TITLE
Recommendation to approve the Substantial Amendment to the City of Long Beach’s 2021-2022 Action Plan and the proposed programs and budget for the HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP); and
Adopt Specifications No. RFP HE-22-061 and award a contract to El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center of San Bernardino, CA, for training, technical assistance, culturally- and linguistically-tailored education materials, and to perform evaluation activities, in a total amount not to exceed of $1,000,000, for a period of two years; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Long Beach Recovery Act
On March 16, 2021, the City Council adopted the Long Beach Recovery Act (LB Recovery Act), becoming one of the first major cities to approve COVID-19 recovery programs made possible through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and other federal and State funding sources. Additional funding adjustments to the LB Recovery Act were made as part of the Adopted Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 22) Budget and periodic adjustments have been brought to the City Council as needed. The LB Recovery Act funding and program details were originally outlined in Attachment A to the March 16, 2021, City Council letter and in subsequent updates brought to the City Council. Since then, over 80 programs have been developed with collective impact and equity in mind, focused on the three main funding categories: Healthy and Safe Community, Economic Recovery, and Securing Our City’s Future. Additional information can be found on the LB Recovery Act website: https://longbeach.gov/recovery.
1. Homeless Relief Programs
The Federal American Rescue Plan provides $5 billion in grants as part of HOME-ARP for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to distribute to local agencies to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability through assisting individuals or households who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, and other vulnerable populations by providing housing, rental assistance, supportive services, and non-congregate shelter. The City of Long Beach (City) has received a HOME-ARP grant award of $10,240,858.
HOME-ARP funds can be used for the following four eligible activities:
• Production or Preservation of Affordable Housing
• Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
• Supportive Services, Homeless Prevention Services, and Housing Counseling
• Purchase and Development of Non-Congregate Shelter
The City’s 2018-2022 Consolidated Plan required by HUD and approved by City Council on July 18, 2017, includes priority community development needs addressed in yearly Action Plans. The proposed Substantial Amendment to the 2021-2022 Action Plan <https://www.longbeach.gov/globalassets/lbds/media-library/documents/housing--neighborhood-services/public-hearing-notices/substantial-amendment-to-the-2021-2022-action-plan>(Action Plan) (Attachment), which describes how the HOME-ARP funds will be used to help the City meet its community development needs, must be approved by the City Council and submitted to HUD in order for the City to spend the HOME-ARP funds. The 2021-2022 Action Plan for the use of the City’s HOME-ARP funds was first presented to the Homeless Services Advisory Committee on April 7, 2021, for feedback and input. Once HUD guidance was released, the Action Plan was presented to internal City stakeholders on November 28, 2021, for consideration and feedback. The Action Plan was presented to the public on December 14, 2021, at the Continuum of Care Board and General Membership meeting to solicit input. A Substantial Amendment to the 2021-2022 Action Plan (Substantial Amendment) was then presented to the Long Beach Community Investment Company on February 16, 2022, for a public hearing to accept public comment. The Substantial Amendment was posted on the City’s website for 15 days for public review, as required by HUD. City Council approval is now requested for the Substantial Amendment to the Action Plan, which contains the following proposed programming and budgeting of City’s HOME-ARP funds.
HOME-ARP Proposed Budget
|
Project |
Funding Source |
Comments |
Amount |
|
Outreach and Case Management (Supportive Service) |
HOME-ARP Funding |
To engage and link individuals experiencing homelessness to housing and supportive services. This includes easier access to shelter and housing referrals, social services enrollments, and critical mental health services. |
$6,646,874 |
|
Non-Congregate Shelter / Housing (Acquisition / Rehab / Development) |
HOME-ARP Funding |
Additional housing units accessible to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, operated with wraparound services. |
$2,569,898 |
|
Administration |
HOME-ARP Funding |
General administrative support associated with implementing the grant. |
$1,024,086 |
|
Total |
$10,240,858 |
2. Addressing Health Disparities Program
LB Recovery Act Program: Addressing Health Disparities (Healthy and Safe Community) Selected Vendor: El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center
Contract Duration: One year with the option to renew for one 12-month period, at the discretion of the City Manager
Contract Amount: $1,000,000
City Council approval is requested to adopt Specification No. RFP HE-22-061 and enter into a contract with El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center (El Sol) to provide training, technical assistance, culturally- and linguistically-tailored education materials, and to perform evaluation activities with a cohort of community organizations seeking to implement or expand their Promotoras/Community Health Champions (Promotora/CHC) programs. El Sol will collaborate with the City’s Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) and provide a framework for successful design, implementation, and evaluation of Promotora/Community Health Champions programs of five to seven partner organizations selected by the City.
