City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: AUGUST 6, 2024 FROM: HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT FOR THE HOMELESS HOUSING, ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION PROGRAM ROUND 1 AND 3 WITH VICTORY OUTREACH CHURCH FOR THE VICTORY JAIL RELEASE OUTREACH PROGRAM KNOWN AS PROJECT CONNECT FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $332,708.08 ISSUE:
Approve a Subrecipient Agreement for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 1 and 3 with Victory Outreach Church for the Victory Jail Release Outreach Program known as Project Connect for an amount not to exceed $332,708.08.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve a Subrecipient Agreement for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 1 and 3 with Victory Outreach Church for the Victory Jail Release Outreach Program known as Project Connect for an amount not to exceed $332,708.08; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign the Subrecipient Agreement for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 1 and 3 with Victory Outreach Church for the Victory Jail Release Outreach Program known as Project Connect, including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
According to the 2022 Point -In -Time Count, 20% of individuals experiencing homelessness self-reported previous justice involvement. According to a 2018 report from the Prison Policy Initiative, the most recent report, 50,000 individuals who access shelters upon release from correctional facilities, compared with the general public, are much more likely to become homeless. Each time a person recidivates, the rate at which homelessness is experienced grows exponentially; poverty increases the rate of recidivism.
On August 9, 2022, the Office of the Mayor and former Homeless Solutions staff met with the Assistant Sheriff to discuss access to Riverside Presley Detention Center (RPDC) with the intent to begin in-reach services through Homeless Solutions and coordinated release.
The Office of the Mayor identified a strong partner within Victory Outreach Church (Victory Outreach), who have staff with lived experience, to provide the needed reentry support to marginalized populations since they had experience working with this subpopulation. Through this partnership, Project Connect was developed to address the epidemic of homelessness among justice-involved individuals through coordination between the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Homeless Solutions, and Victory Outreach. The transition from incarceration to reentering society comes with an array of barriers, including a lack of employment opportunities, housing discrimination, and the need for support and resources to navigate what comes next.
Pilot Program
On January 7, 2023, the City Council approved a Subrecipient Agreement for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 3 with Victory Outreach for $280,216 to connect homeless individuals being released from the RPDC to programs and resources. The program began full operations on April 29, 2023.
During the period of April 29, 2023 to April 30, 2024, Victory Outreach staff assisted 66 with reentry services to individuals being released from RPDC who have self-reported as homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness upon their release that included 99 engagements and referred callers from outside the city such as the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning to other organizations for assistance with connecting them to resources. Of the 66 assisted with reentry services, 24 people (36%) were referred to temporary housing programs, 23 people (35%) are still incarcerated, 16 people (24%) and three (3) requested letters of support or needed household items. This coordinated reentry response for the target population addresses those experiencing homelessness at release to offer resources and support. Victory Outreach and Housing and Human Services team also met with the Sheriff’s Office when staff turnover occurred to ensure Project Connect flyers are provided to inmates and placed in the release areas, that referrals are continuing to happen from not only the Sheriff’s Office but from Riverside University Health Systems – Behavioral Health (RUHS-BH), which has staff that conduct jail-in reach services. If the inmate does not meet RUHS-BH requirements for services, they are referred to Project Connect for assistance.
During the period of April 29, 2023 to April 30, 2024, the Riverside Access Center Outreach Staff engaged 39 inmates at the RPDC to complete needs assessments and 33 were Riverside residents and were referred to Project Connect. The Riverside Access Center is assisting Project Connect with going through the background check with RPDC so they can began conducting jail in-reach and the Riverside Access Center Outreach staff can strictly focus on assisting our unhoused population on the streets.
Project Connect recently began making appearances at inmates’ court hearings to keep track of their progress and identify resources for when they are released. Project Connect is also trying to find out RPDC inmates release dates so they can meet with them prior to being released and identify their needs that include temporary housing.
DISCUSSION:
Phase II
To continue assisting individuals who are released from RPDC to the streets, staff is requesting to extend the Project Connect Program for 12 months through a Subrecipient Agreement for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 1 and 3 with Victory Outreach Church for an amount not to exceed $332,708.08. The new contract ensures 24/7 staff coverage, conducting jail-in reach instead of the Riverside Access Center Outreach staff, and conducting outreach efforts in front of the Robert Presley Detention Center. Housing and Human Services, Project Connect and Riverside County Sheriff’s staff will meet monthly to ensure Project Connect staff’s background checks have been complete so they can begin jail in-reach efforts, continue receiving referrals, and address any issues with assisting inmates who are released and have no housing resources and support group.
The proposed program budget is $332,708.08, which is detailed below.
Activity
Funding Allocation
Office lease and parking fees
$ 7,272.00
Utilities
$ 1,200.00
Liability insurance
$ 2,000.00
Workman’s Compensation
$ 2,000.00
Program supplies and office supplies
$ 28,403.00
Transportation needs for clients
$ 25,903.00
Personnel, 1 FTE Supervisor
$ 86,465.60
Personnel, 5 PTE Counselor
$179,464.48
Total
$332,708.08
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 of homelessness.
This item aligns with Each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust –Activities and actions by the City serve the public interest, benefit the City’s diverse population and result in greater public good.
Equity –All individuals served in the City’s rental assistance programs will be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion regardless of the circumstances, ability, or identity.
Fiscal Responsibility – This item will have no impact to the General Fund. Project Connect would be funded through the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 1 and Round 3 grants.
Innovation – This action item provides the City with the ability to support innovative programs that address gaps in our homeless system of care.
Sustainability & Resiliency – This action item will help equip rental assistance programs participants with the tools needed to achieve housing stability and self-sufficiency.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $332,708.08. The funds are available in the following accounts:
Fund
Account Name
Account Number
Amount
HHS Grants
HHAP 1 Outreach
9341850-440210
$198,244.74
HHAP 3 Outreach
9344430-440210
$134,463.34
TOTAL
$332,708.08
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 1 and 3 with Victory Outreach Church Subrecipient Agreement for HHAP 1 and 3 with Victory Outreach Church for Project Connect Program ● Page 2