To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Contract with Focus Strategies to provide Technical Assistance for County Homeless Services System Planning
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to execute a contract with Focus Strategies, in an amount not to exceed $314,000, to provide technical assistance and support on Countywide Homelessness Services System Planning for the period of December 1, 2024, through April 30, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
68% General Fund (Measure X housing designation), 32% All Home grant funds. Costs will be covered by budgeted Conservation and Development Department funds dedicated to housing and homelessness and a $100,000 pending grant provided by All Home, a nonprofit organization that emphasizes regional approaches to housing and homelessness needs.
BACKGROUND:
The County departments of Conservation and Development, Health Services, and Employment and Human Services, with support and guidance from the County Administrator’s Office, have been discussing the need for and scope of a proposed Homelessness Strategic Plan for Contra Costa County. To help facilitate this process, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued in June 2024 to seek a consultant to provide technical assistance and support to these specified County departments involved in developing a Countywide Homelessness Strategic Plan.
The County received three proposals from qualified consultants, and the proposal from Focus Strategies was selected. Focus Strategies is a consulting firm specializing in helping communities reduce homelessness by delivering effective homelessness crisis response and expanding on housing solutions. The objective of the contract with Focus Strategies is to facilitate and support the County in creating a strong collaborative system focused on County departments. To create and implement a thoughtful, transparent and aggressive strategic plan to help reduce unsheltered homelessness throughout the County, the collaborative could possibly include collaboration with city jurisdictions.
The contract with Focus Strategies will have a term of December 1, 2024, through April 30, 2026. The contract amount is not to exceed $314,000 through the duration of the contract term.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the contract with Focus Strategies is not approved, the process of completing and implementing a Countywide Homelessness Strategic Plan may be hindered and delayed.