MOU – County of Kern
AGREEMENT NO._______________
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING RE: THE
BAKERSFIELD-KERN REGIONAL HOMELESS COLLABORATIVE
This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ("MOU") is made and entered into on __________________________, by and between the CITY OF BAKERSFIELD, a municipal corporation, ("CITY" herein), and the COUNTY OF KERN ("COUNTY" herein), each a "Party" and collectively the "Parties."
WHEREAS, homelessness in CITY and throughout the COUNTY is at a critical level; and
WHEREAS, currently the Kern County Homeless Collaborative consists of various public agencies, private organizations , and non -profit organizations working together to mitigate homelessness; and
WHEREAS, CITY and COUNTY entered into an MOU on September 25, 2019, forming the Bakersfield -Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative, Inc. (“BKRHC”) which expired on September 26, 2024; and
WHEREAS, this MOU supersedes and replaces the prior MOU between Parties, Agreement No. 508 -2024, as approved by the Kern County Board of Supervisors on September 10, 2024; and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to continue to provide support to BKRHC and will continue to work collaboratively with other interested agencies to address homelessness and fund programs designed to eliminate homelessness in CITY and throughout the COUNTY.
NOW, THEREFORE, incorporating the above recitals herein, it is mutually understood and agreed as follows:
1. PURPOSE. This MOU is entered into by and between the Parties to facilitate a cooperative and ongoing working relationshi p for the ongoing support and operation of the BKRHC, the entity that serves as a regionally-focused homelessness assistance coordination and related services organization established to improve homeless mitigation efforts on behalf of CITY and the COUNTY.
2. BAKERSFIELD-KERN REGIONAL HOMELESS COLLABORATIVE . The Parties hereby agree to continue operating as the Bakersfield -Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative, Inc. ("BKRHC") to serve as a regionally -focused homelessness assistance coordination and related services non-profit organization as a Continuum of Care ("CoC") entity under the Federal
MOU – County of Kern
HEARTH Act, which authorizes assistance administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") to prevent and end homelessness.
3. ADDITIONAL AGENCIES. Additional agencies may join the BKRHC upon the mutual consent of all Parties as outlined in the Bylaws of the BKRHC.
4. POWERS.
4.1 In addition to any other action available to develop and implement programs to prevent and end homelessness, the BKRHC may perform the following functions:
4.1.1 Adopt standards for measuring, monitoring , and reporting homelessness.
4.1.2 Develop and implement policies designed to reduce or eliminate homelessness within the CITY and COUNTY.
4.1.3 Develop and implement best management practices for addressing homelessness.
5. DECISION- MAKING PROCESS.
5.1 It is the intent of the Parties that all actions undertaken by the BKRHC are done in accordance with the Bylaws of the BKRHC.
5.2 In the event of an impasse or disagreement, the Parties shall use their best efforts to find a mutually agreeable result. To this effect, the Parties shall consult and negotiate with each other in good faith in an attempt to reach a solution that is mutually satisfactory.
6. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES.
6.1 The Parties will work jointly to fulfill the purpose of this MOU, and the continued support of the BKRHC.
6.2 The Parties will meet regularly to discuss BKRHC development and implementation activities, assignments, and ongoing work progress.
6.3 The Parties may form committees as necessary from time to time to discuss issues that impact the BKRHC.
MOU – County of Kern
6.4 CITY and COUNTY are jointly responsible for forming the BKRHC.
6.5 BKRHC will complete the deliverables outlined in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein, and report fundings to CITY and COUNTY.
7. FUNDING.
7.1 Unless agreed to otherwise, each Party's participation in this MOU is at its sole cost and expense.
7.2 The Parties are separately responsible for funding a portion of the BKRHC on an annual basis as part of each Party's budget process.
Each Party agrees to fund the BKRHC in the amount of $155,000 annually; however, subsequent years ’ funding contributions shall be adjusted based on actual cost increase or decrease of BKRHC staff, services and supplies but not to exceed a t e n p e r c e n t ( l0%) increase over each year's prior contribution. The Parties agree to an equal share of funding for the BKRHC during the term of this MOU.
