To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Probation Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Christine Williams, 565-2145
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 for the initial term July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2022, in the amount of $950,000 to provide transitional housing beds and services for homeless felony offenders and to execute up to two one-year renewal options for a maximum five-year agreement value of $1,625,000.
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Executive Summary:
The Probation Department requests Board approval to execute a professional services agreement with InterFaith Shelter Network (IFSN), which over the three-year initial term, will provide transitional housing services to approximately 240 homeless Public Safety Realignment and other felony offenders who are being supervised in the community. Under this Agreement, IFSN will operate drug- and alcohol-free residential facilities to provide offenders 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 offenders.
The Sonoma County Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) allocates funding for this program and has approved the fiscal year 19-20 expenses. Future funding will depend upon continued CCP approval.
The procurement protocols, professional services agreement, and implementation plans proposed here are consistent with the “Contracting Principles for Safety Net Services” that the Board adopted on April 2, 2019.
Discussion:
Background
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 May 1, 2019, Probation supervises some 460 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 May 2019, which was distributed to all known organizations that might have interest in operating transitional housing facilities for probationers.
The RFP sought proposals from one or more organizations to provide at least 26 transitional housing beds for probationers, most of whom will be felons and some of whom will be sex offenders. In addition to beds, the RFP requested an array of supportive services to help offenders 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.
The following organizations submitted proposals:
• All Saints Orthodox Institute
• Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County
• InterFaith Shelter Network
The All Saints Orthodox Institute proposal was disqualified for submittal after the RFP deadline. Community Action Partnership offered a partial solution-four beds in Santa Rosa for female offenders. InterFaith Shelter Network, the current service provider, offered to continue providing 26 beds on terms similar to those currently in place.
A panel of representatives from the Probation Department and the Department of Health Services rated the proposals using clear criteria such as qualifications and experience, staffing, program services, and cost of service.
While both Community Action Partnership and InterFaith Shelter Network presented viable programs, the evaluation committee rated InterFaith Shelter Network more highly, based on the alignment of the program services offered with the County’s needs, as well as cost of service. For example, each of InterFaith Shelter Network’s proposed houses is dedicated to Probation Department referrals. By contrast, Community Action Partnership proposed mixing probationers and non-probationers (and their children) in the same house, which could complicate any needed Probation Department house searches and potentially expose children to inappropriate situations. Additionally, the Community Action Partnership’s proposed cost was 20% higher per bed per night than that of InterFaith Shelter Network.
Based on its proposal review, the evaluation committee recommends awarding transitional housing services to InterFaith Shelter Network.
Program and Scope Overview
While this program is intended primarily for realigned offenders, it will also be available for non-realigned felony probationers 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. The 26 beds will be distributed among two houses in Santa Rosa and one house in Rohnert Park.
Additionally, IFSN will develop and implement quality assurance and data collection 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. Data collection 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.
Prior Board Actions:
04/08/2014 - July 21, 2015: IFSN transitional housing contract and amendments approved
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$299,137 |
$306,614 |
$313,974 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
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|
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Total Expenditures |
$299,137 |
$306,614 |
$313,974 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$299,137 |
$306,614 |
$313,974 |
|
Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$299,137 |
$306,614 |
$313,974 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The CCP recommended funding the transitional housing discussed here as part of the County’s fiscal year 19-20 Public Safety Realignment Implementation Plan, which the Board approved on June 11, 2019. The initial 12 months of service will cost $299,137, which amounts to less than $32 per bed per night. Accounting for price escalations of 2.5% annually, the cost will be $306,614 in FY 20-21, $313,974 in FY 21-22, $321,823 in FY 22-23, and $329,868 in FY 23-24. The total five-year contract, including two one-year renewal options and up to approximately $10,000 per year in incidental expenses, would be $1,625,000. 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:
Transitional Housing Professional Services Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.