Title:
Title
Approval of Funding Agreements Under Request for Proposals #P19021011003 for Saint John’s Program for Real Change and Sacramento City of Refuge (Two-Thirds Vote Required)
End
FileID
File ID: 2019-01352
Location
Location: Districts 5 and 6
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution by two-thirds vote: 1) suspending competitive bidding; 2) suspending Council Rule of Procedure Chapter 7, section E.2.d, which requires 10-day posting for agreements over $1 million; 3) authorizing the City Manager or City Manager’s designee to execute an agreement with Saint John’s Program for Real Change for an amount not to exceed $715,111; and 4) authorizing the City Manager or City Manager’s designee to execute an agreement with Sacramento City of Refuge for an amount not to exceed $284,889.
Contact: Andrew Geurkink, Program Analyst, (916) 808-7816, Office of the City Manager
Body
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1- Description/Analysis
2- Resolution
3- Exhibit A - Agreement with Saint John’s Program for Real Change
4- Exhibit B - Agreement with Sacramento City of Refuge
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The crisis of unsheltered homelessness is one that impacts an entire community, both those experiencing homelessness and the broader community of housed residents, businesses, and neighborhoods. The Sacramento 2019 point-in-time homeless count, conducted by the Homeless Continuum of Care lead Agency, Sacramento Steps Forward, estimated that on a single night in January 2019, 2,098 women were experiencing homelessness. In this same report, 372 families were estimated to be experiencing homelessness in Sacramento County. Of the 372 families, nearly half (195 households) were unsheltered. It is estimated that this data is an underrepresentation of the number women and families experiencing homelessness and, in addition, many more women and families are at risk of falling into homelessness.
On February 5, 2019, as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018/19 Midyear Budget, the City Council (Council) approved $1.0 million in Measure U Funds (Fund 2401) dedicated to women and women with families. On February 20, 2019, Councilmember Ashby’s office hosted a roundtable with providers serving homeless women, youth, and families. At the roundtable, providers shared the unique needs of homeless families that may not always be apparent in data analyses. On June 13, 2019, staff of the City’s Homeless Services Division released the Request for Proposals (RFP) #P19021011003 that incorporated feedback from the roundtable. This RFP was intended to be directly responsive to the need for more program capacity for women and women with families experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The RFP allowed potential responders to both provide objective data on the quantitative outputs their program would meet and to offer narrative that described the outreach, case management, and service components of their program that meet the unique needs of the population. The selection panel considered both equally, and recommended providers, that presented holistic program that serve vulnerable women and families in the community.
Policy Considerations: On October 16, 2018, the Sacramento City Council held a workshop on Homeless Sheltering Policies and adopted Resolution No. 2018-0402, which embraces Housing First principles for City-funded Triage Shelters. However, the City Council also acknowledged the need for other shelter and service approaches, especially for vulnerable populations, including transition age youth, women, and families. The approach recommended allows for a variety of sheltering options, recognizing different needs of different populations and reflecting community priorities.
Economic Impacts: None
Environmental Considerations: The proposed actions to support existing operations of both Saint John’s Program for Real Change and Sacramento City of Refuge are exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15301 for existing facilities.
Sustainability: None
Commission/Committee Action: None
Rationale for Recommendation: On June 13, 2019, an RFP in the amount not-to-exceed $1 million was released by the City’s Homeless Services Division. This RFP sought to provide funding for shelter operations that would serve single women and women with families either experiencing homelessness or are at risk of experiencing homelessness.
The RFP was publicly available on the City’s procurement website, PlanetBids, and was widely distributed to the vast network of homeless service provider agencies known to the City and service providers connected to the local homeless Continuum of Care.
Four proposals were submitted in response to the RFP. To ensure an objective review process, City staff compiled a review panel of three non-conflicted individuals. The panel members reviewed each proposal submitted and scored them according to objective criteria. Based on the panels’ review, Saint John’s Program for Real Change and Sacramento City of Refuge were placed in the top tier of proposals for consideration. Both agencies submitted proposals that did not seek to utilize the full available funding, and because the funding under the RFP was sufficient to support multiple projects, the panel recommended that both agencies be awarded one-year contracts. Staff will closely monitor the outcomes of these programs and report to Council on the impact of this one-time investment in addressing the needs of women and families experiencing homelessness.
Financial Considerations: Sufficient funding exists in the Homeless Housing Initiative Program (I02000200) in Measure U Funds (Fund 2401) to fund the agreement with Saint John’s Program for Real Change and Sacramento City of Refuge.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.