REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SUMEET MALHI, Director
Personnel Services Department
BY: SUSAN CHUDY, Program Administrator
Personnel Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to RFP 12600292 for the allocation of the Youth Service Corps Homeless Pilot Program to fund three organizations to provide meaningful work experience at their worksites
1. Approve three Service Agreements allocating Youth Services Corps Homeless Pilot Program funding to local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) totaling $700,000 (RFP12600292) to the following organizations: (a) Poverello House $507,171.00; (b) RH Builders $137,860.80; and (c) WestCare California, Inc. $54,968.20
2. Resolution - Granting Authority to the City Manager or designee to enter into agreements with Community-Based Organizations to provide meaningful work experience at their worksites funded by the Youth Service Corps Homeless Pilot Grant Program
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is recommending the City Council's approval to enter into Service Agreements with three CBOs to provide meaningful work experiences to individuals between the ages of 18-30 and to receive allocations from the Youth Services Corps Homeless Pilot funding totaling $700,000 (RFP 12600292). The CBOs listed below were selected from a competitive process to provide work experience to underserved individuals between 18 and 30 years of age.
|
Awards |
Proposer |
|
$507,171.00 |
Poverello House |
|
$137,860.80 |
RH Builders |
|
$54,968.20 |
WestCare California, Inc. |
|
$700,000.00 |
TOTAL |
Authorize the City Manager or designee to enter and execute service agreements to the agreement with each Community Based Organization (CBOs) as approved to provide meaningful work experiences for individuals between 18 and 30 years of age hired for this program.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps Program is extending employment opportunities for Fresno’s population between the ages of 18 and 30 to be employed by local CBOs as the employer of record, while receiving wraparound services to remove barriers to employment. Staff recommend the City Council’s approval to enter into service agreements with three local CBOs with expertise in housing insecurity and homelessness and to provide the individuals with meaningful work training and place them on a sustainable career pathway.
BACKGROUND
The #CaliforniansForAll Youth Service Corps is a Governor’s initiative administered by California Volunteers in partnership with cities across California. The City has been operating the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps Program since the spring of 2022. The program recruits, trains, mentors, and hires individuals for jobs to prepare them for future career opportunities. The program aims to identify young people with the highest need for employment opportunities, provide them with training and wraparound support services, and place them on a sustainable career pathway either within the City or with external organizations. The program has successfully met and exceeded the goals outlined in the original application. 566 individuals have been involved in the program as of December 15, 2025. 89% of the individuals met two or more of the criteria determined by California Volunteers: 65% identify as low income, 25% have experienced mental health issues and/or substance abuse, 19% are justice system impacted, and 8% are in the foster care system. The City of Fresno has hired 27 of the individuals as permanent employees.
This new funding will allow the City to work with local Community Based Organizations to place eligible individuals in service opportunities that address homelessness and housing insecurity. Opportunities will be created for to serve as Navigators to help Californians at risk of or experiencing homelessness attain healthcare, public benefits, housing, or other necessary social services. 54 individuals, or Navigators, are expected to be hired over the life of the grant, which ends December 31, 2026.
The selection committee reviewed each application and identified those applications that best met the desired outcome for the program given their relative strengths and weaknesses. Below are the selected CBO’s and brief summaries their proposals:
Poverello House
Long-established nonprofit that provides comprehensive homelessness services, including emergency shelter, food, rehabilitation, housing navigation, and workforce readiness programs. Serves thousands annually through multiple programs such as Naomi’s House, HOPE Outreach, Village of Hope, Mikes Café and Family Hope Shelter.
Proposal outlined would provide Navigators variety of experience in homeless service programs. Navigators would receive mentorship and hands-on training alongside case managers to develop outreach and support skills. The program emphasized a collaborative learning model that exposes members to all stages of homelessness services including but not limited to street outreach, housing stabilization, preparing them for future roles in community social services.
Proposal for 40 Navigators, 20 per cohort.
RH Community Builders
Nonprofit that develops housing and supportive service solutions for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The organization operates several permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing sites and partners with agencies such as Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health, Fresno Housing, and CalAIM programs to integrate housing, healthcare, and workforce supports.
Through its proposal, RHCB aims to employ Navigators as Outreach and Housing Navigation Assistants who will assist with client outreach, housing referrals, and data tracking within the organization’s CalAIM and homelessness programs. The Navigator will receive structured training in trauma-informed care, de-escalation, motivational interviewing, and coordinated entry processes, gaining hands-on experience in navigation and case management. The program is designed to prepare Navigators for long-term careers in housing, health, and social service fields, while contributing to Fresno’s broader homelessness response system. Proposal for 10 Navigators, 5 per cohort.
WestCare California Inc.
WestCare California, Inc. Provides behavioral health, housing, and human services throughout California. Their organization seeks to act as a worksite primarily through its Wings Advocacy Fresno program, which delivers furniture and household goods to individuals and families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing.
Proposal for 4 Navigators, 2 per cohort.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 this item is not a “project” as defined by CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
All proposals were based in the City of Fresno, and all the organizations recommended are in the City of Fresno and services proposed will assist the greater Fresno area.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact on the General Fund. The Youth Services Homeless Pilot Program is fully funded through a grant award from the California Volunteers through the State of California Governor's Office.
Attachments:
Service Agreement_Poverello House
Service Agreement_RH Community Builders
Service Agreement_WestCare California
Resolution
Signed Procurement Evaluation