REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: CRYSTAL SILVA, Senior Management Analyst
Homeless Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a Service Agreement with Poverello House (Poverello) to operate Village of Hope located at 412 F. Street, a shelter offering 65 beds serving individuals experiencing homelessness. The agreement term is from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, in the total amount of $1,986,072.25 funded with Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Round 3. (Council District 3) (Bid File No.12500851)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the service agreement with Poverello for emergency shelter operations in the total amount of $1,986,072.25 under a one-year agreement and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign all implementing agreements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno (City) is seeking to allocate funding for emergency shelter operations in alignment with the requirements of the Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) program. A Request for Qualification (RFQ) was issued on October 18, 2024, resulting in the submission of five (5) proposals and all five (5) were determined to be qualified.
Based on the evaluation of the response from Poverello, Staff recommends awarding Poverello a total amount of $1,986,072.25 to oversee the operation and coordination of services at Village of Hope under a one-year agreement.
BACKGROUND
On October 29, 2021, The California Interagency Council on Homelessness published a Notice of Funding Availability for the ERF-1 Program. The ERF-1 Program is designed to assist local jurisdictions in ensuring the wellness and safety of people experiencing homelessness in encampments, including their immediate physical and mental wellness and safety needs arising from unsheltered homelessness and their long-term needs addressed through a path to safe and stable housing throughout the state.
On December 9, 2021, Council approved the City’s application for funds through the ERF-1 program. Subsequently, City staff submitted the application and on March 1, 2022, was notified by Cal-ICH that it had been awarded an ERF Grant in the amount of $5,070,057.68.
On April 28, 2022, Council approved an agreement with Poverello to assist 100 individuals with transitioning out of street homelessness into 50 Triage emergency shelter beds at Village of Hope, and up to 26 individuals into permanent affordable housing provided under the ERF program as part of the Project Downtown Hope.
On February 23, 2023, City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-039 authorizing the department to submit a grant application to California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) for funding under the ERF-2R program for services that resolve the experience of unsheltered homelessness for people residing in Project Downtown Hope and transition individuals into interim shelter with clear pathways to permanent housing. On June 14, 2023, the city was awarded ERF-2R funding the amount of $17,000,000.
On September 28, 2023, the City entered into an agreement with Poverello House to operate 90-interm shelter beds at Clarion Point, 65-emergency shelter beds at the Village of Hope, perform street outreach and navigation services, and provide housing stability case management in the amount of $9,780,325.71 using ERF-2R funds through June 30, 2025.
On January 18, 2024, City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-007 authorizing the department to submit a grant application to Cal ICH for funding under the ERF-3R program. On April 19, 2024, the City received an ERF-3R Notice of Award in the amount of $10,926,075.78.
On October 10, 2024, City Council approved the first amendment with Poverello utilizing an additional $2,001,280.00 in ERF-3R funds to add 30 emergency shelter beds at Clarion Pointe and expand street outreach services from the downtown encampment area to include the Blackstone Corridor between Barstow Avenue and Shields Avenue through July 30, 2025.
To utilize this funding, staff issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on October 18, 2024, soliciting proposals for the operation of triage centers/emergency shelters and coordination of services. The City received five proposals by the December 17, 2024, deadline. A selection panel, comprising representatives from the City’s Housing and Community Development, Homeless Services, and Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART) divisions within the Planning and Development Department, along with a representative from the San Jose Housing Authority, evaluated the proposals. The evaluation criteria included the ability to meet service requirements, conformance with RFQ terms and conditions, cost efficiency, past performance, and related qualifications.
Following a thorough review, the panel determined that Poverello’s proposal was both qualified and most responsive to operate Village of Hope with a proposed award of $1,986,072.25
Based on the evaluation, staff recommends awarding Poverello as the operator of Village of Hope.
Poverello Village of Hope
Poverello House ensures a low-barrier, housing-first model without prerequisites, allowing participants to remain on-site without mandatory substance testing. Poverello House shelter services are part of the community’s coordinated enter system (CES). Poverello will utilize Homeless Information System (HMIS) to collect all client data. All Fresno Madera Continuum of Care (FMCoC) access sites and self-referrals can refer to the Poverello House’s emergency shelters.
• An Intake Specialist will administer the pre-screening tools to identify immediate emergency needs such as medical attention, mental health, and shelter.
• During the initial pre-screening process, Diversion will be practiced. This would include utilizing the client’s existing resources, such as family reunification, linkages to friends, and possible safe sleeping environments. Identifying emergency needs and Diversion occurs in the pre-screening process.
• If Diversion has been exhausted or is inappropriate, the intake process begins for the shelter beds. An intake process will include the universal data elements (Gender, race, length to homelessness, age and veteran status) from the client.
• Once assigned a shelter bed, an appointment will be set up within 24 hours with a case manager.
• The Case manager will meet with the client and create an action plan to address immediate emergency needs, potential supportive services and a housing plan. The case manager will also have weekly meetings with clients to implement supportive services plans and housing goals.
Shelter management staff and oversight
• 65 emergency shelter beds
• 4 Client Navigators that will create a supportive service and housing plan for residents at Village of Hope
• 9 Client Services Specialists (24-hour staff)
• 24-hour security services
• 2 Housing Stability Case Managers (Additional case management once housed.)
• 3 meals a day
• Linen service
• Office Supplies and IT services
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This 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 state ERF funds.
Attachment:
Service Agreement POV Village of Hope