REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: JILLIAN GAYTAN, Senior Management Analyst
Homeless Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a Service Agreement with RH Community Builders to manage a Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) Rapid Rehousing program offering 25-units serving youth ages 18 to 24, located at 1309 West Shaw Avenue (District 2), through June 30, 2026, in the total amount of $1,149,508.39 funded with Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Youth Set-Aside Funds.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the HHAP agreement with RH Community Builders (RHCB) to provide homeless youth rapid rehousing program services in the amount of $1,149,508.39 for two (2) years 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 homeless youth services as part of the HHAP program requirements. Staff issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on June 5, 2024, and received five proposals for seven homeless youth services activities. Five proposals were determined to be qualified and responsive to the RFQ. Based on the evaluation completed by a selection committee, staff recommends awarding RHCB $1,149,508.39 for homeless TAY rapid rehousing services for 25-units at 1309 West Shaw Avenue, under an eighteen (18) month agreement.
BACKGROUND
In September 2021, the City was awarded HHAP funding in the amount of $2,911,171 from the California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council to address homelessness, on January 18, 2023, received a total of $7,524,257.15 in a third round of HHAP allocations, and on July 31, 2023, received an initial disbursement of $5,632,712.55 in a fourth round of HHAP allocations. Health and Safety Code section 50218.6(e) requires that a program recipient use at least 10 percent of its allocation for services for homeless youth populations, which are defined as unaccompanied youth who are between 12 and 24 years old and experiencing homelessness. Funds spent under this provision must still also comply with the eligible use requirements of Health and Safety Code section 50220.7(e).
Staff issued a RFQ on June 5, 2023, requesting proposals for services to provide homeless youth services as authorized under Health and Safety Code (HSC) § 50220.7(e) through the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program. The City received five proposals for seven homeless youth services activates by the July 26, 2024, deadline. The evaluation committee was comprised of representatives from the Planning and Development Department’s Homeless Services Division, Housing Production Division and Housing Finance Division, as well as Poverello House.
On August 1, 2024, the committee began evaluating the proposals based on the ability to meet the stated service requirements, conformance with the terms and conditions of the RFQ, past performance and experience, and other related information provided. The committee completed the evaluation of all agreements on August 20, 2024. The committee determined RHCB’s proposal to be qualified and most responsive to provide homeless TAY rapid rehousing program service as outlined in the RFQ for a total amount of $1,149,508.39. Based on this evaluation staff recommends awarding RHCB to provide a homeless youth rapid rehousing program.
RH Community Builders: Homeless Youth Rapid Rehousing
RH Community Builders (RHCB) will provide rapid rehousing services to youth living in the city of Fresno. The program will be robust in developing the critical skills needed to sustain permanent housing with ongoing support and focus on increasing a youth’s income while building stability.
RHCB will receive referrals from the Fresno Madera Coordinated Entry System for individuals who are experiencing homelessness in the target age group. Each individual will be engaged with both a Housing Tenancy Case Manager and Care Manager who will provide comprehensive services while enrolled in the rapid rehousing program. The Housing Tenancy Case Manager will focus on building the individual’s skills to stay housed, including understanding a household budget, increasing income, and identifying desired permanent housing. The Care Manager will focus on the items of larger scope for the individual including coordinating care with Primary Care Doctors, coordinating care with mental health and substance abuse services, and vocational providers. Each individual will work with their team to create a Housing Plan and a Care Plan. The plans will work collaboratively to address the individual’s needs and prepare for rapid rehousing subsidy to conclude.
The team will participate in blended management meetings with onsite property management to ensure that the service team is well informed on any tenancy issues and are able to support individuals with curbing behaviors that ultimately destabilize their housing. Services will be primarily provided in an individual setting to allow for 1:1 attention and problem solving. However, on a biweekly basis the program will offer group activities that build community and skills. This will include seasonal activities as well as life skills such as budgeting workshops, grocery shopping and cooking lessons, and résumé writing.
The first 3 months of the program will be focused on building rapport and stabilizing the client in housing before the program transitions into identifying long-term goals. The program will be a 12-month site-based program so enrolled youth will need to identify a permanent unit while in the program. This process will begin in month 4 to ensure all participants are able to identify and move into appropriate housing by the end of the 12-month program. In the initial 9 months, the work will be focused on housing tasks such as increasing income, repairing credit, and improving their rental history. By month 12 in the program, each participant will have a strong idea of their long-term housing budget and remaining tasks needed to secure permanent housing. No later than month 18, clients will begin applying to permanent housing units and clients will successfully complete the program during months 18-24 when permanent housing is secured.
The recommended agreement with RHCB totals $1,149,508.39 annually for homeless youth rapid rehousing.
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.
Attachment:
Service Agreement with RH Community Builders