To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Grant Agreements #29-539-14 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute Agreement #29-539-14 (VA #36C26123D0117) with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS), a Government Agency, to pay County in an amount not to exceed $750,000 for the provisions of Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) services and associated operating cost of the Philip Dorn Respite Center through the Central County’s Adult Interim Housing Program in Concord, for the period from September 29, 2023 through September 28, 2028.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this agreement will result in funds from VANCHCS in an amount not to exceed $750,000 over a 5-year period for the Central County’s Adult Interim Housing Program, Philip Dorn Respite Center in Concord through September 28, 2023. (No County match is required)
BACKGROUND:
The HCHV Program exists to provide a means of removing homeless Veterans from the street or habitation unfit for humans and placing them in community-based, residential environments with sufficient supportive services to meet their basic needs and ultimately, facilitate the improvement of their overall health status and housing situation.
The National Institute for Medical Respite Care has described Medical Respite Care as acute and post-acute care for people experiencing homelessness who are too ill or frail to recover from an illness or injury on the streets or in a shelter, but who do not require hospital-level care. Unlike "respite" for caregivers, "medical respite" is short-term residential care that allows individuals experiencing homelessness the opportunity to rest, recover, and heal in a safe environment while accessing medical care and other supportive services. Medical respite care is offered in a variety of settings including freestanding facilities, homeless shelters, motels, and transitional housing.
This contract provides Medical Respite level care including case management services to homeless Veterans and be located at the Philip Dorn Respite Center through the Central County’s Adult Interim Housing Program in Concord. The Health Services Department seeks continuous funding to provide interim housing, treatment, and other services for homeless veterans that access the County’s emergency shelter program. Each year the shelters provide interim housing and support services to over 75 homeless veterans of Contra Costa County. County has been receiving funds from VANCHCS for this program since September 2012.
On October 23, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved Agreement #29-539-7 to receive funding to support emergency shelter housing at the Philip Dorn Respite Center for homeless veterans of Contra Costa County over a 5-year period through September 28, 2023.
On October 23, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved Agreement #29-539-8 to receive funding in an amount not to exceed $129,020.20 to support emergency shelter housing at the Philip Dorn Respite Center for homeless veterans of Contra Costa County for the period September 29, 2018 through September 28, 2019.
On October 22, 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved Agreement #29-539-9 to receive funding in an amount not to exceed $133,941 to support emergency shelter housing at the Philip Dorn Respite Center for homeless veterans of Contra Costa County for the period September 29, 2019 through September 28, 2020.
On September 22, 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved Agreement #29-539-10 to receive funding in an amount not to exceed $137,897 to support emergency shelter housing at the Philip Dorn Respite Center for homeless veterans of Contra Costa County for the period September 29, 2020 through September 28, 2021.
In September 2021, the County Administrator approved, and the Purchasing Services Manager executed Agreement #29-539-11 to receive funding in an amount not to exceed $141,912 to support emergency shelter housing at the Philip Dorn Respite Center for homeless veterans of Contra Costa County at West County’s Adult Interim Housing Program in Richmond for the period September 29, 2021 through September 28, 2022.
In December 2021, the County Administrator approved, and the Purchasing Services Manager executed Amendment Agreement #29-539-12 to incorporate supplemental documents for safety protocols with no change in the term September 29, 2021 through September 28, 2022.
In August 2022, the County Administrator approved, and the Purchasing Services Manager executed Agreement #29-539-13 to receive funding in an amount not to exceed $73,022 to support emergency shelter housing at the Philip Dorn Respite Center for homeless veterans of Contra Costa County at West County’s Adult Interim Housing Program in Richmond for the period October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023.
Approval of Grant Agreement #29-539-14 will allow the County to receive funds to support the Central County’s Adult Interim Housing Program Philip Dorn Respite Center in Concord through September 28, 2028. The County is agreeing to indemnify and hold harmless the Contractor for claims arising out of County’s performance under this agreement and includes County being liable to contractor for liquidated damages for data breach. This agreement is delayed due to the Division not receiving the agreement from the grantor until September 8, 2023.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this agreement is not approved, the County will not receive funding to support the veterans requiring homeless shelter.