TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents to amend Contracts No. 35845 and No. 35846 with Interval House, of Long Beach, CA, for providing homeless prevention and rapid rehousing services through the Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Emergency Solutions Grant funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, to increase the contract amounts by $1,002,540 and $200,000 respectively, for a revised total aggregate amount not to exceed $2,577,540, and extend the terms of the contracts through September 30, 2023. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to amend the existing Contracts No. 35845 and 35846 with Interval House to continue providing homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing services within Long Beach. Both activities are funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (ESG-CV).
On January 19, 2021, the City Council awarded contracts to Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA), of Los Angeles, CA, and Interval House, of Long Beach, CA, to provide homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing services through the ESG-CV grant, funded by the CARES Act for a period of 20 months, with no renewal option. On April 18, 2022, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a statement notifying jurisdictions that the expenditure deadline for ESG-CV funds was extended to September 30, 2023. The Health Department made this information available to the ESG-CV service providers who are in good standing and requested funding plan reallocations. Interval House has provided the originally contracted services and is committed to continue homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing services in the Long Beach community. The service provider also participated in a round of meetings to assess their availability to take on additional funds. As such, the Health Department is recommending increasing their contracts.
Of the total Federal ESG-CV grant funds, the Health Department administers a portion of these funds for emergency shelter development, shelter operations, homelessness prevention, and rapid rehousing, which includes the services provided through the contracts with VOALA and Interval House. The ESG-CV program split funding into two rounds of allocations totaling $3,072,179 to support the contracts with VOALA and Interval House. The current authorized amounts of $687,500 with Interval House under Contract No. 35845 and $687,500 under Contract No. 35846 have been exhausted. The additional funds requested in the amount of $1,002,540 for homelessness prevention and $200,000 for rapid rehousing will be used to pay for additional expenses incurred to assist additional families at risk of homelessness and in need of rapid rehousing services.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani and Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on June 6, 2022, and by Purchasing Agent Michelle Wilson on May 26, 2022.
EQUITY LENS
The City has incorporated the Equity Toolkit in this recommendation, as requested by the City Council on April 21, 2020. This recommendation will assist Long Beach residents who are at risk of becoming homeless with homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing services.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to amend Contracts No. 35845 and 35846 is requested on June 21, 2022, to allow for continued homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing services in the Long Beach community.
FISCAL IMPACT
The requested action increases contract authority with Interval House by $1,002,540 for Contract No. 35845 for a total amount of $1,690,040 and by $200,000 for Contract No. 35846 for a total amount of $887,500. The total aggregated amount of the contracts will not exceed $2,577,540. These services are funded from $15,343,560 in ESG program funding from HUD as authorized by the CARES Act. ESG program funding has no match requirement and is currently appropriated in the Community Development Grants Fund Group in the Development Services Department. As lead agency to administer homeless services grants across the Long Beach Continuum of Care (CoC), ESG program expenses incurred by the Health and Human Services Department are being transferred to the Development Services Department on a quarterly basis where the ESG program funding is currently appropriated. Sufficient funds are currently budgeted in the Community Development Grants Fund in the Development Services Department, offset by reimbursement grant revenue. Any indirect costs that might not ultimately be eligible for grant funds will be funded by the Health Operating Fund, General Fund, or other eligible grant funds. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER