Administrative
Report
H.21., File # 23-6274 Meeting Date: 6/20/2023
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: MICHAEL W. WEBB, CITY ATTORNEY JOY ABAQUIN FORD, QUALITY OF LIFE
PROSECUTOR
TITLE
APPROVE LEASES AND ADDENDUMS FOR FIVE APARTMENTS LOCATED AT 126 WEST D STREET, WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA 90744 BETWEEN THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH AND
SWAMI INTERNATIONAL TO HOUSE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FROM THE
BEACH CITIES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
December 15, 2020, the Mayor and City Council approved a lease for five apartments located at 126 West D Street, Wilmington, California 90744 to serve as additional bridge housing for people experiencing homelessness in Redondo Beach. CDBG funds were available at the time to rent the units for six months. The City Attorney’s Office applied to the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) for a grant that included funding for such bridge housing, and was awarded funding to lease the units from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. In a separate consent item on the Council’s agenda, the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) awarded the City an additional $80,000 to extend its Memorandum of Understanding with the City, thus allowing the City to extend these leases to November of 2024.
BACKGROUND
On January 19, 2021, the Mayor and City Council amended the City Net agreement to add navigation services in addition to the Census that was approved on January 12, 2021. One of the reasons for this amendment was the need for housing navigators to oversee the apartments that the Mayor and City Council leased at 126 West D Street, in Wilmington on December 15, 2020. The apartment units are Single Room Occupancy (SRO) with shared laundry room, kitchen and bathrooms.
Like the Pallet shelter, bridge housing has proven to help expedite the process of obtaining permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness. Bridge housing brings stabilization to people experiencing homelessness and helps them acclimate to a more structured lifestyle that will allow them to take the necessary steps towards permanent housing. For example, they no longer have to stay up at night to protect themselves and their property and can make the necessary appointments during daytime hours. In addition, staying at bridge housing makes it easier for housing navigators to locate their clients and housing navigators no longer have to spend hours
H.21., File # 23-6274 Meeting Date: 6/20/2023
driving around to find them.
A total of nine Redondo Beach clients that stayed at the Bridge Housing have been permanently housed. Redondo Beach has a 47% success rate of exits to permanent housing from these SRO’s.
Although not as good as the 59% success rate as the Redondo Beach Pallet Shelter, it is still a higher success rate than the 17% of exits from shelter to permanent housing in all of Service Planning Area (SPA) 8.
If the Mayor and City Council approve the first amendment to the MOU with the SBCCOG, which is also on the consent calendar, that funding will be available to use for this bridge housing from Swami International until November of 2024.
As a reminder, the City will be jointly and severally liable for any damages or injuries caused by any of the tenants who reside in any of the units being rented. Normally, the City would not take on liability for third parties. However, we would not be able to get housing in another city without doing so. Service Providers such as Exodus and Harbor Interfaith enter into these agreements when placing someone in hotels or other temporary housing and pay for damages if any should occur.
However, those incidents are rare because they carefully choose who is placed in such collaborative housing or hotels. The City would depend on our Housing Navigators to determine the best lower risk people to place at this location. In addition, the City is paying an additional $12.50 per unit each month to enroll each tenant in a $100,000 policy of Liability to Landlord Insurance (renter’s insurance). This cost will also be covered by grant funding.
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council approve the extension of the leases to November, 2024.
In addition, Swami International is asking the City whether we would be interested in renting additional rooms. Currently, there are thirteen vacant rooms. Swami International values the working relationship the City Attorney’s Office has built with them and values what we are doing through our Enhanced Response to Homelessness Program. They want to continue that relationship, and offered these rooms to us first before offering them to another agency. To add additional units, a part -time residential aid would be needed in case there are any incidents after hours when Lila Omura, Redondo’s Homeless Housing Navigator, is unavailable to respond.
COORDINATION
The City Attorney's Office coordinated with Swami International in preparing this report.
FISCAL IMPACT
Each room will have a monthly rent of $1,050 and a monthly charge of $12.50 for renter’s insurance.
Security deposits have already been paid previously. These costs for five units will be funded through the Innovation Grant for Homeless Services received from the South Bay Cities Council of Governments.
H.21., File # 23-6274 Meeting Date: 6/20/2023
ATTACHMENTS
· Lease agreements with Swami International and attached addendums