City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MARCH 19, 2024 FROM: HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES WARD: 1
SUBJECT: SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT FOR THE HOMELESS HOUSING, ASSISTANCE, AND PREVENTION PROGRAM ROUND 2 FUNDING WITH PATH OF LIFE MINISTRIES FOR $93,324 TO COVER THE COLD WEATHER SHELTER PROGRAM OPERATION COSTS FOR MARCH 2024 FOR 40 SHELTER BEDS ISSUE:
Approve a Subrecipient Agreement for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 2 Funding with Path of Life Ministries for $93,324 to cover the Cold Weather Shelter Program operating cost for March 2024 for 40 shelter beds.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the Subrecipient Agreement for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 2 Funding with Path of Life Ministries for $93,324 to cover the Cold Weather Shelter Program operating costs for March 2024 for 40 shelter beds; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Subrecipient Agreement for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 2 Funding with Path of Life Ministries including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
On December 5, 2023, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a Subrecipient Agreement with Path of Life Ministries (POLM) to operate a 40-bed low-barrier Emergency Cold Weather Shelter Program (ECWSP) at Salvation Army at 3691 First Street, Riverside, CA 92501. The County of Riverside funded the CWS Program from December 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024.
Historically, the County of Riverside Housing and Workforce Solutions (HWS) has contracted with POLM to provide ECWSP in the early months of the year. This year, the program will open December 1, 2023, and run through March 31, 2024. The County of Riverside is providing funding through the Homeless, Housing, Assistance and Prevention County Allocation (HHAP-County) one-time state funding to cover the months of December 1, 2023 – February 29, 2024. With this funding, HWS expanded services beyond sheltering to include enhanced supportive services. HWS recognizes the significance of offering supportive services to break the cycle of homelessness and to address the root causes. Staff members at the emergency shelter play a crucial role in helping individuals establish a long-term housing plan, which required the onboarding of two (2) dedicated case managers to support the program. Additionally, they will aid in connecting participants with essential services, including mental health support, substance use counseling, healthcare linkages, and workforce connections among others. Existing county teams have been leveraged to help support the needs of the program. The goal of the program is to link every participant to housing. Participants will also be allowed to bring their pet with them to the shelter.
DISCUSSION:
HWS and POLM reached out to the City of Riverside to inquire about assisting with the ECWS operations costs of $93,324 for the month of March 2024. The City has HHAP Round 2 funding that can be allocated to cover this cost to ensure homeless individuals are housed during this cold season and connected to case management and eventually to housing resources.
If the Subrecipient Agreement with POLM is approved, they will be required to enter shelter guests into the Riverside County Continuum of Care’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) under the City’s HHAP 2 ECWS program that tracks client demographic information, services provided and outcomes.
This program will continue to have a positive impact for both residents and businesses as individuals who are normally on the street will be able to access shelter and case management. This program offers vital survival resources for unsheltered individuals who are experiencing homelessness in the City of Riverside. Shelter partners provide a safe, secure shelter and hot meals.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being, Goal No. 2.2 - Collaborate with partner agencies to improve household resiliency and reduce the incidence and duration of homelessness.
The item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follow.
Community Trust – Activities and actions by the City serve the public interest, benefit the City’s diverse populations, and result in greater public good.
Equity – All individuals will be treated with dignity, respect, and compassionate regardless of their circumstances, ability, or identity.
Fiscal Responsibility – The City will utilize Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grant funds to support the ECWS beds alleviating placing any pressure on the City’s financial resources.
Innovation – Riverside is inventive and timely in meeting the community’s changing needs and prepares for the future through collaborative partnerships and adaptive process that benefits a broad resident base.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Riverside is committed to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future and ensuring the City’s capacity to persevere, adapt and grow during good and difficult times alike.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $93,324. Funds are budgeted and available in the Development Grants Fund, HHS Grants, HHAP 2 Account No. 9343230-440210.
Prepared by: Michelle Davis, Housing and Human Services Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachment: Subrecipient Agreement for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 2 Funding with Path of Life Ministries Subrecipient Agreement for HHAP Round 2 with Path of Life for the Emergency Cold Weather Shelter 2 ● Page 2