BACS
DATE: FEBRUARY 1, 2021
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
FROM: MEGAN HUNTER, DIRECTOR
TITLE: BAY AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES (BACS) UPDATE ON SHARE CENTER OPERATIONS RECOMMENDED MOTION:
No action is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
No recommendation is provided since this update is presented for informational purposes only.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The SHARE Center opened on May 31, 2021, with BACS providing twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7) day per week operational support. The City and County of Monterey have jointly funded SHARE operations since its opening. At the time that the City Council and Monterey County Board of Supervisors entered into contracts with BACS, it was agreed that BACS would return in approximately six months to provide an update. Due to the holidays and recent surge in COVID-19 cases, this presentation was slightly delayed.
Since its opening the SHARE Center has been consistently full, sheltering at least 100 individuals with a waiting list of approximately 200 people. To date twenty-two (22) participants have been housed despite the ongoing shortage of available housing units and twenty-three (23) more are projected to be housed over the next month.
BACKGROUND:
On September 26, 2017, the Salinas City Council (Council) and County Board of Supervisors (BOS) executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) authorizing the opening of the Warming Shelter and agreed to work collaboratively toward the future construction and operation of a new year-round shelter. This MOU was later replaced by a new MOU approved by the Council and BOS on September 25, 2018, which established responsibilities related to the construction of the shelter and selection of a future operator. On May 29, 2019, the County was awarded $6,018,100 in funding through the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) by the Continuum of Care for Monterey and San Benito Counties for the construction of a year-round Shelter at 845 East Laurel Drive. After the distribution of a community-wide survey, the Council and BOS adopted the name of the Salinas Housing Advancement, Resources & Education Center (SHARE Center) for the new shelter and navigation center. On October 28, 2020, the City released a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking a qualified service provider to serve as the new SHARE Center operator and after conducting a rating and ranking process involving a technical panel, Bay Area Community Services (BACS) was recommended to be the operator of the SHARE Center. At a joint meeting of the Council and BOS, BACS was formally selected as the Operator.
DISCUSSION:
BACS initiated services at the SHARE Center on May 31, 2021. BACS was selected as the SHARE Center Operator because of the organization’s extensive history working with the chronically homeless population. In the last 68 years, BACS has provided supportive services to more than 100,000 people in the Bay Area. BACS has been able to implement the vision of the SHARE Center as a navigation center as opposed to a traditional shelter. Their Housing First philosophy and approach to securing permanent housing as quickly as possible is beginning to have real outcomes for our most vulnerable population. Their mission is to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing “whatever it takes.” Since its opening, the SHARE Center has been at capacity. BACS has been careful in managing the SHARE Center, a congregant living facility, during the challenges of the pandemic. To assist with capacity, the City was able to relocate three trailers formerly at the Warming Shelter to the SHARE Center to accommodate large families. As of January 21, 2022, the SHARE Center’s population included 100 individuals - 32 men, 21 women, and 47 families. The SHARE Center provides low barrier shelter and includes space for pets. Currently, there are 16 animals at the facility.
BACS employs twenty 20 dedicated staff members at the SHARE Center. Staff has been successful in navigating several persons into employment and permanent housing. As of the date of this report, 23 participants have secured employment and 22 have been placed into permanent housing. Over the next month, another 23 individuals are in the process of being placed into permanent housing. BACS has partnered with Victory Mission, which is taking full advantage of the commercial kitchen to prepare meals for participants. In addition, the Monterey County Office of Education provides after-school programs and activities for children at the SHARE Center.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
The provision of this information to the City Council is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378).
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
BACS operates the SHARE Center, a 24-hour, year-round shelter and navigation center focused on permanently housing those experiencing homelessness. This work will help advance the Council strategic goals of Investment Strategies/Risk Management, Operational Efficiencies, and Public Safety.
DEPARTMENT COORDINATION:
The City’s Community Development Department Housing Division monitors the BACS contract and works with the Finance Department to process BACS invoices for payment. There has also been significant collaboration and coordination between the Housing Division and the Monterey County Department of Social Services, which meet weekly with BACS to ensure contract compliance.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact from this update. The City has already appropriated funds this fiscal year for SHARE Center Operations, which come mostly from federal grants.
ATTACHMENTS:
BACS PowerPoint Presentation
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