SAN FRANCISCO HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING OF  THURSDAY,  OCTOBER   23, 2003 AT 9:30 a.m.
Ronald H. Born Auditorium – 170 Otis Street

DISABILITY ACCESS

The Commission’s meeting room, Ronald H. Born Auditorium, on the first floor at 170 Otis Street has accessible seating for persons with disabilities (including those using wheelchairs).  The closest accessible BART Station is at 16^th and Mission Streets.  Accessible MUNI Lines are the 14-Mission, 49-Mission/VanNess, 26-Valencia and 9-San Bruno.   All the MUNI Metro Lines are accessible.  Accessible curb-side parking has been designated at points on the 100 block of Otis Street.  To obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services to participate in the meeting, please contact the Commission Secretary at 557-6431 at least two business days before the meeting.  In order to assist the City’s efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical-based products.  Please help the City accommodate these individuals.

TRANSLATION SERVICES

Interpreters for languages other than English are available on request.  Sign language interpreters are also available on request.  For either accommodation, contact the Commission office at 557-6431 at least two business days before a meeting.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE

Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public.  Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business.  This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review.  For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance (Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code) or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact Donna Hall with the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force at 554-7724, Fax 554-7854, e-mail: DonnaHall@ci.sf.ca.us, City Hall Room 244, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94l02-4689.  Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance may be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force ,the San Francisco Public Library and on the City’s website at http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/.

LOBBYIST REGISTRATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code Section 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity.  For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San FranciscoEthics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, SF 94l02, (415)  581-2300; FAX (415)  581-2317; and web site http://www.sfgov.org/ethics/.

SUBMITTING WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE COMMISSION

Persons who are unable to attend the public meeting may submit to the Commission, by the time the proceedings begin, written comments regarding the subject of the meeting.  These comments will be made a part of the official public record, and brought to the attention of the Human Services Commission and the Department of Human Services.  Written comments should be submitted to the Commission Secretary, Post Office Box 7988,  San Francisco, CA  94120..

ORAL PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE COMMISSION

Public comment will be taken on each item being considered by the Commission prior to the Commission’s vote.

EXPLANATORY DOCUMENTS RELATED TO AGENDA ITEMS

Copies of explanatory documents are available through the Commission Secretary (415 557-6431) during normal business hours.  They can be faxed or mailed to you upon request.  They are now also available at the department’s web site http://ci.sf.ca.us/

SOUND-PRODUCING ELECTRONIC DEVICES PROHIBITED

The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting.  Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.

A G E N D A

  Posted 10.17.03

Commission Approvals for October 23, 2003 Agenda

DATE:                   October 10, 2003

TO:                        Louise Rainey

FROM:                  Personnel

SUBJECT:             TEMPORARY REQUISITIONS

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The following ratification of submission of temporary requisitions were made during the period from 9/9/03 to 10/10/03 for possible use in order to fill positions on a temporary basis.

DATE:                   October 10, 2003

TO:                        Louise Rainey

FROM:                  Personnel

SUBJECT:             TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS

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The following temporary appointments were made during the period from 9/9/03 to 10/10/03.

MEMORANDUM

The Department of Human Services is requesting authorization to enter into a new contract with the Inter City Family Support and Resource Network, Inc (ICFSRN) to operate a Family Resource Center (FRC) in the Western Addition.  The contract is for 31 months, starting in December 2003 and ending in June 2006.  This contract is not to exceed $1,127,564.

Background

The Department has supported FRC services in the Western Addition since 1998.  The Western Addition Family Resource Center is currently operated by Booker T. Washington Community Service Center whose contract expires on December 31, 2003. 

The new contractor was selected through a Request for Proposal (RFP) procurement process initiated by the Department this summer. 

Services

The contractor will operate the Western Addition FRC at 1290 Fillmore Street, which is known as the Westbay Conference Center.  The contractor will work in partnership with Asian Perinatal Advocates (APA) and Instituto Familiar de la Raza to provide multicultural and culturally competent services which include:  information and referral services, case management, family advocacy, crisis management, support groups, parenting skills classes, employment support services, and a food pantry.

Selection of Contractor

The Department issued RFP 241 on June 27, 2003 and received five responses by the deadline of July 31, 2003.  The scores for two of the five proposals were so close that the Department determined it was necessary to request additional information.  The Department made the decision to invite all five bidders to provide the additional documentation.  The review panel considered it and awarded ICFSRN the highest score based on the combined submissions.

Funding

The funding for this contract is 100% City General Fund.

MEMORANDUM

The Department of Human Services is requesting authorization to enter into a new contract with the Larkin Street Youth Services to operate a supportive housing program for emancipating youth known as the Transitional Housing Placement Plus program (THP+).  Larkin Street Youth Services will act as the lead agency, with First Place Fund For Youth, an organization located in Oakland, acting as the subcontractor.  The contract is for 32 months, starting in November 2003 and ending in June 2006.  This contract is not to exceed $2,225,166.

Background

The Department recognizes that former foster youth are a vulnerable population at risk of homelessness, unemployment, welfare dependency, incarceration and other adverse outcomes if they exit the foster care system unprepared to become self-sufficient and without stable housing.   The primary source of support for emancipating foster youth – foster care aid payments – terminates when they reach age 18, leaving them dependent on their own resources for self-support.  Some foster youth are unable to complete high school or other education or training programs due to ongoing trauma from parental abuse or neglect and gaps in their educational attainment stemming from the original removal and subsequent changes in placement. The effects of these situations are often compounded due to unstable housing or homelessness.

In 2001, the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB) 427 (Chapter 125, 2001) creating the Transitional Housing Placement Program for Emancipated Foster/Probation Youth or THP+.  The program will assist the Department in addressing the myriad needs of emancipating and former foster youth under the age of 21 who are most likely to become homeless or incarcerated.  In August, 2003 the State approved the County’s THP+ plan which outlines the County’s program and articulates the Department’s goals for this new initiative.   Prior to the plan’s submission, DHS staff met with community-based organizations serving foster youth, DHS Teen Unit child welfare workers, and emancipated youth to get their feedback and guidance on program design. .

This contract will serve foster and probation youth emancipating from foster care or the Kinship Guardianship Program.  It will address the special needs of pregnant or parenting teens and former foster youth who are at greatest risk of homelessness based upon one or more of the following indicators:   

·        History of substance abuse

·        Multiple placements within the foster care system

·        Previous engagement with the juvenile justice system

·        Lack of a high school diploma or GED

·        Lack of family support network

·        Learning disabilities

·        Little or no attachment to the labor force

It is important to note that the program enrollment process will target youth who have already emancipated but have not reached the age of 21,  youth who are turning 18 and are about to emancipate,  and, foster care youth who are 17 and preparing for emancipation.  Youth will be eligible to remain housed and to access  services for twenty-four months.

It is the intent of the Department that through this contract, the County will meet its goals of ensuring that emancipating youth stabilize their housing situation, increase their employability, complete their GED and/or enroll in an institution of higher learning, and access health and nutrition benefit programs.

Services

The contractor and subcontractor will work closely with Department’s Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) staff to implement this program.  ILSP will refer targeted youth to the contractor for placement in housing.  Additionally, the ILSP staff and the contractor will work collaboratively with youth in designing the youths’  case plans and ensuring that they stay on target to achieve their goals.  It is expected that when the program is in full operation, a total of 31 youth will be housed and accessing supportive services.

The contractor and subcontractor will master lease rental units throughout San Francisco and the East Bay.  Studios, one- and two-bedroom units will be selected based upon their accessibility to public transportation  and community amenities  such as commercial districts, County and/or community-based services, and institutions of higher education.  Youth who are employed at the time of entry to the program will pay a portion of their income towards rent, while youth who are not employed will not be expected to pay rent.  The portion paid by the youth will go into an interest-bearing savings account that can be accessed upon graduation from the program.  Case managers will make visits to the housing units to make sure the units are being well-maintained, bills are being paid, and to address any issues that may arise for clients who are sharing two bedroom units.

Both the contractor and the subcontractor will provide weekly case management services, life skills training, employment and education services, and mental health and substance abuse services (or make referrals as appropriate).  The clients will also have access to the contractor’s medical clinic.  Pregnant and parenting clients will also receive parenting education classes, mentoring services.  The Contractor will schedule monthly functions and events for the clients.

Selection of Contractor

The contractor and subcontractor were selected through a Request for Proposals process in August 2003.  Two proposals were submitted to the Department which were reviewed by an evaluation panel.  The proposal submitted by Larkin Street Youth Services received a total score of 76 points.

Funding

Funding for this program comes from County General Funds (60%) and State funding (40%). 

MEMORANDUM

The Department is requesting retroactive authorization to renew the contract with Hamilton Family Center, which is funded entirely with Federal dollars through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Program.  The total three-year amount of the contract will not exceed $582,543.  Continuation of the contract for the second and third years will be contingent upon continued availability of the HUD funding. 

