Title:
Title
Approvals for Implementation of Pathways to Health + Home Program [Published for 10-Day Review 10/11/2019]
End
FileID
File ID: 2019-01513
Location
Location: Citywide
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or City Manager’s designee to: 1) execute amendment No. 1 (attached hereto as Exhibit A) to Alignment Agreement 2018-0572 with Sutter Valley Hospitals dba Sutter Medical Center to increase the contract by $1,870,000 for a new total amount of $8,906,925 paid to Sutter Valley Hospitals for alignment of Sutter’s programs to improve the outcomes of people experiencing homelessness or those at risk of homelessness with the City’s Pathways program goals; and 2) adjust revenue and expenditure budgets in the Whole Person Care Program (I02000900) fund 2703 Externally Funded as needed, to accept donations from community partners.
Contact: Emily Halcon, Homeless Services Coordinator, (916) 808-7896; Anira Khlok, Homeless Services Program Analyst, (916) 808-7948, Office of the City Manager
Body
Presenter: None.
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
3-Exhibit A- Sutter Valley Hospitals Amendment No. 1 to Alignment Agreement
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: In June 2017, the City of Sacramento was accepted into the State Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS) Whole Person Care (WPC) program. WPC is a statewide Medi-Cal waiver program that allows communities to create a system of supportive services aimed to improve health outcomes and reduce utilization of high-cost services for vulnerable populations. In Sacramento, the WPC program is called the Pathways to Health + Home (Pathways) program and will support broader City strategies to reduce and prevent homelessness, by creating a robust system of outreach, case management and supportive services for those frequent users of health care, homeless services, and emergency services.
Pathways is currently in Program Year 4 (PY 4) which began on January 1, 2019 and ends on December 31, 2019. Program Year 5 (PY 5) will run from January 1, 2020 through the end of the program on December 31, 2020. As of August 15, 2019, Pathways had 768 individuals enrolled and had served a total of 1,460 individuals through the life of the program. A total of 108,205 services, including outreach, navigation, care coordination, and housing support, have been provided to the community. Additionally, Pathways has helped house a total of 387 individuals. Pathways is collaborating with over 20 health care, housing, and social service providers to ensure continuity of care for program enrollees.
Increasing Sutter’s Alignment Dollars
On April 24, 2018, City Council passed a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an alignment agreement with Sutter Valley Hospitals dba Sutter Medical Center (“Sutter”), whereby City would pay Sutter $7,036,925 in exchange for Sutter aligning its existing homeless, case management, and/or navigation service programs with the goals of the Pathway’s program. Staff is now seeking an increase to the contract in the amount of $1,870,000 for a new total amount of $8,906,925 paid to Sutter as there are additional funds available through growth of Pathways for realignment to improve the outcomes of those experiencing homelessness or those who are at risk of homelessness.
Donations to Pathways
Additionally, various Pathways partners have expressed interest in donating funds to Pathways to support the program. Staff is seeking approval from Council to receive donations from external community partners and increase the expenditure and revenue authority by a like amount.
Policy Considerations: The Pathways program aligns with the federal directive and City commitment that funding for addressing homelessness follow a “housing first” approach, which offers permanent housing as quickly as possible for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. In housing first programs, supportive services are offered (but not required as a condition of tenancy) to help people keep their housing and avoid returning to homelessness. This evidence-based approach is consistent with the strategies and funding priorities of the other public agencies working to end homelessness in Sacramento. Partnering with other agencies to leverage resources and improve livability is consistent with the City Council’s past actions and current direction.
The Sacramento City Code Section 4.04.020 and Council Rules of Procedure (Chapter 7, Section E.2.d) mandate that unless waived by a 2/3 vote of the City Council, all labor agreements and all agreements greater than $1,000,000 shall be made available to the public at least ten (10) days prior to council action. This item was published for 10-day review on October 11, 2019.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations: The actions specified in this report do not constitute a
“project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because they are continuing administrative activities and amount to general policy and procedure making [CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(2)].
Sustainability: Not Applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: None.
Rationale for Recommendation: The Pathways program is an opportunity for a community to transform healthcare and housing systems serving vulnerable populations by aligning services and data through performance-based contracts. Approval of the contract amendment with Sutter will enable the City to indirectly expand the range of services provided to individuals experiencing homelessness within Sacramento.
Financial Considerations:
There are sufficient funds in Whole Person Care Program (I02000900) to fund the additional $1,870,000 amount paid to Sutter under the proposed Amendment No. 1 to its existing alignment agreement.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): All the Pathways service partners are local businesses with established operations in Sacramento and have a history of serving Sacramento’s medically fragile and homeless populations.