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
Actions pertaining to homeless street outreach, assessment and mobile shower operations agreements provided under the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program (Bid File 12302683):
1. Approve an Agreement for one-year with one optional one-year extension with Poverello House to conduct homeless street outreach and assessment in the annual amount of $379,738.00.
2. Approve an Agreement for one-year with one optional one-year extension with Gracebound to operate mobile shower trailers in the annual amount of $300,000.00.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the HHAP agreements with Poverello House (Poverello) for homeless street outreach and assessment services in the amount of $379,738.00 annually and Gracebound for mobile shower operations in the amount of $300,000.00 annually and authorize the Purchasing Manager, or designee, to sign all implementing agreements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno (City) is seeking to award funding for homeless street outreach, assessment, and mobile shower operations as part of the HHAP program requirements. Staff issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) on June 21, 2023, and received two proposals for street outreach and assessment services, and one proposal for mobile shower operations. All proposals were determined to be qualified and responsive to the RFP. Based on the evaluation completed by a selection committee, staff recommends awarding Poverello an annual allocation of $379,738.00 for homeless street outreach and assessments and Gracebound an annual allocation of $300,000.00 for mobile shower operations for one-year agreement with one optional one-year extension.
BACKGROUND
In February 2020, the City was awarded HHAP funding in the amount of $6,158,246.18 from the California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council to address homelessness, in September 2021 received $2,911,171 in a second round of HHAP allocations, and 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 50220.7 (e) allows program recipients to use its allocation for street outreach to assist persons experiencing homeless to access permanent housing and services.
Staff issued an RFP on June 21, 2023, requesting proposals to provide homeless street outreach and assessment to unsheltered individuals as authorized under Health and Safety Code (HSC) § 50219(c)(4) and for the operations for two mobile shower and restroom facilities for people experiencing homelessness through the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program. The City received two proposals for homeless street outreach and assessment services and one proposal for mobile shower operations by the August 1, 2023, deadline. A selection committee comprised of representatives from the City’s Homeless Services Division, Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART), and Long-Range Planning Division in the Planning and Development Department; Fresno Housing Authority, and Fresno Madera Continuum of Care Lived Experience Advisor Board (LEAB).
On August 11, 2023, the committee evaluated the proposals based on the ability to meet the stated service requirements, conformance with the terms and conditions of the RFP, costs associated with providing services, past performance and experience, and other related information provided. The committee determined Poverello’s proposal to be qualified and most responsive to the homeless street outreach and assessment activities as outlined in the RFP for a total amount of $379,738.00. The committee determined Gracebound to be qualified and responsive for the operations of two mobile shower and restroom facilities as outlined in the RFP for a total amount of $300,000.00. Based on this evaluation staff recommends awarding Poverello and Gracebound.
Poverello House: Homeless Street Outreach and Assessment
Poverello House’s Homeless Outreach Progressive Engagement Team (HOPE Team) will provide outreach services targeting veterans, chronically homeless, and unhoused individuals and families throughout the City of Fresno. The HOPE Team will collaborate with the City of Fresno’s Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART) to provide outreach to people experiencing homelessness who are not engaged in navigation services and/or emergency shelters within the City of Fresno. They will provide a non-law enforcement approach for people experiencing homelessness living in encampments and other places throughout the City of Fresno. The HOPE Team will receive referrals from the HART Team to engage people experiencing homelessness. The HOPE Team will work with the City of Fresno’s code enforcement, solid waste department, and Police Department to link individuals and families experiencing homelessness to navigation services and shelter. The HOPE Team will have a dispatcher that will receive referrals from the City of Fresno and assign HOPE Team members to the identified locations. As directed by the City of Fresno, the HOPE Team will also collaborate with other jurisdictions such as Fresno Irrigation District, Caltrans, the County of Fresno, the Downtown Association, and other jurisdictions to outreach to people experiencing homelessness. The HOPE Team will be made up of six (6) full-time individuals. The HOPE Outreach Team will be available on both evenings and weekends.
Gracebound: Mobile Shower Operations
Gracebound will coordinate the Planning and Development Department Homeless Services Division and Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility to collect the shower trailers and deliver to predetermined sites throughout Fresno. The truck used to transport the trailers meets the California vehicle laws and regulations to transport trailers with a GVWR of 13,000 pounds and driver(s) will have current Commercial Class A licenses. The driver, with the help of other Gracebound staff, will connect the trailer to City water and sewer systems. Gracebound will also refill propane tanks and gas for the generators when needed to properly operate the mobile showers. The showers site will operate Monday through Friday 8 am - 1 pm, with additional hours to setup, teardown, clean, and transport. All staff will be trained to operate the shower trailers in a professional and respectful manner, providing the clients with excellent service. Staff will provide snacks, water, undergarments, hygiene items, towels, etc. The showers and restrooms will be sanitized after each use and at the end of the day. The staff will screen participants for other services and will have referral materials on site. An onsite supervisor will document client information. The information gathered by Gracebound will be shared to City staff to identify the rate of use after each event. HMIS information will also be collected for each participant and entered by the program manager. Gracebound expects to serve approximately 150 to 200 clients per week, 600 - 800 clients per month. Gracebound expects to connect 30 clients per week (15 - 20%) to other services.
The proposed agreement for Poverello totals $379,738.00 annually for homeless street outreach and assessment services and the agreement for Gracebound totals $300,000.00 annually for mobile shower 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 agreements will be funded through the City’s Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention allocations.
Attachments:
1. 12302683 Agreement with Poverello House
2. 12302683 Agreement with Gracebound Inc.
3. Bid Evaluation