To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Contract #25-127 with Contra Costa Interfaith Transitional Housing, Inc. (dba Hope Solutions)
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute on behalf of the County Contract #25-127 with Contra Costa Interfaith Transitional Housing, Inc. (dba Hope Solutions), a non-profit corporation, in an amount not to exceed $5,562,496 to provide property management and onsite supportive services at El Portal Place, a County-owned facility located at 2555 El Portal Drive in San Pablo, having fifty-four new units of permanent supportive housing for qualifying individuals who are at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness in Contra Costa County, for the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this Contract will result in expenditures of up to $5,562,496 as budgeted by the department for fiscal years 2024-2027, which will be funded 90% by Federal funds and 10% by State funds.
BACKGROUND:
On December 14, 2021, the Board of Supervisors authorized the Health Services Director to apply for and accept Homekey Program funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for the purpose of acquiring the property located at 2555 El Portal Drive in San Pablo to expand available housing for persons experiencing homelessness. On November 21, 2023, the County received a letter from HCD notifying the County that it had been awarded Homekey Program grant funds in the amount of $16 million to be used for the purchase of the property. The acquisition was completed on July 11, 2024. The facility has been named El Portal Place.
The existing building on the property has been renovated to create fifty-four (54) small apartments to provide permanent supportive housing and support services to individuals experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. Each of the units is equipped with a bathroom, shower and kitchenette. The renovated building also includes multiple community rooms and spaces, laundry facilities and a reception desk in the lobby.
On March 28, 2024, following a request for qualifications (RFQ) that was published in January 2024, Contractor was selected to operate El Portal Place. Under this Contract, Contractor will provide permanent supportive housing services and property management services at El Portal Place. This includes qualifying the tenants, collecting rents, maintaining the building and grounds, and making support services available to those tenants who choose to use them. On-site support services will be tailored to an individual’s needs and may include case management, primary and behavioral healthcare, life skills support, medication, and money management.
Through a separate staff report, the Public Works Director is recommending that the County lease the site of El Portal Place to this Contractor to enable Contractor to occupy the property and lease the housing units to residents. The lease and this Contract have the same term.
Under Contract #25-127, Contractor will provide property management and onsite supportive services for chronically homeless individuals at El Portal Place for the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this Contract is not approved, grant funding leveraged to purchase and operate El Portal Place in the combined amount of $23 million from Project Homekey, Measure X Housing Funds, and Whole Person Care may be jeopardized. This will impact the County’s ability to deliver critically needed housing and support services and property management to chronically homeless individuals in Contra Costa County.