Important note: The following recommendation was approved by the Board of Supervisors on March 29, 2016:
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Cole, Director
Subject: Measure A: Agreement with Project Sentinel to provide Landlord and Tenant Information and Referral Services
Recommendation:
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Project Sentinel for landlord and tenant information and referral services for the term of March 1, 2016 through February 28, 2018 in an amount not to exceed $160,000.
Background:
On March 17, 2015, the Board of Supervisors (Board) tentatively approvd allocating $11.5 million in Measure A funds for affordable housing in FY 2015-17. The allocation included $9 million for the Affordable Housing Fund and $2.5 million for additional affordable housing programs. Also on March 17, 2015, the Board held a study session on affordable housing. The Board requested follow up action on 29 items including eleven actions outlined in the “Affordable Housing: Preventing Displacement, Promoting Affordable Housing Development” and 18 additional items.
On May 19, 2015, The Board accepted a report and provided direction on the allocation of the $11.5 Million in Measure A funding for Affordable Housing programs and projects. Included in the report as an immediate action item was to provide up to
$160,000 of Measure A funds for a two-year contract to provide Landlord and Tenant Information and Referral Services. The Board directed staff to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit proposals and select a qualified organization to provide information and referral services to landlords and tenants in San Mateo County.
Discussion:
Project Sentinel, a nonprofit whose mission is “to develop and promote fairness and equality of housing opportunity for all and to advocate peaceful resolution of disputes for community welfare and harmony” was selected through a competitive process to deliver the landlord and tenant information and referral services. Project Sentinel has more than twenty years of experience in providing the type of services outlined in the RFP including: 1) fair housing education and enforcement; 2) landlord-tenant counseling/dispute resolution and; 3) homeownership (mortgage counseling and first time homebuyer training).
Project Sentinel proposed to design and administer a program to educate and inform landlords and tenants in San Mateo County about their rights and responsibilities, provide conflict resolution and mitigation resources and support to prevent unlawful evictions and to prevent miscommunication and rental-related conflicts that contribute to the housing crisis for renters in San Mateo County.
The agreement between San Mateo County and Project Sentinel will contribute to the Shared Vision 2025 outcomes to Build a Livable Community by providing information and resources to assist the County’s low income and underserved residents, stabilize housing for existing tenants, and reduce conflicts that contribute to the housing crisis for renters in San Mateo County and prevent displacement.
Performance Measures:
|
Measure |
FY 2015-16 Actual |
FY 2016-17 Projected |
|
Number of landlord/tenant calls fielded |
0 |
1500 |
|
Number of cases counseled/conciliated |
0 |
75 |
|
Number of educational workshops, training and presentations offered |
0 |
12 |
FISCAL IMPACT:
A total of $160,000 in Measure A funds that have been allocated in the County’s FY 2015-2017 Budget.
Important note: This is a copy of the official report -- item 43 on the Board's agenda.