CONTRACTOR SELECTION

DHS is the lead agency responsible for coordinating the submission of the annual McKinney-Vento Supportive Housing Program (SHP) application to HUD.  The contractor has received McKinney-Vento funding in prior years.  In order to continue receiving this funding, the contractor had to submit an application to DHS to be considered for continued funding.  The applications were reviewed and ranked by a review panel selected in collaboration with the Local Homeless Coordinating Board.  The review panel was composed of formerly homeless persons, staff from community-based organizations and staff from various City departments, as well as members of the Local Homeless Coordinating Board. The review panel recommended, and the Local Homeless Coordinating Board concurred, that the Hamilton Family Center Aftercare Housing Program be included in the City’s McKinney-Vento SHP application. 

SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED

The Aftercare Program provides housing placement assistance, case management and direct client assistance to homeless families.  Aftercare services are provided at the Hamilton Family Residence.  The program targets homeless families currently residing in  family shelters or transitional housing programs throughout the City.  Services to the families include needs assessment, housing search assistance and disbursement of direct client assistance, which includes funds for such expenses as deposits on rental housing, payment of utilities, moving costs, household items and credit repair.

CONTRACT PERFORMANCE

DHS staff conducted  an on-site monitoring of this program in the Spring of 2003.  The contractor exceeded three of the four contract program outcomes, and as indicated in the attached monitoring report, the contractor’s performance has been deemed acceptable.  The monitoring report provides additional information regarding specific program outcomes and objectives.

BUDGET

The attached budget forms summarize program costs in the format required by HUD.  These budget forms differ from the Department’s because HUD requires that the program costs be separated into three main areas: supportive services costs, housing operation costs and administrative costs. The administrative costs are divided in half, 2.5% for the contractor and 2.5% for the Department..

Attachments

Monitoring Report

Request for Authorization

Appendix A, Scope of Services

Appendix B, Budget

MEMORANDUM

The Department requests that the Commission approve the use of $3.1 million from the Arendt Bequest to acquire property located at 850 Broderick for use as subsidized housing. The property consists of 32 sleeping rooms, a large living room, a large dining area, a commercial kitchen, a laundry facility and a private courtyard. The building is owned by the Florence Crittenton Society and was formerly used as a residential training facility. The Department plans to add this building to its portfolio of subsidized housing units. It is estimated that up to 42 residents could be accommodated.

The Arendt Bequest is a gift to the City to assist the poor and needy, seniors and disabled children’s groups. The current amount of the bequest is approximately $6 million of which 60% is designated for the poor and needy and 40% is designated for needy seniors and children’s disabled groups. The Board of Supervisors has designated the Department of  Human Services as the administrator of the bequest. The Board of Supervisors has also approved a resolution allocating the funds for the poor and needy and the most needy seniors for housing and related services. Funds from the bequest are currently in probate pending approval by the probate court of a specific distribution plan. Preliminary approval has been given to spend up to $3.8 million from the bequest on the subject facility.

The purchase price of $3.1 million has been established by the Real Estate Department as the fair market value for the property. The Department of Public Works (DPW) has reviewed the condition of the facility and has recommended renovations for code compliance and disabled access. These improvements have an estimated cost of $1.9 million. DPW has also estimated the cost of other facility improvements that would need to be completed in order to use the basement area for sleeping rooms. The cost of these improvements would be $952,782 and would add space for approximately six residents. DPW has also estimated the cost of other facility improvements that may need to be undertaken in the next five to ten years. These costs are estimated at approximately $2.3 million. A breakdown of the DPW estimated costs is as follows:

            Minimum code-required improvements                         $1,951,950

            Code requirements to occupy basement                             952,782

            Fixtures and Furnishings                                                     815,531

            Deferred Maintenance                                                    1,517,654

                        Total                                                                $5,237,917

The Real Estate Department has reviewed the DPW proposals and believes that they represent reasonable expected improvements to this facility if it is acquired by the City. DHS staff members believe that State housing bond funds will be available to finance the renovations and improvements that will be necessary to operate this facility.

Acquisition of this property must also be approved by the Board of Supervisors. If the Commission approves this acquisition, the Department of Real Estate will prepare the appropriate legislation.

RECOMMENDATION: Approve the acquisition of 850 Broderick with funds from the Arendt Bequest for use by DHS as subsidized housing.