City of Sacramento
City Council - 2PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2024-00984 6/11/2024 Discussion Item 5.
Authorization to Enter into an Agreement with City of Refuge in the Amount of $800,000 for Project Development and Funding Plan Related to a Proposed Affordable Housing Project/Community Engagement Facility
File ID: 2024-00984
Location: 3216 Martin Luther King Blvd, District 5, Represented by Vice Mayor Maple Recommendation: Adopt a City Council Resolution: 1) authorizing the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) to enter into an agreement with City of Refuge in the amount of $800,000 for a project development and funding plan related to a proposed Affordable Housing Project/Community Engagement Facility; 2) authorizing execution of subcontracts, deed restrictions and related SHRA documents, approved by SHRA General Counsel, as needed; 3) authorization to amend SHRA budget and accept funds; and 4) making related findings.
Contact: Christine Weichert, Director, Housing Finance, (916) 440-1353, [email protected], Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
Presenter: Christine Weichert, Director, Housing Finance, (916) 440-1353, [email protected], Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-City Council Resolution
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: City of Refuge Sacramento’s (Developer) mission is to “support people living in marginalized communities of Sacramento and to empower their ability to create a personal transformation that will lead to a healthy and thriving community.”The City of Refuge has acquired two vacant lots next to their offices located at 3216 MLK Boulevard. Their long-term plan is to build a mixed-use facility which will provide affordable housing, workforce development and childcare services for homeless families. Toward this effort on April 15, 2024, the State of California allocated $8,000,000 to the City of Refuge. These funds are required to be used by City of Refuge to support new housing development, youth engagement, and community engagement programs. The allocation stipulates that at least 10 percent of the funds are to be used to contract with the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) to develop a plan for the expenditure of
File ID: 2024-00984 6/11/2024 Discussion Item 5.
funds.
SHRA will work with the City of Refuge to develop a long-term strategy for the facility, develop project and program budgets, advise on predevelopment activities, and to provide expertise regarding the development of affordable housing. Activities may also include specialized consultants to assist with feasibility studies, SHRA staff time, and monitoring as needed. The State funds specify that the Developer shall expend the funds in accordance with the plan that is developed, provide regular expenditure reports to SHRA, and return any funds not utilized to the State’s General Fund. Staff is seeking authorization to execute an agreement with City of Refuge in an amount not to exceed $800,000 as described above.
Developer: The City of Refuge is a Sacramento nonprofit whose goal is to “bring hope to those who need it the most” through housing programs for low-income women and their families, after school programs for youth, self-defense classes and safe spaces for recently incarcerated individuals.
Services are offered to individuals experiencing homelessness, women that have been victimized by sexual exploitation and trafficking or abuse, and at-risk youth. In addition, the Developer provides engagement programs, workforce development, community outreach and life development programs.
Since 2012, City of Refuge has provided Refuge and Transitional housing for families and their children. Current housing programs include:
Phase One Refuge Housing: The phase one program offers emergency housing for families.
Programs offer assistance and case management to families as they move from dependent, abusive, exploitive relationships to self-sufficient lifestyles. A companion program to Refuge Housing is the Nest. The Nest was created to serve the families living in Refuge Housing who come with children that have lived through the same traumatic environments they experienced; The Nest aims to provide trauma-informed care to the children who are often experiencing peace and safety for the first time in their lives.
Phase Two Transitional Housing: The phase two restorative housing program offers long term housing for families coming out of the phase one program and offers them a launching pad in their journey to transformation.
Youth Engagement Programs: In addition to the Nest program described above, since 2019, the Developer has partnered with the Sacramento Panthers Youth Football team to offer youth engagement programs.
Community Resource Center: The City of Refuge Resource Center serves as a hub for community outreach, serving adults and children daily. The Center provides free events and celebrations for children, adult support groups, and services that meet the needs of the community including facilities for laundry services, weekly showers, life development, enrichment courses, workforce development, prepared meals for unhoused neighbors, and provides a safe place for everyone.
