Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement in the Amount of $137,194 with The Village of Love to Extend Open Hours for the Day Center for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness to Evenings and Weekends. (Community Development 10061833)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff is recommending that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement in the amount of $137,194 with The Village of Love to extend the open hours of the Day Center to support individuals experiencing homelessness in Alameda. The center is currently open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. If approved, this funding would allow the center to be open the following additional hours: Monday-Friday 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm and Saturday-Sunday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm starting October 25, 2021. The extended hours would increase access to safe, comfortable indoor spaces with connections with services. Extended hours would also be more compatible with the Safe Parking program, allowing participants to have a safe place to reside 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
BACKGROUND
Following notification that the City of Alameda (City) would receive $765,624 in State HEAP funds, on January 15, 2019, the City Council directed staff to work with the Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) to finalize the HEAP allocation plan and oversee implementation of projects. SSHRB established the HEAP Ad Hoc Committee for this purpose at its March 28, 2019 meeting. The Safe Parking Program and Day Center were two of the projects developed by the HEAP Ad Hoc Committee and selected to receive HEAP grant funds. A location at Alameda Point was selected due to availability of space for the Safe Parking with an adjacent building that could be used with minimal repairs for the Day Center.
On April 22, 2020, a Request for Proposals was issued to identify a service provider to operate the Day Center, Safe Parking Program, or both. Creative Build, a Bay Area non-profit organization, was awarded funding to provide both Day Center and Safe Parking programming, with The Village of Love as its subcontractor. Creative Build has acted as the fiscal sponsor for The Village of Love, while The Village of Love has directly provided services with minimal support from Creative Build.
During the budget process the City Council approved funding for extended hours for the Day Center, to allow for longer hours and weekends. By increasing hours, homeless individuals, including those utilizing Safe Parking, would have greater access to a safe, comfortable indoor space connected with services.
DISCUSSION
Approval of the agreement would increase access to the Day Center, building greater participation in services. The goal of the Day Center is to provide a safe, sanitary, secure and welcoming place for homeless individuals to relax, have access to showers, get information, connect to services, and be supported by staff and peers. It is a point of contact from which trust may be built to encourage use of supportive services. The Day Center currently offers meals, computers, phone charging, Wi-Fi, and access to health care and social services. Participants are able to utilize transportation services to arrive at the program from anywhere in Alameda. The Village of Love is currently in the process of developing permanent shower and laundry facilities at the center.
Extending the open hours for the Day Program would increase the availability of comfortable indoor space for those residing in cars and utilizing the Safe Parking program. Overnight parking hours for the Safe Parking Program lot are Monday through Friday from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. By extending the hours of the Day Center, Safe Parking participants would have increased hours to use the Day Center and have a safe location to reside 24 hours a day and seven days a week with no gaps between programs.
It is recommended that the contract to extend hours for the Day Center would be executed directly with The Village of Love due to their current role operating the Day Center and Safe Parking site as well as their expertise in serving the homeless population. The Village of Love has capacity to directly manage contracts and is currently in the process of obtaining independent 501(c)3 status.
As its mission, The Village of Love aims to enrich the community by developing creative solutions to build bridges across the disparities between residents, businesses, mental health and unsheltered communities. Through programming in Alameda and throughout Alameda County, The Village of Love offers street outreach and programs to support unsheltered residents, advocating for collaborative, locally driven solutions to build stronger and more equitable communities inclusive of diversity. Services provided in Alameda County have included weekly outreach, hosting Suppers & Showers events (hot meals and hot showers), distributing hygiene kits, supplemental dietary packets, and clothing. The Village of Love has facilitated weekly support groups and daily wellness checkups on the homeless at their encampments. Their expertise is in working with participants with mental health disorders that range from mild to severe, and with persons with substance abuse issues, including those from the LGBTQ community. Their goal is to assist participants with moving towards self-sufficiency, improved mental health, stable housing and independence.
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement in the amount of $137,194 with The Village of Love to extend operating hours of the Day Center to include Monday-Friday 5:00 pm -8:00 pm and Saturday-Sunday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm.
ALTERNATIVES
• Approve staff’s recommendation to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with The Village of Love to implement the extension of hours for the Day Center program of Alameda.
• Direct staff reduce contract amount and reduce the proposed extended hours.
• Decline to move forward the extension of open hours for the Day Center at this time.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
General Fund funding for extended evening and weekend hours for Day Center services is included in the FY 2021-22 budget for the Community Development Department’s Homelessness program (10061833). No additional budget appropriations are needed.
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.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) section 15378(b)(5) (not a project); and section 15601(b)(3) (no significant environmental impact).
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.”
The Day Center will provide safe, warm, and welcoming places to shelter those who are unhoused in Alameda while connecting them to health, mental health, and social service supports.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement in the amount of $137,194 with The Village of Love to extend open hours for the Day Center for individuals experiencing homelessness to evenings and weekends.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends approval.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Nelson Maxwell, Community Development Director
By:
Veronika Cole, Community Services Manager
Lois Butler, Economic Development and Community Services Manager
Financial impact section reviewed,
By: Annie To, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Agreement
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Gerry Beaudin, Assistant City Manager