El Sol was founded in 1991 with the mission “to empower vulnerable communities to lead healthy lives with access to health care; safe, affordable housing; opportunities for education; and the leadership skills to eliminate disparities.” In 2001, El Sol developed the Community Health Worker (CHW) Academy which required 70 hours of basic training. The El Sol CHW Network has a membership of over 800 Community Health Workers. El Sol is committed to promoting equity in eliminating health disparities by fostering an intentional focus on eliminating racial and other demographic differences in social determinants of health and health outcomes.
El Sol is focused on equipping stakeholders from low-income families and under-served communities by providing systems of support, collaboration, and services to improve their quality of life. El Sol is recognized as a leading organization in identifying, training, deploying, developing, supporting, and evaluating Community Health Workers/Promotores (CHWs/Ps) to address health inequities. To ensure cultural relevance, programs are guided by a Community Advisory Board, which includes representation of the community served.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) was advertised in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on April 25, 2022, and 608 potential proposers specializing in providing training and technical assistance to community organizations were notified of the RFP opportunity. Of those potential proposers, 32 downloaded the RFP via the City's electronic bid system. The RFP document was made available from the Purchasing Division, located on the sixth floor of City Hall, and the Division's website at <https://longbeach.gov/finance/business-info/purchasing-division/>. An RFP announcement was also included in the Purchasing Division's weekly update of Open Bid Opportunities, which is sent to 39 local, minority-owned, and women-owned business groups. Additionally, the City engaged in additional outreach via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and translated in Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog. The opportunity was also advertised in the Go Long Beach, City of Long Beach Equity, and Economic Development Newsletters.
The City’s Purchasing Division also assists businesses with registering on the Long Beach Buys database to download RFP specifications. There were five proposals received by May 23, 2022. Of those five proposers, five were Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women-owned Business Enterprises (WBEs), certified Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), and/or Long Beach vendors (Local).
The five proposals received were evaluated upon the following criteria:
• Organizational Capacity and Experience
• Method of Approach
• Communications and Reporting
• Thorough and Reasonable Program Cost Analysis
The selection committee determined that El Sol of San Bernardino, CA, was the most qualified firm to provide the services. El Sol was selected based on the company’s organizational capacity and experience performing similar scopes of work, providing a comprehensive method of approach for the requested services, a structured communications and reporting plan, thorough and reasonable program cost analysis, and in meeting minimum qualifications to implement the desired scope of work.
Local Business Outreach
To align with the City’s outreach goal, Long Beach businesses are encouraged to submit proposals for City contracts. Through outreach, 143 Long Beach vendors were notified to submit proposals, of which 15 downloaded and 3 submitted a proposal. The Purchasing Division is committed to continuing to perform outreach to local vendors to expand the bidder pool.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Lauren Misajon on August 4, 2022, Business Services Manager Tara Mortensen on July 27, 2022, and by Recovery Budget Officer Dee Okam on August 5, 2022.
EQUITY LENS
The City has incorporated the Equity Toolkit in this recommendation, as requested by the City Council on April 21, 2020. Authorizing this request will allow for a streamlined process to efficiently disburse LB Recovery Act funding intended for community recovery from the effects of the pandemic. Long Beach residents, workers, and business owners are faced with economic and social impacts that require action and assistance from the City, especially for the communities of color that were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on August 23, 2022, to approve the Substantial Amendment to the Action Plan, adopt Specifications No. RFP HE-22-061, and award a contract concurrently with El Sol, to continue with programming to address homelessness and health disparities to support recovery in Long Beach.
FISCAL IMPACT
This recommendation requests that the City Council approve the Substantial Amendment to the City’s 2021-2022 Action Plan and the proposed programs and budget for the programs funded by HOME-ARP funds. Sufficient appropriation is budgeted in the Community Development Grants Fund Group in the Development Services Department to support these programs.
The LB Recovery Act has identified $7.7 million for the Addressing Health Disparities Program. The total cost of the contract will not exceed $1,000,000 and is funded by the CDC Health Disparities Grants. Sufficient appropriation for the contract is budgeted in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department.
This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties for the Long Beach Recovery Office and Recovery-related staff and is consistent with existing City Council priorities identified in the Long Beach Recovery Act in March 2021. The local job impact associated with this recommendation is undetermined at this time.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER