TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Brian Ambrose, Community Services Director
PREPARED BY: Crystal Arora, Management Analyst - Parks & Recreation
SUBJECT:
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Emergency Shelter Agreement Award to Project T.O.U.C.H.
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RECOMMENDATION
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Approve an agreement with Project T.O.U.C.H. for Emergency Shelter Services;
Waive bidding requirements under Murrieta Municipal Code Section 3.08.280 and approve Project T.O.U.C.H. as a sole source vendor for Emergency Shelter Services; and
Amend the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating Budget by reappropriating $313,045.96 of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to Project T.O.U.C.H. for Emergency Shelter Services.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On July 20, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 21-4448 accepting grant funding from the County of Riverside’s Department of Housing, Homeless Prevention, and Workforce Solutions for the Emergency Solutions Grant - Coronavirus Round 2 for homeless street outreach, emergency sheltering services, and case management services (Vote: 5-0).
On April 19, 2022, City Council adopted Resolution No. 22-4543 to appropriate American Rescue Plan Act funding intended for the formation of the Regional Homeless Alliance (Vote: 5-0).
On November 1, 2022, the City Council approved a second amendment to the agreement with Project T.O.U.C.H on a month-to-month basis until a long-term agreement could be executed (Vote: 5-0).
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Coordinate and deliver responsive, effective community services.
BACKGROUND
Under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Riverside County received a one-time funding allocation for homeless programming. The City of Murrieta (City) applied for and received $992,154.70 of the funding in the form of a grant for homeless services entitled Emergency Solution Grant - Coronavirus Round 2 (ESG-CV2). With a portion of the allocation, the City contracted with Project TO.U.C.H. for sheltering in 2021. Since receiving the allocation, the City and Project T.O.U.C.H. have developed a mutually beneficial partnership that has resulted in a decrease in the level of visible homelessness in Murrieta. Murrieta is one of a few cities that has reached a goal of functional zero homelessness (a shelter bed for all homeless individuals who accept services).
Over the past few years, the City of Murrieta has made extraordinary strides on the homelessness issue. The inception of the Community Policing Team and the Community Behavioral Assessment Team within the Murrieta Police Department, the agreements in place with City Net and Project T.O.U.C.H., and the addition of staffing have led to seamless services leading to virtually no visible homelessness on the streets of Murrieta. In 2023 alone, 298 individuals were sheltered with Project T.O.U.C.H. which included months where 20 children were sheltered at a time with their families. There is still a lot of work to be done. Over 190 unduplicated individuals experiencing homelessness were contacted by the street outreach team in 2023, most of which were previously unfamiliar to the team. 108 positive exits from homelessness were achieved by the City’s efforts, 58 of which were through placements at Project T.O.U.C.H. in 2023.
Currently, the City and Project T.O.U.C.H. are operating on a month-to-month agreement for emergency shelter services for a maximum of $35,860 per month based on bed utilization per night. To continue the momentum of success, City staff are recommending a more permanent, long-term agreement. Staff recommends waiving bidding requirements per Section 3.08.280 of the Municipal Code, as Project T.O.U.C.H. is the only shelter provider located in Murrieta. The alternatives to this agreement would include: 1) encourage an outside shelter provider to locate in Murrieta. This would be time-consuming and could bring in a partner that does not practice the Responsible Compassion program, or 2) finding a shelter outside of Murrieta. This could result in significant delays and lower acceptance rates. Presently, Murrieta homeless staff is satisfied with the services provided by Project T.O.U.C.H. Therefore, City staff recommends entering into a three-year agreement with the option of two, one-year extensions with Project T.O.U.C.H. to provide emergency shelter services.
Additionally, City staff is recommending that the $313,045.96 in ARPA funding, previously dedicated to the formation of the Regional Homeless Alliance (RHA), be reappropriated to shelter operations with Project T.O.U.C.H. as the RHA formation is now being funded by the SAMHSA grant.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost of the five-year agreement is $2,600,862.76. As of the adoption date, approximately 7.5 months of the agreement, totaling $315,600, will be budgeted in Fiscal Year 2024/25. Staff recommends amending the Fiscal Year 2024/25 budget by reallocating $313,045.96, originally allocated for the formation of the Regional Homeless Alliance (RHA), to support shelter operations under Project T.O.U.C.H. Staff will reallocate budget savings for the remaining $2,554.04 to fully fund the contract for Fiscal Year 2024/25.
For subsequent years, staff will pursue grant funding to support shelter operations. The necessary budget changes can be made as part of the upcoming biennial budget process, quarterly budget updates, or through an agenda report once the City successfully secures the grant funds. Should all grant funding cease in future years, a General Fund contribution would be necessary to continue at the same level of programming.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agreement with Project T.O.U.C.H.