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Receive a presentation from recipients of American Rescue Plan Act funds to increase capacity to serve people experiencing homelessness
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The County Administrator’s Office recommends the Solano County Board of Supervisors receive a presentation from recipients of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to increase capacity to serve people experiencing homelessness.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On February 28, 2023, the Board of Supervisors allocated funding toward three projects to increase capacity to serve people experiencing homelessness: $3,000,000 to the City of Vallejo toward the Project Homekey Permanent Supportive Housing project on Broadway Street, $800,000 to the City of Fairfield for the Fairfield Navigation Center kitchen and deferred maintenance, and $381,000 to Vacaville Solano Services Corporation (VSSC) for the purchase of the My Friend’s House the Transition Age Youth Shelter. Subsequently, on March 7, 2023, the Board allocated $1,500,000 to the City of Vallejo toward the construction of the Vallejo Navigation Center.
Project Homekey Permanent Supportive Housing - Broadway Street: The City of Vallejo is working with the nonprofit developer Firm Foundation Community Housing to construct a 47-unit Permanent Supportive Housing project which would provide housing with wrap around support to 47 households experiencing homelessness. The full project cost is $26 million and construction began September 2022. Funding for the project includes State of California Homekey funding, City of Vallejo ARPA funds, Solano County ARPA funds, and other grant and loan funds. Recently it was identified by the City of Vallejo there was a $6 million funding gap to complete the project, but staff identified other funding sources which was approved by the City Council. With this additional funding, it is anticipated construction on the project will be completed September 2024 and occupied in December 2024.
Fairfield Navigation Center: The City of Fairfield is working with SHELTER Solano on necessary renovations to the Beck Avenue Navigation Center (BANC). SHELTER Solano has secured the permit process for the kitchen training classroom and is in the permitting process for other planned renovations and deferred maintenance, including updates to the wellness center and the welcome center. The updates should be completed in September 2024.
My Friend’s House Transition Age Youth Shelter: VSSC received funding for the purchase of the My Friend’s House Transition Age Youth shelter which provides emergency and transitional housing to up to eight youth ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness. Renovations and services at the shelter have been funded by the Board’s Community Investment Fund and VSSC had an agreement to purchase the shelter when funds were available. The purchase of the property was completed April 2024. To date the shelter has served 88 unduplicated transition age youth. A total of 64% of individuals have transitioned into positive housing outcomes.
Vallejo Navigation Center: The City of Vallejo received funding for the Vallejo Navigation Center which is intended to be a "one-stop-shop" that will provide services and shelter critical to helping address homelessness. The Center will offer 125 shelter beds for six months (with potential extensions if progress is being made toward permanent housing) and provide individual case management, connecting people to social and medical services. Participants will also have access to job training and receive assistance in preparing to secure and sustain permanent housing. The construction cost for the project is $8 million with funding contributions from City of Vallejo, Solano County ARPA, state and federal funding, and the Community Action Partnership Joint Powers Authority (CAP Solano JPA). Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente and NorthBay Health have provided $6.1 million in funding to be used to provide services. The Center held a groundbreaking ceremony on April 29, 2024 and is slated for completion by the end of 2024.
Staff will continue to work with the awarded agencies to ensure full completion of projects and provide ongoing update to the Board.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to receive the presentation.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to receive the presentation; however, this is not recommended as it gives the Board the opportunity to hear from the recipients of ARPA funds about the use of the funds.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The City of Vallejo, City of Fairfield, SHELTER Solano, and VSSC assisted in preparing the presentation.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION