REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: ERIKA LOPEZ, Senior Management Analyst
Housing and Community Development Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Travel Inn Shelter:
1. Affirm the City Manager’s finding that Elevate Community Services is uniquely qualified to operate the Travel Inn Shelter; and
2. Approve an Emergency Solutions Grant- Coronavirus Agreement with Elevate Community Services in the amount of $253,266.21 to add three full time case managers to the staff at the Travel Inn Shelter.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the action items pertaining to the Travel Inn Shelter.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno (City) is proposing an additional agreement with Elevate Community Services (Elevate) to add three case managers to the operations of the Travel Inn Emergency Shelter thereby improving the ratio of case managers to tenants.
BACKGROUND
On June 16, 2022, City Council approved a Community Development Block Grant- Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) agreement between the City and Elevate for emergency shelter operations and supportive services at Travel Inn through December 31, 2023.
On August 18, 2022, City Council approved revisions to the Emergency Solutions Grant- Coronavirus (ESG-CV) Activities, which would reprogram funds for street outreach services, mobile shower operations, and add additional funding for the operations at the Travel Inn Emergency Shelter. Specifically, $253,266.21 was allocated to operations of Travel Inn to add additional case managers improving the ratio of case managers to tenants.
This agreement does not extend the term of operation for Elevate at Travel Inn. Staff has published an RFP for operations of City owned shelters and will return to Council with future funding agreements from the RFP once the terms of the current agreements expire. This ESG-CV agreement is being awarded outside of the RFP process because the dollars were approved by Council on August 18, 2022 for Travel Inn and the current operator of that site is Elevate.
The Travel Inn consists of 60 rooms and 150 beds and has operated at full capacity since opening in September 2021. During the last quarter (July 01, 2022-Septeber 30, 2022) Elevate reported serving 187 individuals with shelter and supportive services. Under the current CDBG-CV agreement, there is funding available for three case managers: a ratio of 1 case manager for every 63 tenants over the last quarter. Since Travel Inn operates as a Triage Center, extensive supportive services and case management is necessary and an improved ratio of case managers to tenants is needed to ensure the successful exits of tenants. The proposed ESG-CV agreement would provide an additional $253,266.21 through September 30, 2023 to increase the number of case managers by three, improving the ratio to 1 case manager for every 31 tenants, a level consistent with other shelters.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a project for purposes of CEQA pursuant to CEQA guidelines Section 15378. These plans, strategies and studies are Categorically Excluded Not Subject to Section 58.5 Pursuant to 24 CFR Part 58.34(a) and 58.35(b) under HUD NEPA Requirements (24 CFR 58.35 (b) (2) (3)).
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because of the use of federal funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The agreement will be funded through the City’s ESG-CV allocations.
ATTACHMENTS:
Uniquely Qualified Memo - Elevate Community Services Travel Inn
ESG-CV Agreement with Elevate