Title
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the City Manager, or Designee, to Negotiate and Execute an Agreement with Alameda County to Accept $60,000 in Grant Funding for Winter Warming Services; and Increasing Revenue and Expenditure Appropriations in the Homelessness Program by $60,000; and
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager, or Designee, to Execute Related Documents and Agreements with Building Futures with Women and Children to Provide Winter Warming Services in an Amount Not to Exceed $113,000. (Community Development 10061831)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff is recommending that the City Council authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement with Alameda County (County) for the City to accept $60,000 for Winter Warming Services; and that the City Council further increase revenue and expenditure in the City’s Homelessness Program to match this amount. In addition, staff is recommending that the City Council authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute related documents and agreements with Building Futures with Women and Children (Building Futures) to provide Winter Warming Services for the winter season 2022-23 at a total cost of $113,000.
This proposal would allocate $60,000 of funding from the City to Building Futures using the County grant funds. An additional $53,000 from General Funds would be used from the Homelessness Program fiscal year (FY) 2022-23 budget to allow Building Futures to reserve a minimum of seven (7) hotel rooms and provide emergency shelter for up to 50 nights between the dates of November 15, 2021 and April 15, 2022. Additional hotel rooms and an extension beyond April 15 may be provided depending on funding. These rooms would be made available to unhoused individuals and families. Priority would be given to house families and people over 65 year of age, with and without chronic health conditions for the duration of the program. Building Futures would provide staff oversight of the program along with meals, case management and referrals to services, including housing support and warm clothing.
BACKGROUND
The City Council identified addressing homelessness as one of its key priorities. The Road Home: A Five-Year Plan to Prevent and Respond to Homelessness in Alameda, was approved by the City Council on October 5, 2021 and guides the City of Alameda’s (City) response to the most vulnerable citizens. 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. By providing Winter Warming Services over the years, Alameda has provided shelter to the most vulnerable and created connections for unhoused individuals to receive housing and supportive resources.
Prior to the COVID pandemic, Winter Warming Services were offered through group sheltering in a congregant setting at Christ Episcopal Church. For the past two years, using a combination of Alameda County grant proceeds and General Funds, Winter Warming Services have been provided through hotel stays to protect unhoused individuals and program staff from COVID. Last fiscal year, six rooms were provided for a total of 935 nights of service. Stays lasted from 37 to 258 days with an average length of stay of 156 days. The program allowed seniors and medically fragile individuals to live indoors for the entirety of the winter season. Of the six participants, three were housed, two moved in with family or a friend, and one secured employment.
Last season, a $50,000 grant was also provided to Christ Episcopal Church for a congregate warming shelter. This shelter opened on December 31, 2021 and closed on April 21, 2022. It served the unhoused on Monday and Thursday evenings, as well as nights when the weather was forecast at 50 percent or greater chance of rain and/or a temperature of 42 degrees or below. A total of 24 unduplicated individuals were served for 137 total units of service. Of the 24 individuals served, five achieved a housing outcome or were linked to housing services, one obtained employment, one obtained valid California identification, and one reconnected with their family.
DISCUSSION
Inclement weather in the winter and spring seasons bring untenable conditions to the lives of those living without shelter. This is particularly true for unhoused individuals over 65 and/or with chronic health conditions. This is the targeted group for Winter Warming Services. The unhoused population in Alameda is aging. A total of 38% of survey respondents from the last Point-In-Time count (PIT count) in February 2022 were 51 years or older.
By City Council approving the staff recommendations, $60,000 in funding anticipated from Alameda County would supplement an existing budgeted $53,000 from the Homelessness Program FY 2022-23 budget and allow the City and County to provide Building Futures with a total of $113,000 to provide Winter Warming Services between the dates of November 15, 2022 and April 15, 2023. Winter Warming Services would provide shelter in a hotel room to a minimum of seven of the most vulnerable among the homeless population for up to 50 days each, two meals a day, case management, referral services, and weather appropriate clothing. Services provided by staff overseeing the program include daily room inspections, coordination with hotel management, and referrals to services dependent upon participant need.
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager, or designee, to negotiate and execute a $60,000 contract with Alameda County for Winter Warming Services to receive the grant funds and increase revenue and expenditure appropriations in the Homelessness Program by the same amount, pending execution of the agreement with the County. In addition, staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute related documents and agreements with Building Futures to provide Winter Warming Services for FY 2022-23 for a total of $113,000.
Regarding shelter options in Alameda:
• The Day Center continues to be available for congregate overnight stays and offers ten beds. During inclement weather the Day Center is usually full.
• The opening of the Emergency Supportive Housing is eminent. This will provide an additional 19 beds for the unhoused year-round. Six of those beds will be available for individuals and two homes will be available for families.
• Christ Episcopal Church could potentially offer another congregate shelter option. However, the program would require a shelter service provider partner and an additional $90,000 in General Funds to provide the same level of service as in past years In previous years, Christ Episcopal Church fundraised $20,000 to contribute to seasonal program costs. The capacity for the church to fundraise for this season would need to be explored. Staff is working to identify a service provider partner willing to deliver the required scope of services for the program. If a provider is identified, staff will return to City Council to request the required funds and seek approval of the service provider partner. If directed by City Council to pursue this option, staff would plan to return to City Council at the December 6, 2022 meeting.
ALTERNATIVES
• Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to negotiate and execute an agreement with Alameda County to accept $60,000 in funding for the Winter Warming Services Program; increase revenue and expenditure appropriations in the Homelessness Program by $60,000 pending execution of the grant agreement; and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute related documents and agreements with Building Futures with Women and Children to provide Winter Warming Services for $113,000.
• Provide alternative or additional direction to staff regarding winter warming services and or winter shelters in Alameda.
• Decline to authorize acceptance of the County funding and to offer Winter Warming Services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The $113,000 contract with Building Futures would be funded with $60,000 in anticipated Alameda County Grant Funds and $53,000 in previously budgeted General Funds. Appropriation of the Alameda County Grant Funds would be pending until execution of the grant agreement.
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 Secure a Housing Future for All Alamedans.”
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 review 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.”
Winter Warming Services will provide safe, warm, and consistent shelter for the unhoused in Alameda during inclement weather while connecting them to opportunities for permanent housing along with health, mental health, and social service supports.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to negotiate and execute an agreement with Alameda County for the City of Alameda to accept $60,000 in County grant funding for the local Winter Warming Services Program;
Increase revenue and expenditure appropriations in the homelessness program by $60,000; and
Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute related documents and agreements with Building Futures with Women and Children to provide Winter Warming Services for an amount not to exceed $113,000.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Nelson Maxwell, Community Development Director
By,
Marcie Soslau Johnson, Social Services Manager
Lois Butler, Economic Development and Community Services Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
cc: Erin Smith, Acting City Manager