7.3 Membership dues are included in the annual funding and not billed separately.
8. TERM. Unless terminated sooner, by either Party upon sixty ( 60) days written notice, this MOU shall remain in effect for a term of five (5) years and terminate on November 1, 2030.
9. AMENDING THE MOU . This MOU and Exhibits hereto may only be amended by a subsequent writing, approved and signed by all Parties.
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MOU – County of Kern
10. HOLD HARMLESS. No Party, nor any officer or employee of a Party, shall be responsible for any damage or liability occurring by reason of anything done or omitted to be done by another Party under or in connection with this MOU.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this MOU to be executed as of the date first written above.
CITY OF BAKERSFIELD COUNTY OF KERN
By: ________________________________ By: ________________________________
KAREN GOH LETICIA PEREZ
Mayor Chair, Board of Supervisors
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
By: ________________________________ By: ________________________________
CHRISTIAN CLEGG NANCY ANDERSON
City Manager County Administrative Officer
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney:_________________________________ Deputy County Counsel:______________________________
VIRGINIA GENNARO KELLI KING
COUNTERSIGNED:
Finance Director: ____________________________
RANDY MCKEEGAN
VG/blf
S:\Economic&CommunityDevelop\Agr\25-26\BKRHC MOU 2025.docx
Attachments: Exhibit “A”
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EXHIBIT A
Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative (BKRHC) Deliverables
BKRHC will be responsible for achieving the following deliverables:
1) Regional Strategic Planning.
a) BKRHC shall be the lead in development, implementation , and maintenance of a Strategic Plan and/or a Ten -Year Plan. Plans will be aligned with federal, state, and local priorities.
2) Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Oversight a) BKRHC will serve as the System Administrator for HMIS, overseeing and managing the HMIS system, ensuring system administration, data quality, privacy compliance, training, and generation of federally required reports; including but not limited to:
i) Point-in-Time (PIT) Count ; Housing Inventory Count (HIC); Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA); and Annual Performance Reports (APR); SAGE/ESG?
b) BKRHC will manage the HMIS budget and any license fees administration required of users.
3) Grant Administration and Funding Coordination
a) BKRHC shall act as the collaborative applicant and fiscal agent for U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) and related state funding streams, including preparation of applications, coordination of local funding prior ities, and monitoring of compliance.
b) BKRHC will manage all grant funding awarded to BKRHC , including administering state, federal and local grant funding, ensuring reporting is completed and submitted in a timely manner.
4) Data Collection, Evaluation, and Reporting
a) BKRHC shall collect and analyze data on homelessness trends and program outcomes, complete the annual Point -in-Time Count report and provide performance reports to support evidence-based decision-making. b) BKRHC will participate and report as requested to the City Council’s Homelessness Committee.
c) BKRHC will participate and report as requested to the County.
5) Public-Facing Data Dashboard
a) BKRHC shall design, publish, and maintain a publicly accessible dashboard that provides up -to-date information on homelessness in Kern County, including key performance indicators, service utilization, housing outcomes, and progress toward regional goals. The dashboard shall be
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updated on a regular basis, at minimum annually , and serve as a transparency and accountability tool for the community and stakeholders. b) BKRCH will consult with the City and the County for any administration costs required for the implementation or maintenance of the dashboard.
6) Community and Stakeholder Engagement
a) BKRHC shall coordinate with local governments, service providers, and stakeholders, including persons with lived experience, to strengthen regional collaboration, provide technical assistance, and ensure effective implementation of homeless services.
b) Coordination and engagement with all committees associated with the Governing Board.
7) Standard Operating Procedures and Policies
a) BKRHC Executive Director will develop, maintain, and refine Standard Operating Procedures, Policies and Procedures, and Job Descriptions for all BKRHC employees.
8) Executive and Governing Boards
a) The County and the City will maintain seats on the Executive and Governing Boards as identified in the by-laws.