To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Probation Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Vanessa Fuchs, 707-565-2732
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Public Safety Realignment Transitional Housing Agreement
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to execute a professional services agreement with Interfaith Shelter Network, Inc. for the initial term October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2027, in the amount of $1,247,892 to provide transitional housing beds and services for individuals on felony probation and to execute up to two one-year renewal options for a maximum five-year agreement value of $2,188,000.
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Executive Summary:
The Probation Department requests Board approval to execute a professional services agreement with Interfaith Shelter Network, Inc. (IFSN) to provide transitional housing services for homeless Public Safety Realignment individuals and others on felony probation being supervised in the community. Under this Agreement, IFSN will operate drug- and alcohol-free residential facilities to provide these probationers with an out-of-custody structured housing environment, including wrap-around supportive services to assist with placement into permanent housing and transitioning back into the community. The probationers participating in this program are those who would otherwise be living marginally in the community with little or no support and who would likely resort to criminal behavior without supportive housing and Probation oversight. The program is intended to reduce recidivism and enhance public safety by providing a secure, sober living environment for participants.
The Sonoma County Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) allocates funding for this program and has approved the fiscal year 24-25 expenses. Future funding will depend upon continued CCP approval.
Discussion:
In response to a federal court order to reduce prison overcrowding, California’s Public Safety Realignment Act (Assembly Bill 109) took effect October 1, 2011, and mandated sweeping changes to the criminal justice system by shifting the responsibility for managing select adult offenders from the state to each of the 58 counties. As of June 2024, Probation supervises some 440 individuals in the community who formerly would have been supervised by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The state provides funding to help manage this increased responsibility, which the CCP, in turn, allocates, pending Board approval. Because many realigned offenders are homeless and lack the community connections and resources needed to secure stable housing, the CCP has allocated funding for transitional housing every year since 2011.
Request for Proposals
The Probation Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) announcement in June 2024, which was distributed to 487 known organizations that might have interest in operating transitional housing facilities for probationers as well as 2,200 notifications to subscribers on Purchasing’s RFP posting list.
The RFP sought proposals from one or more organizations to provide at least 26 transitional housing beds for probationers, most of whom will be individuals on felony probation and some of whom will be sex offenders. In addition to beds, the RFP requested an array of supportive services to help probationers stabilize their lives and become productive community members. Finally, the RFP required that the successful organization(s) develop a quality assurance plan to ensure high service standards and report on outputs and outcomes to help stakeholders determine program performance.
IFSN was the only organization to submit a proposal. A panel of representatives from the Probation Department and the Department of Health Services rated the proposal using clear criteria such as qualifications and experience, staffing, program services, and cost of service. Based on its proposal review, the evaluation committee recommends awarding transitional housing services to IFSN.
Program and Scope Overview
While this program is intended primarily for realigned offenders, it will also be available for non-realigned individuals on felony probation as space permits. During an intake process, Probation and IFSN will coordinate to determine which supportive services IFSN will provide to offenders. Available services include case management; individual therapy; individual and group counseling; skill building; referrals for substance abuse, healthcare, food, and general assistance services; employment preparation; and permanent housing search and placement assistance. IFSN will coordinate supportive services with offenders’ supervising Probation Officers to address individual needs without duplicating services from other sources. All therapy and counseling services will be conducted by licensed therapists or interns under the supervision of a licensed clinical director.
IFSN currently provides 26 beds. Under the new contract, IFSN will provide 30 beds distributed among multiple houses in Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park. The additional four beds will be for a female-only home in Santa Rosa.
Additionally, IFSN will develop and implement quality assurance and outcome reporting plans. Quality assurance plans ensure, for example, that staff receives proper training, resources, and certifications, and that facilities are clean, safe, and up to code. Outcome reporting can help the CCP and other stakeholders determine program performance. Example data points include residents’ post-discharge living arrangements, success in completing programming, and behavioral changes such as improved cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Healthy and Safe Communities
Goal: Goal 1: Expand integrated system of care to address gaps in services to the County’s most vulnerable.
Objective: Objective 3: Increase investment in programs that treat underlying causes of homelessness, including substance abuse, mental illness, poverty, and lack of affordable housing.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
August 6, 2019: IFSN Public Safety Realignment transitional housing contract awarded
July 21, 2015: IFSN Public Safety Realignment transitional housing contract and amendments awarded
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$395,842 |
$415,634 |
$436,416 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$395,842 |
$415,634 |
$436,416 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$395,842 |
$415,634 |
$436,416 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
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|
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Use of Fund Balance |
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|
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General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
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Total Sources |
$395,842 |
$415,634 |
$436,416 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The CCP recommended funding the transitional housing discussed here as part of the County’s fiscal year 23-24 Public Safety Realignment Implementation Plan, which the Board approved on October 24, 2023. The FY 24-25 Public Safety Realignment Implementation Plan, which is anticipated to come to the Board shortly, includes funding for transitional housing. The initial 12 months of service will cost $395,842, which amounts to less than $36 per bed per night. Accounting for price escalations of up to 5% annually, the future cost is estimated to be $415,634 in FY 25-26, $436,416 in FY 26-27, $458,237 in FY 27-28, and $481,871 in FY 28-29. The total five-year contract, including two one-year renewal options and up to approximately $26,494 per year in incidental expenses, will not exceed $2,188,000. Future funding for this program will require CCP approval.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
AB109 Transitional Housing Professional Services Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None