STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Human and Social Needs
AGENDA DATE: September 25, 2019
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Office of Homeless Solutions
EXECUTIVE: Nadia Chandler-Hardy
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SUBJECT
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Authorize the first amendment to Resolution No. 19-1013, previously approved on June 26, 2019, to the services contract with CitySquare, to increase funding and to increase the amount of people served under the Dallas Connector Project, which will provide regularly-scheduled transportation services for persons experiencing homelessness to access services necessary to secure healthcare, housing and employment - Not to exceed $46,875.00, from $187,500.00 to $234,375.00 - Financing: General Fund
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BACKGROUND
The local 2018 Homeless Point-In-Time Count revealed that 3,506 persons were experiencing homelessness in the City of Dallas, an almost 9% increase from the 2017 count. Similarly, 1,098 unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness were identified, a 24% increase from the 2017 results. The increase of both total and unsheltered homelessness in the City of Dallas has trended for several years.
On August 9, 2018, the Office of Homeless Solutions (“OHS”) briefed the Citizen Homelessness Commission on a Systems Enhancement Program.
On October 15, 2018, OHS briefed the Human and Social Needs Committee on a Systems Enhancement Program.
On January 31, 2019, the Office of Procurement Services advertised a Request for Competitive Sealed Proposals (“RFCSP”) (#BKZ1909) soliciting proposals for four programs to provide supportive services to homeless and at-risk individuals and families.
The RFCSP closed on March 14, 2019, with 18 proposal submissions, eight of which were for the System Enhancement Program, including the Dallas Connector Project. CitySquare, located at 511 North Akard Street, Dallas, Texas 75201, submitted a proposal to provide the Dallas Connector Project and is recommended for funding.
CitySquare was originally founded in 1988 by Dallas businessman Jim Sowell. At the time CitySquare was operating as a small food pantry (Central Dallas Food Pantry D/B/A Central Dallas Ministries) for the working poor in East and South Dallas communities. In 2010, Central Dallas Ministries changed its name to CitySquare, to better reflect its mission to bring the community together to fight poverty.
From a small food pantry, CitySquare has since grown into one of the largest, most effective poverty-fighting organizations in Texas. CitySquare’ s social service programs annually serve over 50,000 neighbors in North Texas as well as other Texas cities such as: Austin, Houston, Abilene, and Paris, and Denver, Colorado. Programs focus on four key areas: Hunger, Health, Housing, and Hope.
Under this contract, CitySquare administers the Dallas Connector Project, which is a collaborative project between Austin Street Center, Stewpot/FBC, Salvation Army, and City Square. The project provides regularly scheduled transportation services for persons experiencing homelessness to secure necessary services such as healthcare, housing, and employment. At least one vehicle will be available for on-demand transportation services. The Dallas Connector Project is under the umbrella of The System Enhancement Program, which is intended to benefit individuals or families who are homeless (sheltered or unsheltered), formerly homeless (now housed), or at risk of becoming homeless.
The additional $46,875.00 is available due to budget set-aside to support services for capital bond projects. Dallas Homeless Investment Program Request for Proposal (RFP) BC19-00010982 was released through Office of Procurement Services on July 15, 2019. The Office of Homeless Solutions received the evaluations of submitted proposals on August 1, 2019; however, they did not meet the requirements of shovel ready projects as defined by the RFP specification. Staff would like to repurpose the bond set-aside funds to support the Dallas Connector project to allow for CitySquare to assist additional persons experiencing homelessness obtain necessary resources to secure housing and employment.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
The Citizen Homelessness Commission was briefed on the System Enhancement Program on August 8, 2018.
The Human and Social Needs Committee was briefed on the System Enhancement Program on October 15, 2018.
Information about this item was provided to the Citizen Homelessness Commission on May 9, 2019.
Information about this item was provided to the Human and Social Needs Committee on May 20, 2019.
On June 26, 2019, City Council authorized a fifteen-month contract, with one twelve-month renewal option, with CitySquare to provide services under a System Enhancement Program including but not limited to case management, transportation, behaviorial health services, workforce solutions, diversion, or re-entry services to homeless and at-risk individuals and families for the period July 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020, by Resolution No. 19-1013.
FISCAL INFORMATION
General Fund - $46,875.00