REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development
BY: JILLIAN GAYTAN, Sr Management Analyst
Homeless Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve an Agreement with Community Health Improvement Partners to administer an Independent Living Home - Rapid Rehousing program (ILA-RR) in the total amount of $2,882,282.63 using Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF-3R).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the agreement with Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) to administer an Independent Living Home - Rapid Rehousing program using ERF-3R funds; and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign all implementing agreements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno (City) is seeking to award funding for a rapid rehousing and case management program administrator using ERF funds. Staff issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on March 4, 2024, and received one proposal, determined to be qualified and responsive to the RFQ. Based on the evaluation completed by a selection panel, staff recommend awarding CHIP a total allocation of $2,882,282.63 for the administration of an Independent Living Home - Rapid Rehousing Program for services through September 30, 2026.
BACKGROUND
On January 18, 2024, City Council approved Resolution 2024-007 authorizing a grant application to the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) for funding under the Encampment Resolution Funding Program, round 3 (ERF-3R), to resolve the experience of unsheltered homelessness for people residing in encampments. On January 31, 2024, the Planning and Development Department, Homeless Services Division, submitted an application for ERF-3R to resolve two encampment locations identified within the City of Fresno in the total amount of $10,926,075.48. On April 18, 2024 the City received notification for Cal ICH of an award in the full amount requested, $10,926,075.48.
Staff issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on March 4, 2024, requesting proposals for a rapid rehousing and case management program for 100 persons experiencing homelessness for up to 24 -months of rental subsidies, maximum of $850/month per bed, at certified Independent Living Homes (ILH) throughout the City of Fresno, County of Fresno, and County of Madera. Eligible clients to receive rapid rehousing services will have been identified through the ERF-1, -2, and -3 Encampment Resolution projects. Individuals and families selected for these services are to be prioritized through the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry System (CES) in consultation with participating CES agencies. The City received one proposal by the April 5, 2024, deadline. A selection panel comprised of representatives from the City’s Homeless Services and Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART) Divisions in the Planning and Development Department, and the Fresno Housing Authority. On April 9, 2024, the panel evaluated the proposals based on the ability to meet the stated service requirements, conformance with the terms and conditions of the RFQ, costs associated with providing services, past performance and experience, and other related information provided. The panel determined the proposal to be qualified as they included the requested activities as outlined in the RFQ. The panel, therefore, found CHIP’s proposal to be qualified and responsive to administer an Independent Living Home - Rapid Rehousing program (ILA-RR) funded through the Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF-3R) for a total amount of $2,882,282.63. Based on this evaluation staff recommends awarding CHIP.
Community Health Improvement Partners:
CHIP proposes to expand its successful Independent Living Association program (ILA) to administer ILA-Rapid Rehousing (ILA-RR).
• Beds: CHIP will recruit 100 beds specifically dedicated to ILA-Rapid Rehousing that will be subject to accountability for quality in the same way that current ILA beds are accountable. As a sub-program of the existing ILA Program, CHIP will leverage existing ILA program administration and will add two components.
o The first component to be added is Housing Navigation for 100 people experiencing homelessness for up to twenty-four months. ILA-RR Housing Navigation will be provided by CHIP with the addition of 4.0 FTE Housing Navigators.
o In addition, CHIP proposes to sub-contract with Equitable Social Solutions or Neighborly Software to manage Household Agreements and share of cost funds disbursements to ILH operators to ensure smooth, secure, and expert management of funds.
• Housing Navigation Case Managers: CHIP will engage its Human Resources staff to begin recruitment for new Housing Navigator positions upon notification of funding award to ensure that hiring is completed for a minimum of 2.0 FTE Housing Navigators within 30 days of award. Hiring the remaining Housing Navigators (total 4.0 FTE) will be completed within 60 days. Each Housing Navigator will conduct intake and assessments utilizing a housing first approach to rapidly rehouse as appropriate and provide services for new referrals from the Coordinated Entry System holding caseloads of 25 clients each and will be responsible for connecting them with needed services to stabilize their housing and facilitate independence. CHIP is a master collaborator, with the experience to coordinate complex region-wide projects among both new and abiding partners and will bring this deep experience to the project establishing networks of service provider relationships for the benefit of ILA-RR clients to include workforce development, permanent housing (including the existing ILA network when appropriate), public benefits, health, mental health, and recovery.
• Equity: CHIP programs build health equity by ensuring that under-resourced constituents not only have a seat at the table, but that CHIP shares the tools, knowledge and resources constituents need to leverage that seat to improve community health, broadly defined by those most impacted.
• Leveraged Funds: CHIP is the contractor for the ILA strategy, improving the quality of independent living homes, in counties throughout California. CHIP will leverage supportive infrastructure from headquarters in San Diego County as well as Fresno County ILA funds that support overall ILA administration and coordination in the Fresno region. In addition to funds, CHIP will leverage its extensive experience with independent living networks and owner/operators as well as deep experience with collaboration, coordination, and network building.
The proposed agreement for Community Health Improvement Partners totals $2,882,282.63 for rapid rehousing and case management services for an Independent Living Home - Rapid Rehousing program (ILA-RR) for persons experiencing homelessness within one of the City’s designated ERF-1, -2, or -3 encampment areas for up to 12-months of rental subsidies per participant for 100 beds at certified Independent Living Homes (ILA) funded through the Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF). This activity aligns with the eligible use categories for ERF-3R. Staff recommends Council approve the agreement with CHIP. Final execution of the agreement is contingent upon the City’s receipt of an ERF-3R Standard Agreement from the State of California.
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 Encampment Resolution Funding allocations.
Attachments:
1. 23-559 ERF-3R Agreement with Community Health Improvement Partners
2. 23-559 Bid Evaluation for ERF-3R Rapid Rehousing Program