and effectiveness. Central to the design in implementation of “Housing First”. Housing First is a homeless assistance approach that prioritizes permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness above all other service interventions in order to end their experience of homelessness and provide a foundation from which individuals can improve their quality of life. Mobile outreach and engagement to individuals living in places not meant for human habitation is central to the Housing First approach to ensure the most at-risk individuals can receive services in locations readily accessible to them.
In 2018, Napa County applied for and received a Community-Based Transitional Housing (CBTH) Grant from the State of California. The grant provides funding for many activities benefiting the South Napa Shelter including additional security, enhanced mobile outreach efforts in the immediate vicinity, as well as behavioral health and criminogenic treatment services.
In additional to shelter and outreach services, the grant includes funding for a community outreach plan. The community outreach is intended to educate residents and community members about the role of the homeless services system, the three shelters in the community (South Napa Shelter, Winter Shelter, and Rainbow House Family Shelter) and the housing-first housing navigation and tenancy sustaining programs. Kamer Consulting Group was selected to assist with development of the plan and communication channel design and implementation through a competitive RFP process. Kamer Consulting Group is a local vendor.
To date, Kamer Consulting Group has facilitated a series of stakeholder meetings and surveys in order to map the structure of the homeless services system. Small focus groups were held with community members to understand resident concerns and knowledge of the existing programs and system in order to provide a reference point to measure the success and effectiveness of a communication plan. After completing outreach, Kamer Consulting Group worked with County staff, City of Napa partners and other service providers to develop outreach materials detailing the scope of the homeless services system and its evolution. Outreach materials include: flyers, infographics, a video and a website for the Napa City and County Continuum of Care (CoC). This agreement is wholly funded by the Community-Based Transitional Housing Grant.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related mandates, the original scope of work was unable to be completed by June 30, 2021 as planned. Remaining work within the scope of services include: distribution of the printed materials, completion of the website and video, and training to Continuum of Care staff to update and manage the website and materials going forward.
The action today will extend the contract performance period by one year to June 30, 2022 with no change to the contract maximum.