HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 10446 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10446
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 4, 2020
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SUBJECT: COVID-VULNERABLE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
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On June 23, 2020, staff issued Informal Report No. 20-10438, outlining a proposal to develop permanent supportive
housing (PSH) for approximately 200 COVID-vulnerable individuals and couples. In view of CDC recommendations
for protective housing for cohorts who are vulnerable to COVID and the lack of Emergency Solutions Grant(ESG)
funding for PSH,the City will use$18.6 million of funding provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security Act (CARES Act),Title V(Coronavirus Relief Fund)to acquire and convert existing motels, hotels, extended
stays, apartment complexes, or similar permanent structures to provide approximately 200 new units of PSH spread
across two or more locations.The new PSH units will provide protective housing for high-risk COVID-vulnerable and
disabled households experiencing chronic homelessness.
On July 1, 2020, the City issued Request for Proposals No. 20-0190 seeking proposers to: (1) quickly acquire and
convert existing motels, hotels, extended stays, apartment complexes, or similar permanent structures to serve as
approximately 200 units of PSH split across two or more locations; and (2) provide ongoing supportive services for
such households for a period of at least twenty(20)years.The City will provide funding for the initial costs of
acquisition via a one-time payment and subsequent payments for conversion/renovation from Title V funds and
anticipates assisting the selected proposers to secure ongoing operating subsidies from other sources.
The City received five proposals for the PSH project. After a competitive scoring process, the Housing Authority of
the City of Fort Worth dba Fort Worth Housing Solutions and the Presbyterian Night Shelter of Tarrant County Inc.
were recommended to be awarded a notice to proceed.These agencies have experience in permanent supportive
housing. In addition, dlb Consultants was recommended to provide construction support services consulting to
support the selected proposers in meeting their Section 3 business, resident, employment, and minority and
women-owned business (M/WBE) aspirational goals.
In view of pressing needs associated with the ongoing public health crisis and strict funding timelines, staff
proposes that projects be funded based on which ones can be made tenant-ready in the shortest time period.
Although staff is recommending two vendors be given notice to proceed with identifying and obtaining approvals
for potential sites, actual award of funds would be based on which properties get identified and approved first to
provide the target 200 units. Approval is based on the proposer having legal control of the property, appropriate
zoning for the proposed use, and a resolution of support from the City Council. If one of the proposers has 200
units identified and approved before the other proposer completes its identification and approval process, then
only that one proposer would be awarded. The goal is to move swiftly to getting housing produced and leased to
address pressing needs and to expend funds within mandated timelines.
For more information, please contact Directions Home Manager Tara Perez at Tara.Perez@fortworthtexas.gov.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS