March 19, 2024
Community Development
DATE: March 19, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
Jesus Morales, Housing Manager
Subject:
Amendment No. 1 to Contract with Safe Organized
Spaces (SOS)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funding for this contract is appropriated in the unhoused intervention program account string: 15061219-400201-
RI160. In addition, a portion of the work will be funded using ERF-R-2- in account string 15061219-400201-
16G25.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
March 23, 2023
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City staff is seeking City Council approval of an
Amendment No. 1 to the contract with Safe Organized
Spaces (SOS) to increase the contract amount by
$1,463,415.23, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,202,108.82, and extending the term through June 30,
2025. SOS will provide encampment services such as
site cleaning and trash removal, showers, laundry
services, outreach, and job opportunities for unhoused
residents to transition back into the workforce.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE an Amendment No. 1 to the contract with
Safe Organized Spaces to extend the contract term
through June 30, 2025, and increasing the contract
amount by $1,463,415.23, for a total contact amount not to exceed $2,202,108.82, to provide encampment support
services, including outreach, showers, laundry services, and job opportunities for unhoused residents –
Community Development Department (Lina
Velasco/Jesus Morales 510-620-6649).
AGENDA
REPORT
March 19, 2024
DISCUSSION:
The Housing Division is seeking City Council approval of an Amendment No. 1 to the contract with Safe Organized Spaces (SOS) to continue providing encampment services, including outreach, showers, laundry services, and job opportunities for unhoused residents. Their work will include providing support to encampments and residents transitioned from encampments that will be targeted in the City’s Encampment Resolution Funding Round 2 (ERF-R-2) projects as directed by Housing staff. SOS has been providing these services citywide for the past year and provided support for the resolution of the Castro encampment. The Castro related services were billed to the ERF-R-1 project funds. The current contract is set to expire on March 31, 2024, and this amendment will allow SOS to continue providing these services in support of unhoused individuals through the end of the next fiscal year 2024-25.
SOS was selected per a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Unhoused Services issued by the Housing Division in August 2022. The RFQ identified a range of services that qualified vendors would provide in support of unhoused residents including street outreach, hygiene programs, employment programs, housing navigation, and operation of interim housing options, such as emergency shelters, safe parking sites, and cabin communities. SOS was selected to provide service categories that include employment programs for the unhoused, hygiene programs to increase health and wellness of unsheltered individuals, and encampment outreach services.
SOS’s current program employs several unhoused including former Castro encampment residents. These employees help maintain and service homeless encampments throughout the city by distributing trash bags and supporting in doing regular encampment clean up. They also provided portable toilets, site cleaning and trash removal, potable water services, and other similar activities aimed at resolving encampments by providing services to encampments residents for health, safety, and sanitation purposes. They have also provided outreach services and directing encampment residents to other service providers, including CORE, Way2Love, Housing Consortium of the East Bay, and Lifelong Medical.
If the proposed Amendment No. 1 is approved, Safe Organized Spaces (SOS) will provide the following services at encampments specified by the City:
1. Encampments clean up and trash disposal.
2. Mobile showers and laundry to unhoused residents, including those served by the ERF-R-2 project.
3. Providing outreach to address local situations to improve public safety.
4. Provide outreach to unhoused residents and refer them to CORE and other city service providers or services.
5. Providing workforce training and job opportunities for City unhoused residents to support their transition back into the workforce.
6. Refer SOS unhoused employees to Richmond Works Employment and Training
March 19, 2024
(E&T) program.
Over the past year, SOS has created job opportunities for encampment dwellers, and as a result some of the encampment residents with rental assistance from the Castro encampment program, ERF 1, have successfully transitioned into stable housing.
These activities are in alignment with the Homelessness Strategic Plan, Short Action Steps, 1.1, Ensure that essential living amenities such as water, sanitation, hygiene, and electricity are provided at least weekly to all encampments.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
City staff recommends approving Contract Amendment No. 1 in the amount of $1,463,415.23, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,202,108.82, and extending the term through June 30, 2025, to be paid with funds from the City unhoused interventions funds and an allocation to be determined from the ERF-R-2 awards.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Amendment No.1 to Contract
Attachment 2 – Original Contract