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Approve a contract with Caminar, Inc. for $500,534 to provide permanent supportive housing services for individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges who reside at the Fair Haven Commons for the period December 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024; Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999; and Approve a $419,137 Appropriation Transfer Request to increase appropriations and recognize grant revenue to fund a portion of the contract (4/5 vote required)
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Published Notice Required? Yes _____ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS) recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve a contract with Caminar, Inc. for $500,534 to provide permanent supportive housing services for individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges who reside at the Fair Haven Commons for the period December 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024; delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999; and approve a $419,137 Appropriation Transfer Request to increase appropriations and recognize grant revenue to fund a portion of the contract (4/5 vote required).
SUMMARY:
On January 22, 2019, the Board approved a resolution for participation in the Department of Health Care Services’ No Place Like Home grant program. Solano County Behavioral Health, in partnership with MidPen Housing Corporation (MidPen), secured $4,737,303 in No Place Like Home (NPLH) grant funds, which was complemented by a $1,603,827 allocation received in State General Funds to provide housing as part of the State’s investment in housing and Whole Person Care (WPC) services to individuals with behavioral health issues. This collective initiative enabled the construction of the Fair Haven Commons affordable housing community in Fairfield, California, which was completed mid-2023. The complex consists of 72 housing units of which 34 are designated as NPLH units and 10 are designated WPC units. The 44 total designated units are for individuals and families with a serious mental disorder and/or serious emotional disturbance who are homeless or chronically homeless.
In October 2021, collaboration agreements between H&SS Behavioral Health Division and MidPen were executed, whereby MidPen operates and manages the affordable housing complex and H&SS Behavioral Health Division provides behavioral health and wraparound services to the NPLH and WPC households living at Fair Haven Commons.
H&SS Behavioral Health Division anticipated that the 44 units would be filled over several months; however, due to the number of referred applicants/individuals and families meeting eligibility requirements and in need of housing and supported services, the majority of the 44 units were occupied within two months and individuals transitioned from homelessness to stable housing. Whole person supportive and wraparound services are critical for the placed individuals and families to be successfully housed.
Caminar provides supportive housing services at 13 scattered-site locations throughout the county and is able to quickly respond to the urgent and complex needs of the housed individuals and families to provide supportive services that enable the individuals to maintain their housing, improve their health and quality of life and meet their personal goals. Caminar has an established relationship with the housing developer, MidPen, collaborating/partnering together on other permanent supportive housing projects throughout the Bay Area, which allows Caminar to provide immediate start-up benefits that other contractors could not offer.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The contract will be funded with $419,137 in State Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grant program funding, Round 3 (HHAP-3); and $81,397 in Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding as outlined in the FY2023/26 MHSA Three-Year Plan. There is no additional impact to the County General Fund.
On June 14, 2022, the Board authorized H&SS Behavioral Health to submit a grant application to the California Interagency Council on Homeless for the County’s $1,607,845 allocation in State HHAP-3 grant funding. There was no match requirement. The HHAP-3 funds must be contractually obligated no later than May 31, 2024 and expended by December 31, 2026.
An ATR for $419,137 is needed to increase appropriations and recognize HHAP-3 grant revenue to fund the contract in the FY2023/24 Working Budget.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2023/24 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
NPLH and WPC funding was directed toward the construction of Fair Haven Commons, a vital affordable housing project in Fairfield consisting of 72 apartment units tailored to meet the needs of families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness. The NPLH grant allocation designated 34 of these units to accommodate individuals and families who are currently homeless or chronically homeless and are dealing with a serious mental disorder and/or serious emotional disturbance. The WPC funds secured an additional 10 units for individuals facing serious mental health disorders. In support of these commitments, H&SS executed two housing preference and services collaboration agreements with MidPen for the NPLH and the WPC units. Additionally, both MidPen and the H&SS Behavioral Health Division are committed to providing supportive housing services to the NPLH and WPC residents for a duration of no less than twenty years, as required by housing units utilizing NPLH funding and common for supportive housing construction programs.
On September 14, 2021, the Board approved a grant agreement between MidPen and Solano County to support the construction and operation of permanent supportive housing units with a commitment to provide 10 WPC units for individuals with behavioral health needs as part of the Fair Haven Commons project.
On October 1, 2021, a housing preference and services collaboration agreement was entered between H&SS and MidPen. Per the agreement, MidPen operates and manages the affordable housing facility and H&SS Behavioral Health Division provides behavioral health and wraparound services to those households living in NPLH units for individuals who are formerly homeless and have mental health challenges.
To fulfill the collaboration agreements, H&SS Behavioral Health Division is recommending the Board of Supervisors' approval to contract with Caminar, Inc. to provide the essential permanent supportive housing services. Caminar has experience with assisting mentally ill individuals in maintaining their housing, which has many direct and indirect cost benefits to the County in terms of other services impacted by homelessness, including inpatient care. Permanent supportive housing services, a cornerstone of effective homelessness interventions, provides a holistic and multifaceted approach to those transitioning from homelessness into stable housing. By offering safe and affordable housing along with essential support services, such as mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and job assistance, permanent supportive housing empowers individuals to rebuild their lives. These supportive services have proven to not only end the cycle of homelessness, but also significantly improve the overall quality of life for these individuals. The approach recognizes that homelessness often stems from complex issues like mental health challenges or substance addiction. By addressing these root causes, a sustainable path towards housing stability and independence is more achievable and an essential component of any community's strategy to combat homelessness effectively and enhance the well-being of its residents.
The County and its contracted agencies will provide ongoing case management and other mental health services for the residents living in one of the designated NPLH and WPC units. Residents are not required to participate in behavioral health services, but the appropriate services will be offered to the individuals who qualify due to a behavioral health condition.
The proposed contract aligns with the County's 5-year regional strategic plan to respond to homelessness in Solano County, a collaborative effort between Solano County H&SS and the Community Action Partnership (CAP Solano) Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JPA) and expand upon supportive services included in the Solano County MHSA Three-Year Plan FYs 2023/26, which was approved by the Board on September 12, 2023.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve the contract with Caminar, Inc. This is not recommended as this contract assists with H&SS Behavioral Health Division’s ability to provide essential supportive services to the NPLH and WPC residents and to fulfill its commitments to MidPen.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the contract for legal sufficiency.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION