Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Alameda Family Services to Provide Full-Time On-Site Mental Health Support at Dignity Village in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $109,031. (City Manager 10021830)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Alameda (City), DignityMoves and Five Keys Schools and Programs (Five Keys) received a Homekey 2 grant to construct and operate Dignity Village, a 47-unit, 61-bed interim supportive housing program for homeless individuals and unhoused transitional age youth, located at 2350 5th Street. Since opening in May 2023, Dignity Village has housed a total of 74 individuals. Five Keys provides housing navigation services, case management, facilities maintenance, and 24/7 security services. Individuals served come directly from unsheltered and congregate shelter settings, have experienced severe trauma, and often self-medicate. The need for access to immediate, on-site mental health services is acute. Despite budgeting and actively recruiting for a mental health care worker, Five Keys was unable to attract a candidate to fill the position. Alameda Family Services (AFS) staff possess the skills, experience, ability, certifications, and knowledge to provide essential services and are part of a coordinated social service provider network serving residents of Alameda.
Staff recommends City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with AFS to provide a full-time, onsite therapeutic clinician to support Dignity Village residents and staff.
BACKGROUND
In November 2021, City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with DignityMoves and Five Keys, which ultimately led to the Homekey 2 application submission and award.
In October 2022, City Council approved a five-year service agreement with Five Keys, which included funding for a mental health care worker. In May 2023, Dignity Village opened. Upon opening, Dignity Village housed Alameda constituents experiencing homelessness, many of whom had interacted with multiple social service agencies and engaged with AFS in their capacity as CARE Team members, clinical case managers, and/or therapists. Since opening, Five Keys has had difficulty finding qualified staff with specialized knowledge, expertise and experience working with people who have experienced homelessness. Hiring qualified staff with this skill set to work directly with individuals who are homeless is a challenge across the Bay Area. Through this agreement, included as Exhibit 1, AFS will provide onsite, mental health care services at Dignity Village directly with residents as well as supporting Five Keys staff.
DISCUSSION
The City’s 2022 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count indicated mental health needs as a top five reason for homelessness, and 55% of surveyed respondents indicated that they suffered from psychiatric or emotional conditions. Placing a mental health professional onsite at Dignity Village will vastly improve the culture and services available to the formerly unhoused by allowing a mental health professional to become a trusted member of the Dignity Village community. Additionally, AFS will provide support and training to Dignity Village staff for their direct work with residents. AFS mental health services will augment and strengthen Dignity Village programming by providing best practice mental health services onsite to the residents of Dignity Village.
AFS goals include:
1. Provide mental health direct and supportive services to 90% of residents (this takes into account residents who decline offers of direct mental health support that result in engagement challenges);
2. Support 90% of residents at Dignity Village, including de-escalation, conflict resolution and mediation between residents, and residents and staff;
3. Reduce the number of residents exited from the program due to behavioral challenges, and;
4. Deliver a minimum of five trainings to residents and staff on a variety of mental health topics that meet stated needs.
AFS services include:
1. Onsite milieu-based therapeutic interventions;
2. Crisis intervention and de-escalation;
3. 20 individual sessions, including check-ins per week;
4. One to two resident groups or workshops per week;
5. Drop-in counseling;
6. Assessments;
7. Case consultation;
8. Referrals and linkages to higher levels of care and specialty programs; and
9. Training for Dignity Village staff.
Co-locating clinical services in a residential setting will positively impact resident outcomes. Five Keys hosts regular community meetings with residents who consistently ask for mental health support. Staff recommends this agreement with AFS as the most effective way to meet this need.
ALTERNATIVES
• Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Alameda Family Services to provide full-time, on-site mental health support at Dignity Village.
• Direct staff to continue negotiations with Five Keys and Alameda Family Services and provide further direction on specific agreement terms or conditions.
• Not approve the agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The proposed compensation for the work contemplated under the agreement is not-to-exceed $109,031; $50,000 of which is available in the City’s Dignity Village budget. The balance of the agreement will be funded by available cost savings given the timing of Five Keys staff hiring. Five Keys has available budget from staffing and program implementation budgets sufficient to cover the remainder of the contract cost.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Social Services Human Relations Board Charter and Ordinance authority “to improve social services in the community” (Alameda Municipal Code Section 2-11.5) and the Report on Homelessness Policies and Programs. This action is consistent with Goal 2 of “The Road Home: A Five-Year Strategic Plan to Prevent and Respond to Homelessness in Alameda.” This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not constitute a “project” as defined in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 and therefore no further CEQA analysis is required.
CLIMATE IMPACT
The Social Vulnerability Assessment section of the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan states:
“adaptation strategies should consider how [the homeless] will receive emergency communications and how they will be sheltered. Proper, safe housing for all is an adaptation and resilience strategy. Planning strategies should always consider these vulnerable populations in adaptation efforts.”
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with AFS to provide full-time on-site mental health support at Dignity Village in an amount not-to-exceed $109,031.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Assistant City Manager
By,
Lisa Fitts, Housing and Human Services Department Manager
Marcie Soslau Johnson, Social Services Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brian, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Service Provider Agreement