AGENDA STAFF REPORT

Agenda Item AGENDA STAFF REPORT ASR Control 22-000040
MEETING DATE:	09/13/22
legal entity taking action:	Board of Supervisors
board of supervisors district(s):	All Districts
SUBMITTING Agency/Department:	Health Care Agency (Approved)
Department contact person(s):	Annette Mugrditchian (714) 834-5026
	Doug Becht (714) 834-2323

Subject: Contracts for Regional Care Coordination Services

ceo CONCUR

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

Concur

Approved Agreement to Form

Discussion

3 Votes Board Majority

Budgeted: Yes

Current Year Cost: $4,579,692

Annual Cost: FY 2023-24 $6,561,203

Staffing Impact:

# of Positions:

Sole Source: No

Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A

Funding Source: See Financial Impact Section	County Audit in last 3 years: No

Prior Board Action: N/A

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

Approve the Contract with Volunteers of America of Los Angeles for Regional Care Coordination Services in the North Service Planning Area, for the term of October 15, 2022, through June 30, 2024, for an amount not to exceed $3,579,692.

Approve the Contract with PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) for Regional Care Coordination Services in the Central and South Service Planning Areas, for the term of October 15, 2022, through June 30, 2024, for an amount not to exceed $7,561,203.

Pursuant to Contract Policy Manual Section 3.4-114, authorize the County Procurement Officer or Deputized designee to exercise a contingency contract cost increase, not to exceed a total of 10 percent of the contract amounts for the first year of the contracts, for the entire term of the Contract, including renewals, and within the scope of work set forth in the contracts. The use of this contingency cost increase is subject to approval requirements established by the County Procurement Officer.

Authorize the County Procurement Officer or Deputized designee to execute the Contracts as referenced in the Recommended Actions above.

SUMMARY:

Approval of the Contracts with Volunteers of America of Los Angeles and PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) for Regional Care Coordination Services will provide outreach services that help respond to and address the unsheltered homeless conditions and provide comprehensive care coordination in each Service Planning Area.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

On February 22, 2022, Health Care Agency (HCA) issued a Request For Proposal (RFP) to seek qualified providers for the Regional Street Outreach and Care Coordination Services for each of the three Service Planning Areas (SPA). There were eight respondents to the RFP – three respondents for the North SPA, three respondents for the Central SPA and two respondents for the South SPA. An evaluation panel consisting of one HCA representative and four non-HCA representatives evaluated the proposals and recommended award of contract to Volunteer of America of Los Angeles (VOALA) for the North SPA and PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) (PATH) for the Central and South SPA. HCA has completed successful negotiations with VOALA for the North SPA and PATH for the Central and South SPA and recommends award of contracts to VOALA and PATH. One protest was received on this solicitation. Upon careful review and consideration with County Counsel, the protest was deemed invalid and subsequently denied.

VOALA is a non-profit organization founded in 1896 with a mission to find solutions to social problems and pioneer approaches that assist individuals in need by creating positive, lasting changes. VOALA has an extensive history providing outreach, engagement, case management and housing and supportive services for Southern California’s most vulnerable, including individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness, veterans, youth and other at-risk populations.

PATH is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 whose mission is to end homelessness for individuals, families and communities through grassroot outreach initiatives that support individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness access to available services and secure housing. PATH has nearly 38 years of experience in homeless services providing a full range of resources, including care coordination, interim and permanent housing, medical and behavioral healthcare linkages and wraparound supportive services. Additionally, PATH serves as the emergency shelter operator for the Yale Navigation Center in the Central SPA.

HCA staff have conducted due diligence on VOALA and PATH. Reference checks for VOALA were completed by contacting North Orange County Public Safety Collaborative, Orange County’s United Way and Yellowstone Women’s 1st Step House, Inc. Reference checks for PATH were completed by contacting Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness.

The Contract with VOALA includes Mercy House Living Centers, Inc. as a subcontractor. The Contract with PATH does not include any subcontractors. See Attachment C for Contract Summary Forms.

Scope of Services

VOALA and PATH (contract providers) will provide regional care coordination services to help engage and serve individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The contracted providers will also work with the County, their respective cities and local stakeholders to address unsheltered homeless conditions in their community. The contracted providers will receive referrals from HCA Mental Health and Recovery Services Outreach and Engagement (O&E) for individuals experiencing homelessness that need and qualify for comprehensive care coordination services. Care coordination services will provide comprehensive assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness by linking them to the variety of resources designed to address the complex needs of this population and adopt a “whatever it takes” approach to reduce and eliminate barriers to service engagement and participation. This care coordination will be provided to the participant as they navigate through the County’s Systems of Care – Behavioral Health, Healthcare, Housing, Community Corrections, and Benefits and Support Services – to access appropriate services and through successful placement in permanent housing with the appropriate supportive services to ensure sustainability.

