June 24, 2025
Community Development
DATE: June 24, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
Jesus Morales, Housing Manager
Catherine Casimere, Housing Services Supervisor
Subject:
Intracity Service Agreement Between the City of
Richmond Community Development Department, Library,
and Employment & Training Division for Encampment
Resolution Funding Grant Services
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City was awarded an Encampment Resolution Funding Round 3 (ERF-3R) grant in the amount
$9,336,746 in October 2024. As part of the City’s
application, grant funding was awarded to fund staffing to provide specified services for ERF-3R clients. This
Intracity Agreement will not have a fiscal impact to the City’s general fund as the services will be fully funded by the City’s ERF-3R grant.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
December 17, 2024
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
This Intracity Service Agreement is to authorize the use of Encampment Resolution Funding Round 3 (ERF-3R)
funds awarded by the California Interagency Council on
Homelessness, part of the California Business,
Consumer Services and Housing Agency, to various City
of Richmond departments and divisions. The City’s ERF-
3R grant requires that funds be obligated by June 30,
2025. To meet this requirement, the City of Richmond
Community Development Department, Library, and
Employment & Training Division have identified eligible uses and are entering into this Intracity Service
AGENDA
REPORT
June 24, 2025
Agreement to formally obligate and appropriate grant
funds for the identified services.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a two-year Intracity Service Agreement
between the City of Richmond Community Development
Department, Library, and Employment & Training
Division to obligate and appropriate Encampment
Resolution Funding Round 3 funds received from the
California Interagency Council on Homelessness part of
the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing
Agency to provide specified services for ERF-3R clients related to program management and coordination,
literacy and GED support, income development, job
placement, and vocational training – Community
Development (Lina Velasco /Jesus Morales 510-620-
6649, Catherine Casimere 510-620-6764).
DISCUSSION:
On December 17, 2024, the City Council adopted a resolution accepting and appropriating an Encampment Resolution Funding Round 3 (ERF-3R) award in the amount of $9,336,746. The ERF-3R award supports cross-systems collaboration and service strategies for Richmond residents experiencing homelessness in eligible encampments and reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to resolving homelessness in the City by implementing strategies and goals identified in the City’s Homelessness Strategic Plan. The ERF-3R project aims to serve 165 individuals, with a target of transitioning at least 90 people into stable housing pathways.
This two-year Intracity Service Agreement, covering Fiscal Years (FYs) 2025-26 and 2026-27, will provide a coordinated range of services including program management and coordination, literacy and GED support, income development, job placement, and vocational training.
The key purpose of the Intracity Service Agreement is to obligate and appropriate ERF- 3R funds received from the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH).
As outlined in the ERF Round 3 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), grantees must meet expenditure and obligation requirements, including at least 50% of funds be expended and 100% obligated by June 30, 2025. To meet these requirements, the City of Richmond Community Development Department, Library, and Employment & Training Division have identified eligible uses and are entering into this agreement to obligate and appropriate a portion of the grant funds.
Summary of Richmond’s ERF-3-R Project
Given the ongoing regional housing crises and faced with high rents, a shortage of affordable housing, and limited access to housing vouchers, many of the individuals served through Richmond’s Community Development Department with ERF funds will
June 24, 2025
need to secure sustainable income to avoid returning to homelessness. To address this challenge through the ERF-3-R project, Richmond will provide income-focused case management, and a robust vocational training program tailored specifically to empower participants who have been chronically homeless to step into jobs of increasing responsibility as they stabilize and develop long-term plans.
Of the $9,336,746 ERF-3R award, $ 1,294,412.96 million will be allocated specifically to the workforce development component, including vocational case management, training, job placements, and literacy and diploma support to allow people to gradually adapt to increased commitments.
Interacity Service Agreement Budget
Department / Program Position Title Total Cost Total Cost Notes Two Year Total Community
Development - Housing Housing Manager, 0.05 FTE $18,258.89 $18,258.89 Leads grant and project
implementation, manages
contracts, support other
City staff. $36,517.78
Community
Development - Housing
Housing Services
Supervisor, 0.5 FTE $123,583.32 $123,583.32
Program ject management,
day-to-day management of
contractors, review
invoices, supervcise admin
intern. $247,166.64
Community
Development - Housing Admin. Intern G/III, 1.0 FTE $50,836.50 $50,836.50 Adminiistrative support,
review and process
invoices, data collection,
grant expenditure tracking,
other duties as needed. $101,673.00
RichmondWORKS
(Employment & Training) Workforce Specialist II $155,228.40 $155,228.40 Case management for
25–30 participants;
supports training and
employment pathways. $310,456.80
RichmondWORKS
(Employment & Training) Unhoused work placements $225,000.00 $225,000.00 Fund employment for up to
45 unhoused clients, part
time, $10,000 for six
months over two years $450,000.00
Library (LEAP)
Adult Literacy & GED
Instructor, Learner
Coordinator/III $30,759.75 $30,759.75
Part-time: $32.55/hr, 15
hrs/week, 35 weeks/year
for 2 years. $61,519.50
Library (LEAP) Math Instructor, Learner Coordinator/III$30,759.75 $30,759.75Same structure as above. $61,519.50 Library (LEAP)
Volunteer Tutor
Coordinator (Proportional
Time) $10,279.87 $10,279.87
12 hrs/month @ $39.66/hr.
Covers CASAS testing and
data management. $20,559.74
Library (LEAP)
Program materials and
supplies $2,500.00 $2,500.00
Textbook materials, office
supplies, computer
software licenses, GED
prep, ESL instruction $5,000.00
SUBTOTAL $647,206.48 $647,206.48
TOTAL BUDGET $1,294,412.96
FY 25-26 FY 26-27
June 24, 2025
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
On May 23, 2023, the City Council adopted the Homeless Strategic Plan to provide short-term and long-term steps to address homelessness. Within these goals, the following short-term action step was recommended.
Short Term Action Step 4.1: Expand workforce development services and employment- focused case management that prioritizes employment of unhoused individuals.
The Intracity Service Agreement directly supports the goals outlined within the City of Richmond’s Homelessness Strategic Plan. Specifically, the agreement provides unhoused individuals access to educational skill development, occupational training, job search and placement assistance, and a broader array of opportunities and resources that contribute to personal development, wellness and health, and financial self- sufficiency, all of which are crucial for achieving and sustaining long-term housing stabilization.
CONCLUSION:
City staff recommends approval of the Intracity Service Agreement and authorization of its execution among the Community Development Department, Richmond Library, and Employment & Training Division to provide said services to improve outcomes for unhoused residents and coordinate efforts across departments to deliver real, lasting impact.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Intercity Service Agreement