HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0027) M&C 19-0052City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
DATE: 08/27/19 M&C FILE NUMBER: M&C 19-0052
LOG NAME: 02DIRECTIONSHOMECONTRACTFORCOCSUPPORT
SUBJECT
Authorize Execution of Agreement with Tarrant County Homeless Coalition in the Amount of $250,000.00 for Purchasing Reporting Software,
Collecting Data, Training Case Managers and Engaging Landlords (ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS)
RECOMMENDATION:
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute an agreement with Tarrant County Homeless Coalition in the amount of $250,000.00 for
a term commencing April 1, 2019, and terminating September 30, 2020, for the support of the Continuum of Care (CoC) and continuation of
Directions Home initiatives;
2. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to amend the agreement if necessary to achieve program goals provided that the amendment is
within the scope of the program and in compliance with City policies and applicable laws and regulations.
3. Find that funding this contract carries out the public purpose of combating, reducing, and ending homelessness and that adequate controls are
in place through the Contract to carry out such public purpose.
DISCUSSION:
On June 17, 2008, the City adopted Directions Home, the City's plan to make homelessness rare, short-term and nonrecurring (Resolution No.
3628-06-2008).
Tarrant County Homeless Coalition is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) lead agency for the Continuum of Care that
covers Tarrant and Parker counties. Tarrant County Homeless Coalition (TCHC) is also the collaborative applicant and Homeless Management
Information Services (HMIS) administrator for the system. Because of these roles, TCHC is in a unique position to support the entire homeless
system.
Area homeless service agencies report client information to TCHC. Then TCHC can report out system level measures to determine areas of
success and outstanding needs. Directions Home uses the system and program level data to evaluate the success of current initiatives and what
programs Directions Home should consider funding to make the most significant impact on targeted initiatives.
The contract with Tarrant County Homeless Coalition will support HUD -mandated planning activities and provide the necessary grant match. The
contract will also support reporting software upgrades to allow better reporting of homeless data, which is disseminated to the City and other local
providers. The contract will also support the establishment of a Learning Institute for case managers to further professional development in
homeless best practices. The City has identified that landlord engagement is essential to expand the availability of apartments to those exiting
homelessness. This contract will also allow TCHC to design and implement a landlord engagement program that includes centralized point of
contact and incentives.
Funding Breakdown:
Continuum of Care data collection $19,809.00
Reporting software 50,000.00
Training for case managers 86,693.00
Landlord engagement 68,498.00
Administration 25,000.00
Total $250,000.00
These activities will support and improve the local homeless system and benefit the City's objectives and goals of reducing and ending
homelessness. By approving this M&C, the City Council finds that this agreement will be used to make critical upgrades and provide essential
services that will serve the important and legitimate public purpose of combating, reducing, and ending homelessness in our community. Further,
the City will receive the benefit of the services and upgraded system since the City receives data, information, and training from TCHC. The City's
contract will have specific and adequate controls in place to ensure that the funds are used to achieve that public purpose, including that all funds
will be paid to TCHC on a reimbursement basis for eligible expenses only.
The effective date of April 1, 2019 will allow the City to assist with a large purchase of reporting software and better serve as match funds for HUD.
Reporting Software - Green River: One goal in the CoC Strategic plan is to automate the housing match that happens in the coordinated entry
process. This is the process of matching clients whose homelessness has been assessed to openings in housing. The Green River software
automates this process which was being done manually. The majority of the setup expense that the Directions Home dollars would assist with were
incurred between March and July of 2019. TCHC paid an initial $15,000 to begin using the software in March. The software had to be configured
to reflect our local community needs which resulted in several thousands of dollars' worth of set up expenses in April, May, June, and July. TCHC
launched the new automated process for the community in July. Monthly costs going forward are not expected to be as high due to the set up
being completed.
CoC planning match: Directions Home planning dollars have traditionally been used as a match for TCHC's HUD funded CoC planning grant. The
HUD grant is a reimbursement grant that requires a 25% match. This match is calculated monthly, therefore, TCHC can only be reimbursed by
HUD at 75% of the monthly costs of planning activities if TCHC can show it has the full 25% match. If TCHC can only show a 20% match, it only
receives a portion of the 75% reimbursement. TCHC has budgeted Directions Home to count as the 25% match for the HUD planning grant
starting April 1, 2019. If the date is not April 1, TCHC will have to find another source for match and is at risk of not being able to spend all the
HUD planning grant dollars.
Upon approval of this M&C, the contract will have an effective date of April 1, 2019, and will continue until September 30, 2020. Directions Home
services and programs are available in ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
FISCAL INFORMATION / CERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that funds are available in the current operating budget as appropriated, of the General Fund and that prior to an
expenditure being made; the City Manager's Office has the responsibility to validate the availability of funds.
Submitted for City Manager's Office by. Valerie Washington 6199
Originating Business Unit Head: Valerie Washington 6199
Additional Information Contact: Tara Perez 2235