Policy Considerations: Not applicable.
Economic Impacts: None.
File ID: 2024-00984 6/11/2024 Discussion Item 5.
Commission/Committee Action: Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commission: At its May 15, 2024, meeting, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commission reviewed the staff recommendation for this item. The votes were as follows:
AYES: Amanfor, Duncan, Jefferson, Nunley, Ramos, Ross, Staajabu, Starks, Woo NOES: None
ABSENT: Griffin, Osmany
Rationale for Recommendation: The allocation to the City of Refuge will assist with the development of additional needed housing and services to the City of Sacramento and more specifically to the Oak Park neighborhood.
Financial Considerations: Staff is requesting authorization to amend the SHRA budget in the amount of $800,000 and to enter into an agreement with City of Refuge for this amount which will be used for the City of Refuge Project Development and Funding Plan.
LBE - M/WBE and Section 3 requirements: The items discussed in this report have no M/WBE or Section 3 impact; therefore, M/WBE and Section 3 considerations do not apply.
Sustainability: Not applicable.
Environmental Considerations: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): This action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to 14 California Code of Regulations §15378(b)(2).
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): There is no federal involvement associated with this action; therefore, the National Environmental Policy Act does not apply.
RESOLUTION 2024-
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
June 11, 2024
Authorization to Enter into an Agreement with City of Refuge in the Amount of $800,000 for Project Development and Funding Plan Related to a Proposed Affordable Housing Project/Community Engagement Facility
BACKGROUND
A. The City of Refuge (COR) is a Sacramento nonprofit located at 3716 Martin Luther King Blvd. in Sacramento whose goal is to “bring hope to those who need it the most” through housing programs for low-income families, after school programs for youth, self-defense classes and safe spaces for recently incarcerated individuals. ” City of Refuge Sacramento’s mission is to “support people living in marginalized communities of Sacramento and to empower their ability to create a personal transformation that will lead to a healthy and thriving community.”
B. To meet the growing need in the community for their services, City of Refuge has acquired two vacant lots next to their facility. Their long-term plan is to build a mixed-use building in Oak Park which will provide affordable housing, childcare services, and workforce development services to homeless families.
C. Toward this effort on April 15, 2024, the State of California allocated $8,000,000 to the City of Refuge. These funds will be used to support new housing development, youth engagement, and community engagement programs.
D. The allocation from the State to City of Refuge stipulates that at least 10 percent of the funds shall be used to enter into an agreement with the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) to develop a plan for the expenditure of funds. SHRA plans to work with staff from the City of Refuge to develop a long -term strategy for the facility, develop project and program budgets, conduct predevelopment activities, and to provide expertise on the development of affordable housing. Other potential activities include the hiring of specialized consultants for feasibility analysis, SHRA staff time, and monitoring expenses.
E. The State funds allocated specify that COR shall expend the funds in accordance with the plan that is developed, provide regular expenditure reports to SHRA, and return any funds not utilized to the State’s General Fund.
F. This action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to 14 California Code of Regulations §15378(b)(2), and there are no actions requiring review under the National Environmental Policy Act. As such, no environmental review is required at this time.
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
All evidence presented having been duly considered, the findings, including environmental findings regarding this action, as stated above, are found to be true and accurate and are hereby approved adopted.
SECTION 2.
The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) is authorized to negotiate, enter into, execute and amend as needed a contract with City of Refuge Sacramento in the amount of $800,000, as approved to form by SHRA’s Office of the General Counsel, for the City of Refuge Planning and Development Project.
SECTION 3.
SHRA is authorized to negotiate, enter into, execute and amend as needed subcontracts and deed restriction and related agreements, as approved to form by SHRA’s Office of the General Counsel, to fulfill the objectives of the City of Refuge Planning Development and Funding Plan Project as needed.
SECTION 4.
SHRA is authorized to amend its budget to $800,000 in State of California General Funds from the City of Refuge to be used for the City of Refuge Planning Development and Funding Plan Project.