Title
Recommendation to Authorize the Interim City Manager, or Designee to Execute a Contract for $1,447,984 with The Village of Love Foundation to Provide Social Services for Residents of Emergency Supportive Housing (Located at Alameda Point) from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2024. (Community Development 10061831)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff was directed by City Council on May 3, 2022 to prepare and contract with The Village of Love Foundation (VOL) to provide services to residents living in up to four homes owned by the City of Alameda (City) located at Alameda Point, comprising the first “Emergency Supportive Housing” program in the city, and fulfilling the City Council’s commitment in November of 2021 to appropriate funds from American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to the vulnerable and unhoused in the community. Staff toured and selected 2700 Lemoore #A, 2820 Pearl Harbor and 2825 Pearl Harbor (collectively, the Vacant Homes) to rehabilitate and prepare for sheltering 14 to 19 unhoused persons. The rehabilitation of the homes is currently under way.
City Council directed staff to operate the three homes for the following populations:
(i) one home for Emergency Supportive Housing for up to six homeless individuals, and
(ii) two homes for Emergency Supportive Housing for families who are referred from the Alameda Unified School District, and local agencies and non-profits serving or interacting with unhoused families.
A fourth home may be added following the date when the other three homes are successfully operating and staff finds that a community need is present. City Council directed that a fourth home be used to serve up to six unhoused individuals.
City Council further directed staff to prioritize seniors and the medically fragile population for the homes serving individuals.
Staff is recommending that the City Council authorize the Interim City Manager, or designee to execute a contract with VOL to provide supportive services at the three Emergency Supportive Housing homes described in subsections (i) and (ii) above at the cost of $1,447,984 ($701,203 for the first year and $746,781 in the second year, which includes a 6.5% increase). If and when a fourth home is warranted based on community need, staff would return to City Council and seek approval to operate the fourth home.
BACKGROUND
With City Council’s approval on October 5, 2021 of a strategic plan, The Road Home: A Five-Year Plan to Prevent and Respond to Homelessness in Alameda (The Road Home), solving homelessness became one of staff’s key priorities. Strategy 2.2 of The Road Home recommends providing low-barrier, housing-focused temporary housing. Strategy 2.3 recommends expanding outreach and supportive services to unsheltered households. The 2022 Point-In-Time (PIT) count showed increases in the unhoused population of 14% within the City (from 231 in 2019 to 264 in 2022) and 21.5% within Alameda County (from 8,022 in 2019 to 9,747 in 2022). Of the 264 homeless individuals counted in the city, 180, or 68% were unsheltered, which is defined as living in tents (18 individuals), a vehicle (79 in a car or van, 31 in a recreational vehicle), or on the street (52 individuals).
In November 2021, City Council approved the appropriation of $2,836,047 in ARPA funds for the service provider contract for the Vacant Homes and for remodeling and repairs of the Vacant Homes.
DISCUSSION
The Vacant Homes will provide Emergency Supportive Housing to Alameda’s homeless. Collectively, the three homes have the potential to provide 14-19 beds for unhoused individuals. There are six beds for individuals in one home. There are two homes for families.
Staff recommends contracting with VOL to provide supportive services for the Vacant Homes, including 24-hour, seven-days-a-week staffing located in the six-bed home for individuals. The 24-hour, seven-days-a-week staff will serve and address any emergency overnight needs of the two-family homes as well. In addition to the 24-hour staffing schedule, VOL will employ a full-time case manager to assist with immediate and long-term social service needs, such as bridging individuals and families to resources for housing, mental health support, medical treatment, education, and more as determined by the individuals and/or families.
VOL will provide the following services to the three homes and their residents:
• Deliver harm reduction services to meet immediate resident needs within the framework of purposeful relationship building.
• Implement a “Housing First” approach that enables homeless individuals in need to enter into housing and access services quickly.
• Linkages to case management, clinical care, public benefits, childcare, and other resources that will support the trajectory of positive growth and change while being housed in a stable and safe environment.
• Housing preparation work to prepare residents for future homes and identify permanent housing solutions, including implementing “Good Neighbor” policies and practices.
• Coordinated care with City, County, and State systems and providers to serve residents.
ALTERNATIVES
• Authorize the Interim City Manager, or designee to execute a contract for $1,447,984 with VOL to provide social services for residents of three homes of Emergency Supportive Housing with 14 to 19 beds, prioritizing medically vulnerable persons and seniors.
• Decline to contract with VOL to provide social services to three homes to be used as Emergency Supportive Housing and request staff to seek another service provider.
• Decline to provide Emergency Supportive Housing and place the houses back on the rental market.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding for the Emergency Supportive Housing program will come from the $2,836,047 ARPA allocation approved by City Council in November 2021 (see File 2021-1450). Staff was directed by City Council to use up to $300,000 of the designated ARPA funds for the rehabilitation and purchase of furnishings, appliances, equipment, and supplies needed to prepare three homes for occupancy. If City Council approves the staff recommendation, the supportive services contract amount of $1,447,984 plus the home rehabilitation amount of $300,000 will total $1,747,984. There will be $1,088,063 in funds remaining for the development of and supportive services for a fourth home from the $2,836,047 in ARPA funds originally allocated.
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 § 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 Secure a Housing Future for All Alamedans.”
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to actions approved by or carried out by the City in furtherance of providing emergency shelters, supportive housing, or affordable housing. See Gov. Code §§ 8698.4(a)(4), 65583.
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 Interim City Manager, or designee to execute a contract for $1,447,984 with The Village of Love Foundation to provide social services for residents of Emergency Supportive Housing from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2024.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Nelson Maxwell, Community Development Director
By,
Marcie Johnson, Social Services Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Contract
cc: Nancy Bronstein, Interim City Manager