REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: IEN XIONG, Senior Management Analyst
Planning and Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the First Amendment to the Service Agreement with Marjaree Mason Center (MMC) to continue operating twelve (12) emergency shelter beds at Fresno Safe House, a secure site in Fresno, California, that provides refuge for individuals and families due to domestic violence. MMC will also utilize motel vouchers to expand temporary housing services to clients off site until a room becomes available at the Fresno Safe House shelter. The amendment, funded by the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program will cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027 for an amount not to exceed $240,000. (Bid File No.12500851)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the First Amendment to the Service Agreement with MMC to provide funding for twelve (12) emergency shelter beds at Fresno Safe House, a secure site in Fresno, California, that provides refuge for individuals and families fleeing domestic violence. Additionally, MMC will utilize motel vouchers to expand the ability to meet the needs of the community by temporarily housing clients off site until a room becomes available at the Fresno Safe House shelter. The amendment, funded by the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program will cover the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, for an additional amount not to exceed $240,000, and authorizing the City Manager or designee, to sign all implementing agreements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends a total allocation of $240,000 to MMC to provide emergency shelter operations at Fresno Safe House, a secure site in Fresno, California, that provides refuge for individuals and families due to domestic violence. The City of Fresno currently has an agreement with MMC for the operation of twelve (12) emergency shelter beds at the Fresno Safe House, a secure site, serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness due to domestic violence. The agreement was awarded through procurement under a Request for Qualification (RFQ) 12500851, released on October 18, 2024. The RFQ allows for an initial one-year term with up to two optional one-year extensions. The initial agreement with MMC was approved by City Council on April 1, 2025, for the term July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The City is seeking to amend the current agreement for an additional year for the proposed term of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
BACKGROUND
California’s Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program, established in 2019 under AB 101, provides flexible, non-competitive block grants to cities, counties, continuums of care, and tribes. Its purpose is to reduce homelessness through regional, evidence-based strategies that expand shelter capacity, prevent unsheltered homelessness, and deliver housing-focused services tailored to local needs. The City of Fresno received the following HHAP allocations:
HHAP Funding:
• February 2020: $6,158,246.18 (HHAP-1)
• September 2021: $2,911,17 (HHAP-2)
• January 2023: $7,524,257.15 (HAAP-3)
• July 2023: $11,265,425.10 (HHAP-4)
• October 2024: $13,096,671.82 (HHAP-5)
Eligible uses of HHAP funds include:
1. Rapid Rehousing - Rental assistance and landlord incentives (e.g., security deposits, holding fees).
2. Operating Subsidies - Support for operations of affordable/supportive housing, emergency shelters, non-congregate shelters, interim or bridge housing, and navigation centers.
3. Street Outreach - Connecting individuals experiencing homelessness to housing and services.
4. Services Coordination - Workforce development, education, training, and other supports for housing stability.
5. Systems Support - Regional coordination to maintain homelessness response systems, especially for vulnerable populations.
6. Permanent Housing Delivery & Innovative Solutions - Development of permanent housing and hotel/motel conversions.
7. Prevention & Shelter Diversion - Crisis resolution, mediation, and light financial assistance to avoid shelter entry.
8. Navigation Centers & Emergency Shelters - Creating or operating centers and shelters with clear pathways to permanent housing.
To utilize these funds, staff issued RFQ 12500851 on October 18, 2024, seeking proposals to operate triage center/emergency shelters and coordinating services. The funding will be applied under the Operating Subsidies eligible use category. By December 17, 2024, deadline, five eligible proposals were received and deemed qualified.
A selection panel was comprised of representatives from the City of Fresno’s Housing and Community Development Division, Homeless Services Division, and Homeless Assistance Response Team, along with a representative from San Jose Housing Authority evaluated the proposals based on service delivery capacity, compliance with the RFQ 12500851 requirements, cost effectiveness, demonstrated past performance, and relevant qualifications.
Based on the evaluation, MMC’s proposal was selected as the most responsive and best aligned with the HHAP eligible activities. On April 1, 2025, City Council approved MMC to operate twelve (12) emergency shelter beds at Fresno Safe House, located at a secure site, serving individuals and families due to domestic violence. Operations began under this agreement on July 1, 2025.
Since then, MMC has demonstrated strong performance as a partner, effectively providing a safe, welcoming environment that empowers individuals and families fleeing domestic violence to create pathways to permanent housing and long-term stability.
Based on these outcomes, staff recommends that the City Council approve the First Amendment to the MMC Fresno Safe House agreement, by extending the operations of twelve (12) emergency shelter and utilize motel vouchers that will expand temporary housing to clients off-site until a room becomes available in the Fresno Safe House for the term July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and allocate $240,000.00 from HHAP funding to support continued operations.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This item is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because of the use of state funds.
FISCAL IMPACT
The agreement will be funded through the City’s HHAP allocations and will not impact the General
Fund.
Attachment:
First Amendment to Service Agreement with Marjaree Mason Center