Important note: the following recommendation was approved by the Board of Supervisors on March 14, 2017:

To:              Honorable Board of Supervisors

From:          Iliana Rodriguez, Director, Human Services Agency

Subject:      Measure K: Amendment to the Agreement with Samaritan House

RECOMMENDATION:

Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to the agreement with Samaritan House, increasing the amount of the agreement by $2,100,000 for Coordinated Entry System services, for the term of January 15, 2017 through June 30, 2019, for a total agreement amount of $2,200,000.

BACKGROUND:

The County of San Mateo is committed to prevent and end homelessness for county residents, with the goal to end homelessness by 2020. Over the course of the next few years, the County and other stakeholders will focus on system changes and implementation of strategies identified in the County’s Strategic Plan to End Homelessness 2016-2020, which was published in July 2016 (the “Plan”).

The Plan creates a unified system, invests in best practices, and reorients the current homeless system towards housing crisis response. In addition to addressing homelessness as a housing crisis, the Plan sets the path to develop a systematic approach targeted at helping people maintain their housing, returning unsheltered homeless people to housing as quickly as possible, and prioritizing existing system capacity for those who face the highest barriers and longest history of homelessness.

Developing and implementing a Coordinated Entry System (“CES”) is the third in a series of Request for Proposals from the County’s Human Services Agency (“HSA”) to implement a systems change effort and procure services to implement all components of a housing crisis resolution system as identified in the Plan.

On August 5, 2016, HSA released the following Request for Proposals (RFP) for CES: Shelter Diversion and Coordinated Assessment for the San Mateo County Homeless System. Samaritan House was selected as the vendor offering services that best met the County’s needs in implementing this system.

To get the most services for the Measure K funding allocated for this project and to allow the Samaritan House to begin staffing positions, it was necessary to initiate services under a $100,000 start-up agreement signed by the HSA Director.

DISCUSSION:

This amendment to the agreement with Samarian House for CES services will add Measure K funding in the amount of $2,100,000 to cover the cost for the full scope of services for a total agreement amount of $2,200,000. Services are available to homeless households (families with children, adults, and youth) seeking homeless services within San Mateo County. Services will include providing oversight of initial screening of homeless households; providing diversion services to homeless households and households at imminent risk of homelessness; applying a standard assessment tool to all households and placing households into interim housing; and coordinating with the County’s matching and referral process for housing interventions.

The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing an amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).

The amendment and resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.

This amendment contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Prosperous Community by providing CES services for families and individuals in San Mateo County who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, which will lead them to self- sufficiency. It is anticipated that the CES will serve 148 families per year in FY 16-17, and 30% of all households requesting homeless assistance will be diverted from homelessness on the same day of the request. HSA anticipates that the CES will serve 600 families per year in FY 2017-19 and 1,400 individuals per year in FY 2017-19.

PERFORMANCE MEASURE(S):

Measure	*FY 2016-17 Projected	FY 2017-18 Projected	2018-19 Projected
Percentage of households who are successfully diverted from shelter/homelessness on the day they requested homeless assistance (the program helps them identify an alternative housing situation, rather than enter a homeless shelter)	Family – 30%   **Individual- NA	Family – 40% Individual-30%	Family – 40% Individual-30%
Percentage of households served who do not enter shelter within 30 days of when they first requested homeless assistance (households are able to maintain alternative housing situation and have not needed to enter shelter)	Family – 30% Individual-NA	Family – 30% Individual-20%	Family – 30% Individual-20%

*Percentages for FY 2016-17 reflect services for only 6 months.

** CES services are starting with family households in FY 16-17 and will begin serving individuals/adult households in FY 17-18.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

This amendment adds $2,100,000 in Measure K funds for the term of January 15, 2017 through June 30, 2019 for a total agreement obligation of $2,200,000. The amended amount of $2,100,000 is funded using Measure K sales and use tax revenue. Of the total amount, $475,755 is included in the FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget, $854,372 will be included in the FY 2017-18 Recommended Budget and $869,873 will be included in the FY 2018-19 Recommended Budget.