AGENDA STAFF REPORT

Agenda Item AGENDA STAFF REPORT ASR Control 20-000198
MEETING DATE:	11/17/20
legal entity taking action:	Board of Supervisors
board of supervisors district(s):	1
SUBMITTING Agency/Department:	Health Care Agency (Approved)
Department contact person(s):	Jason Austin (714) 834-5000
	Clayton Chau (714) 834-2830

Subject: Contract for Operator of Yale Navigational Center

ceo CONCUR

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

Concur

Approved Agreement to Form

Discussion

3 Votes Board Majority

Budgeted: Yes

Current Year Cost: $5,200,000

Annual Cost: FY 2021-22 $6,400,000
FY 2022-23 $6,400,000

Staffing Impact:

# of Positions:

Sole Source: No

Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A

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

Prior Board Action: 06/23/2020 #S66B, 11/19/2019 #36, 11/20/2018 #S41D

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

Approve the Contract with People Assisting the Homeless to operate the Yale Navigational Center, for the term of November 17, 2020, through June 30, 2023, for an amount not to exceed $18 million.

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

Authorize the County Procurement Officer or authorized Deputy to execute the Contract with People Assisting the Homeless as referenced in the Recommended Action above.

SUMMARY:

Approval of the Contract with People Assisting the Homeless will provide shelter operations services for the Yale Navigation Center to provide supportive and stabilizing services to meet the complex needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Orange County.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

On November 20, 2018, your Honorable Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the Purchase and Sale Agreement with Omega Engineering, Inc. for the industrial building located at 2229 South Yale Street, Santa Ana, CA.

On November 19, 2019, the Board approved the Cooperation and Implementation Agreement and Ground Lease with Shelter Providers of Orange County, Inc. dba HomeAid Orange County. The action allowed for the construction and improvements of the County-owned property to operate as the Yale Navigation Center, with construction anticipated to be completed by the end of 2020. The Yale Navigation Center is an emergency shelter and will serve up to 425 individuals experiencing homelessness in the Central Service Planning Area of Orange County.

On June 23, 2020, the Board approved the Second Amendment to the Ground Lease with HomeAid Orange County to provide additional funding to expedite the completion of the Yale Navigation Center and upgrade fixtures, furniture and equipment targeted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 consistent with the applicable federal, state and local guidelines.

Prior Board Actions are listed below:

Board Date	Term	Action	Amount
November 20, 2018	Not Applicable	Approved as Recommended	$12,250,000
November 19, 2019	November 19, 2019 - November 19, 2020	Approved as Recommended	$25,275,703
June 23, 2020	June 23, 2020 - December 31, 2020	Approved as Recommended	$1,000,000

On March 4, 2020, the Health Care Agency (HCA) issued a Request for Information seeking feedback from organizations to inform the development of the County of Orange’s (County) Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Yale Navigation Center service model. The responses received by the County were solely used to obtain information from providers on architectural design and service approaches (programmatic operations) available for engaging a large body of participants within a shelter setting.

On May 26, 2020, HCA issued an RFP to seek qualified providers for the Yale Navigation Center. The RFP called for providers that demonstrated capabilities and knowledge in incorporating trauma-informed services with an emphasis on shelter stabilization and support services to permanent housing. There were five respondents to the RFP. An evaluation panel consisting of two HCA representatives and three non-HCA representatives evaluated the proposals and recommended award of agreement to People Assisting the Homeless (PATH). HCA has completed successful negotiations with the provider and recommends award of agreement to PATH.

HCA staff have conducted due diligence on the vendor. Reference checks were satisfactory and completed with Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the City of Santa Barbara and the City of Placentia, regarding similar projects.

This contract does not currently include subcontractors or pass through to other providers. See Attachment B for Contract Summary Form

PATH has provided emergency shelter for adults, families, veterans, transitional age youth, individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and medically fragile populations for 27 years. PATH operates 10 emergency shelter programs across California; implementing a housing-centric model that applies both best and evidence-based practices including Housing First, trauma-informed care and harm reduction models.

PATH will be responsible for supporting the transition of current Courtyard participants and developing individualized plans for the ongoing engagement of participants. PATH will also support the regional strategies involved with developing a Central Service Planning Area referral process to ensure participants and referring providers can seamlessly access the shelter program. All referrals to the Yale Navigation Center will go through a background check screening before being transported to the site.

PATH will support the complex needs of participants by promoting safety and health, and a whole-person approach to emphasize participant choice and empower program participants to work towards rebuilding their lives and reintegrating into the community. The direct service-staffing model consists of intake specialists and case managers who assess and identify participants’ support and housing needs; and clinical case managers to support behavioral health issues on site. The multi-disciplinary teams within the site will provide services daily, and ensure each participant is working towards an individualized service plan with the goal of permanent housing and self-sufficiency. PATH will provide daily meals, laundry and janitorial services on site.

In partnership with the HCA Office of Care Coordination, PATH will establish designated pick up and drop off locations for the Yale Navigation Center participants, and will provide daily transportation to and from the site. Walking or biking to and from the site is not permitted. Parking on-site will be available to staff and limited on-site parking will be available for vehicles that are insured and registered to enrolled participants with a valid driver’s license. PATH will also provide 24 hour security staff both on site and in the surrounding area.

The Yale Navigation Center will operate in accordance with the County of Orange Standards of Care for Emergency Shelter Providers. The Contract provides PATH with a leasehold interest in the property, pursuant to which it will operate the facility. PATH will foster strong community engagement as well as implement a Good Neighbor Policy that supports the long-term success of the Yale Navigation Center. PATH has a neighborhood response team to establish communication and coordination with local stake holders, the City of Santa Ana, law enforcement and the community; and have staff dedicated to respond to community questions or concerns.

The Yale Navigation Center contributes to the overall System of Care by providing needed emergency shelter services 24 hours a day to individuals and couples experiencing homelessness in the Central Service Planning Area.

The program will ensure a shelter flow that prioritizes participant housing goals and exits to permanent housing destination upon shelter program exit. PATH staff will engage participants in a meaningful way to ensure that a minimum of 75 percent of all shelter participants are working with a case manager to develop service/housing plans that include housing, medical, behavioral health, benefits and/or employment services. Additionally, a minimum of 20 percent of all participants will exit to a permanent housing destination upon shelter program exit with the support of a case manager and linkages to supportive services.

Program Goals

Occupancy average	95% or above
Exits to permanent housing	20% minimum
Participant engagement in services	75% minimum

Performance Goals

Number of participants enrolled

Number of participants served

Number of participants exited

Number of participants exited to permanent housing

Average length of stay

HCA requests the Board to approve the Contract between the County and PATH as referenced in the Recommended Actions above.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

Appropriations for this Contract are included in Budget Control 042 FY 2020-21 Budget and will be included in the budgeting process for future years.

Should services need to be reduced or terminated due to lack of funding, the Contract contains language that allows HCA to give a 30-day notice to either terminate or renegotiate the level of services to be provided. The notice will allow HCA adequate time to transition or terminate services to clients, if necessary.

Funding Source:

General Fund: 67%

State: 20% (Emergency Solution Grant, Pet Assistance and Support Grant, and Mental Health Services Act Grant)

Fed: 13% (Emergency Solution Grant and Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act Grant)

STAFFING IMPACT:

N/A

ATTACHMENT(S):

Attachment A - Contract With People Assisting the Homeless to Operate the Yale Navigational Center
Attachment B - Contract Summary Form
Attachment C - Good Neighbor Policy