REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Revised Revenue Agreement with the County of Santa Clara for the Santa Clara Intensive Case Management and Homeless Prevention Program
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote and Enhance Economic, Housing and Transportation Development
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara contracts with the County of Santa Clara to provide services related to reducing homelessness within the City. Most recently, on June 23, 2020, the City Council approved a two-year Revenue Agreement with the County committing $250,000 to provide case management services to chronically homeless individuals through the County’s Care Coordination Project (CCP). The CCP operates under the leadership of the County’s Office of Supportive Housing, which partners with public and private agencies in coordinating care of the County’s most vulnerable, long-term homeless residents. The Revenue Agreement also included a funding allocation of $150,000 for the County’s Homeless Prevention Program (HPP).
The Revenue Agreement directly contributes toward achievement of the City’s goal of ending homelessness in the City. Through the Revenue Agreement, the County provides housing and case management on an ongoing basis for 20 homeless and chronically homeless individuals that are referred to the County by the City of Santa Clara Police Department’s (SCPD) Community Response Team. The SCPD Community Response Team maintains a list of homeless and chronically homeless people considered to be the City's most vulnerable to incidences of both personal and public safety and makes referrals to the County based on this list.
The Revenue Agreement also provides services to the City utilizing County funds. Per the Revenue Agreement, the City funds case management services, while the County provides housing subsidies to these 20 individuals at no additional cost to the City. The housing subsidies are “permanent” (e.g., provide “Permanent Supportive Housing”) as they do not expire unless a participant no longer meets the program eligibility qualifications. Based upon current usage in similar County programs, the estimate of the housing subsidy from the County per year for 20 housing units is approximately $470,000.
To further the goal of ending homelessness in Santa Clara, the Revenue Agreement also seeks to prevent homelessness through a funding allocation for the County’s HPP of $50,000 in FY 2022/23 and $50,000 in FY 2023/24, funded by the City’s Affordable Housing Fund. This program is a countywide initiative to provide eligible households with emergency assistance such as rent, security deposits, food, work related transportation, medical assistance and utilities assistance to prevent homelessness. Eligible households would need to have sufficient household income to maintain housing after receiving emergency assistance. The County estimates that Santa Clara’s contribution to HPP would provide emergency financial assistance to at least 20 households.
On May 10, 2022, the City Council approved and authorized the City Manager to execute a Revised Revenue Agreement (Agreement) to extend these services, prior to the expiration of the Agreement on June 30, 2022. However, subsequent to that approval, the County Counsel Office is requiring additional changes to the Agreement before it can be dually executed. The dollar amounts in the Agreement have not changed.
DISCUSSION
Approval of the Agreement with the County of Santa Clara extends the City’s participation in the Care Coordination Project and Homeless Prevention Program for an additional two years, from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024, and provides annual funding to cover the costs for both programs by an amount not to exceed $350,000 over the term of the Agreement. The Agreement would be funded by $220,000 from the City’s Housing Successor Agency Fund and $130,000 from the City Affordable Housing Fund, consistent with the funding for the original Revenue Agreement.
The changes requested by the County Counsel is because the agreement was on a prior template in which County has updated its standard provisions including indemnification, termination and compliance with laws. The changes to the Agreement requested by the County Counsel would not substantively modify the program in that the City’s funding commitment would not change and the County would continue to provide the same services to the City. As described above, the Agreement is an important tool through which the City is able to deliver services to its homeless population, consistent with the City’s service goals. Extending this Agreement will thus continue important services within Santa Clara in a cost-effective manner.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Agreement provides $125,000 per fiscal year for the CPP intensive case manager, and $50,000 per fiscal year for HPP services. The Agreement’s annual total cost is $175,000, totaling $350,000 over the two-year term of the Agreement. Funding for this agreement was approved as part of the FY 2022/23 and FY 2023/24 budget adoption on June 21, 2022 in the City Affordable Housing ($130,000) and Housing Successor Agency ($220,000) Funds.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the revised Revenue Agreement with the County of Santa Clara for the Santa Clara Intensive Case Management and Homeless Prevention Program for two years not to exceed $350,000.
Staff
Reviewed by: Andrew Crabtree, Director of Community Development
Approved by: Rajeev Batra, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
2022-2024 County - City Revenue Agreement for PSH and HPP