SR 07-26-2011 3BCity Council Meeting: July 26, 2011
Agenda Item:3~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Timothy J. Jackman, Chief of Police
Subject: Joint Homeless Outreach Service Provider
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a one year contract with The West Coast Care Foundation, Inc., a Marina Del
Rey based organization in the amount of $246,250 with an option of 2 one year
renewals that include an annual increase as provided by CPI. This contract will enable
The West Coast Care Foundation, Inc. to provide outreach services to homeless
persons in conjunction with the Police Department.
Executive Summary
The Santa Monica Police Department has established a joint outreach program with
The West Coast Care Foundation to administer direct intervention and outreach
services to homeless persons. The services include help with housing, shelters, medical
treatment facilities, and reunification with families or other care givers. Immediate
intervention efforts have been focused on new arrivals, those individuals that have been
homeless in Santa Monica for relatively short periods of time, by providing alternatives
before they take up permanent residency on the City's streets. This intervention
includes, but is not limited to, working with the person's previous service providers and
other resources outside the City of Santa Monica. Outreach efforts to Santa Monica's
most long-term, vulnerable homeless will focus on linking them with established
providers within the City's continuum of care. The cost of one year of services is
$246,250 with the option of renewal for two additional years at the rate of $246,250 and
the annual increase as provided by CPI.
Discussion
The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) participates in cooperative efforts with
other city departments, government agencies, private service providers, and
community-based groups, to address homelessness and community concerns
surrounding homelessness in Santa Monica. The Department's Homeless Liaison
1
Program (HLP) has contributed to this collaborative process by conducting appropriate
law enforcement actions, while at the same time connecting homeless individuals with
local service providers that offer homeless clients with a variety of housing,
rehabilitation, medical, psychiatric, and employment resources. While this collaborative
model produced many successes through the years, overall effectiveness has .been
limited by the fact that the HLP Team was the City's primary source of contact with
homeless people on the street, requiring the team to perform both enforcement and
outreach functions.
In early 2008, the Police Department initiated a Request for Proposals for street
outreach in collaboration with the HLP Team. West Coast Care was the only service
provider that responded. West Coast Care entered into a professional services
agreement with the City and began providing service on June 24, 2008. This agreement
was modified and extended on June 22. 2010.
West Coast Care only provides outreach services and utilizes the City's Project
Homecoming Program to assist homeless individuals return home. This differs from
other providers in that West Coast Care does not provide long term counseling, shelter
beds, financial aid assistance, and other services that serve to perpetuate
homelessness in Santa Monica.
Since March 2008, West Coast Care has made approximately 35,139 (204 per week,
11,191 per year) duplicated contacts with homeless people in the City of Santa Monica.
During this period, West Coast Care has helped 855 homeless people find alternatives
to living on Santa Monica streets. Of these, 475 opted to return home by way of Project
Homecoming (340 with funds provided by family and friends), 17 were transported to
the Veterans Administration Hospital for services, and 36 were referred to other social
service programs.
Contractor/Consultant Selection
2
In January 2011, a Request for Proposals seeking applicants to provide collaborative
outreach to the homeless population in the City of Santa Monica was posted on the
Planet Bids website. Nine organizations downloaded the proposal and two proposals
were submitted. A selection team comprised of 4 staff from the Police Department, Fire
Department and Community and Cultural Services Department reviewed the proposals.
The reviewing committee based their selection on West Coast Care's consistent
performance, proven abilities and their proposal's explanation of the services that they
would provide. Staff determined that due to those reasons The West Coast Care
Foundation would be awarded a one year contract with the option to renew the contract
2 times for one year periods each, totaling $246,250 for each year, plus future annual
increases as provided by CPI.
The West Coast Care Foundation will provide services that include help with housing,
shelters, medical treatment facilities, and reunification with families or other care givers.
Immediate intervention efforts will focus on new arrivals by providing alternatives before
they take up permanent residency on the City's streets.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The contract amount to be awarded to The West Coast Care Foundation is $246,250.
Funds are included in the FY2011-12 budget at account number 01306.555010.
Authority will be requested in each biennial budget cycle for council approval if the
contract renewal is requested.
Prepared by: Mohamed Marhaba, Lieutenant
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
b ~
Timothy J. a cman Rod Gould
Chief of Po' City Manager
3
Reference Contract No.
9431 (CCS)