The program will include the following service elements:

	Coordinate with O&E to determine areas for street outreach and engagement to build relationships that provide care coordination and support in accessing services, mainstream services, homeless service programs and other resources.
	Intake and assessment to determine the history of participation in other homeless service programs and collection of needed or missing information.
	Case management services to ensure proper care coordination to address the needs of participants with a focus on providing support and identifying permanent housing options.
	Disability benefits advocacy to support participants in filing complete and timely applications and appeals, represent individuals at administrative hearings and establish good working relationships with the Social Security Administration services providers as needed to ensure adequate representation.
	Housing navigation services to support the participant in identifying available housing units and resources, completing needed forms and applications for housing.
	Coordinate and collaborate with the other components of the System of Care, Orange County Continuum of Care and key stakeholders throughout the SPA to employ a multidisciplinary approach to assist participants in accessing services and/or programs.
	Participate in the Care Plus Program and assist in the engagement of high utilizers of County services by gathering consent and expeditiously connecting participants to the correct service or resource cohesively by facilitating transportation.

PATH will provide services under the Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Program to address people experiencing homelessness within Talbert Regional Park. This includes funding for staffing, housing resources and supportive services dedicated to the Talbert Regional Park to engage, build rapport and help ensure connections to services and housing options. PATH will utilize the care coordination model and employ a multidisciplinary approach to service delivery. It was through strong partnership with the City of Costa Mesa and OC Parks that the County of Orange (County)was awarded this funding. Additionally, the County and PATH will continue their partnership with the City of Costa Mesa and OC Parks to address the service needs of those experiencing homelessness within Talbert Regional Park.

During FY 2020-21, 129 individuals experiencing homelessness were identified at Talbert Regional Park, and understanding the population does fluctuate, the funding is targeted to provide 60 individuals experiencing homelessness services and resources they need to end their homelessness. The ERF Program also includes funding to restore the areas of Talbert Park impacted by those experiencing unsheltered homelessness and will be coordinated with OC Parks.

Performance Outcomes

VOALA will provide Regional Street Outreach and Care Coordination Services to a minimum of 375 participants in the North SPA during the term of the Contract. PATH will provide Regional Street Outreach and Care Coordination Services to a minimum of 600 participants in the Central SPA and 300 participants in the South SPA and ERF Program services to 60 persons experiencing homelessness in the Talbert Regional Park. The following performance measures and outcomes will be achieved:

· 90 percent of participants will have an Individualized Housing and Service Plan within 30 calendar days of program enrollment.

· 90 percent of participants will be connected to the Coordinated Entry System within 30 calendar days of program enrollment. Connected to the Coordinated Entry System at minimum includes a program enrollment; however, the goal is to get program participants in the community queue as quickly as possible.

· Of the participants who have a disability and are not receiving disability benefits, it is expected 90 percent of participants will have submitted a disability benefit application or appeal within 120 days of program enrollment.

· Of the disability benefit applications submitted, a minimum of 40 percent of disability benefit applications will receive approval, inclusive of initial applications, reconsideration request and/or appeals and hearing processes.

· 50 percent of participants will enroll into to an emergency shelter or temporary housing destination while enrolled in the program.

· 50 percent pf participants will transition to a permanent housing destination.

· 50 percent of participants who move into permanent housing destinations, will do so within 120 days of enrollment to the program.

· 50 percent of participants will have a higher income than at program entry due to employment and/or mainstream benefits.

· 50 percent of funding will be expended under the ERF Program by June 30, 2023, and 100 percent will be expended by June 30, 2024.

The Orange County Preference Policy does not apply to these contract awards.

HCA request the Board approve the Contracts with VOALA and PATH as referenced in the Recommended Actions above.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

Appropriations for this Contract are included in Budget Control 042 FY 2022-23 Budget and will be included in budgeting process for future years.

The proposed Contract includes provisions allowing HCA to terminate the Contract, reduce the level of services, and/or renegotiate the levels of services provided, as necessary. This includes a notice that allows HCA adequate time to transition or terminate services to clients, if necessary.

This Contract will be funded by:

State: 100% (32% Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP), 48% Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP), and 20% Encampment Resolution Grant) through a cost apply from Budget Control 042 to Budget Control 017.

STAFFING IMPACT:

N/A

REVIEWING AGENCIES:

Social Services Agency

ATTACHMENT(S):

Attachment A - Contract MA-042-22011036 with Volunteers of America of Los Angeles for provision of Regional Care Coordination Services for North Service Planning Area
Attachment B - Contract MA-042-22011558 with PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) for provision of Regional Care Coordination Services for Central and South Service Planning Area
Attachment C - Contract Summary Forms to Attachment A – B
Attachment D - RFP Score Sheet