Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Contract in the Amount of $120,000 with Operation Dignity to Provide Mobile Outreach Services for Alameda’s Homeless Population for Fiscal Year 2019-20. (Community Development 001-7011)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The 2019 Point-In-Time count found that the City of Alameda’s (City) homeless population increased by 13% in two years, with the majority of homeless individuals living at encampments, parking lots, bridge underpasses, tunnel entrances, parks, sidewalks, and other areas not suitable for human habitation. Mobile outreach, which includes case management and harm reduction services that are delivered where homeless individuals are located, is a critical support for people experiencing homelessness. Staff is recommending that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a $120,000 contract with Operation Dignity (OD) to provide Mobile Outreach services for Alameda’s homeless residents for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20. Operation Dignity provided the same level of services at the same cost for FY 2018-19.
BACKGROUND
OD is a non-profit organization that has been at the forefront of fighting homelessness in Alameda County since 1993, providing shelter, housing, street outreach, and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness, with expertise in serving homeless veterans. In 2016, OD was instrumental in assisting the City with developing a plan to dismantle the homeless encampment located at the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park due to construction of the park. OD also played a critical role in August 2019 to transition people who are homeless and living at Estuary Park and were successful in housing five people at their community cabin sites in Oakland. Since 2016, OD has been providing critical supportive services for homeless individuals on the island.
As a mobile outreach provider serving the City’s homeless population, OD meets with clients wherever they are located, including encampments, parking lots, bridge underpasses, tunnel entrances, parks, sidewalks, and other locations on the street. Building trust and connecting with clients to increase their receptivity to services is an important strategy for OD’s mobile outreach workers. Staff conducts street outreach and harm-reduction support to the City’s homeless population Monday through Friday. Activities promote and address clients’ safety and wellness and include distribution of food and water, hygiene kits, blankets, first aid kits, and similar items. OD gets clients “housing-ready” by helping them clear traffic tickets and other citations, apply for identification cards, apply for jobs, and enroll in public benefits. OD provides transportation to and from appointments and supports clients with housing applications and interviews with landlords.
DISCUSSION
The homeless crisis continues through Alameda County and the state. The latest Point-In-Time (PIT) count, the federally mandated snapshot of the local homeless population conducted every two years, found that on January 30, 2019, there were 8,022 people in Alameda County experiencing homelessness. This is a 43% increase from the last count conducted in 2017 and is the highest percentage increase among Bay Area counties. In the City alone, twenty-seven additional homeless people were accounted for in the latest PIT count, an increase of 13% from 204 to 231 homeless individuals since 2017. Of the 231 people experiencing homelessness in the City, 99 were women and children staying at Midway Shelter and 132 were living in encampments, vehicles, and on the streets.
As housing shortages and high rental costs continue unabated in the City and the surrounding region, homelessness will be an ongoing issue that needs intermediate solutions. Funding mobile outreach services is critical to provide compassionate and humane support to those challenged with homelessness and living on the streets in the City, while also helping them find a way out of homelessness. OD has provided these services for the past three years.
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with OD to provide mobile outreach services for Alameda’s homeless population for FY 2019-20.
ALTERNATIVES
• City Council approved funding for mobile outreach services, FY 2019-20, as part of the two-year budget on June 18, 2019. This action would be consistent with that direction.
• The City Council could decline to approve a contract with OD for mobile outreach services and direct staff to identify an alternate provider or alternative approach to funding mobile outreach services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funds for this contract are budgeted as part of the FY 2019-20 General Fund budget.
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.
CLIMATE IMPACTS
The Social Vulnerability Assessment section of the draft 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.”
Mobile outreach funding will help some of the most vulnerable in our community with the consequences of climate change. Mobile outreach workers may be deployed to reach and help unsheltered individuals during emergency and disasters.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15601(b)(3).
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute a $120,000 contract with Operation Dignity to provide Mobile Outreach services for Alameda’s homeless population for Fiscal Year 2019-20.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager concurs with the Community Development Director recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Potter, Community Development Director
By:
Ana Bagtas, Community Development Analyst
Financial impact section reviewed,
By: Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Contract
Cc: Eric J. Levitt, City Manager