Fiscal Note
No additional City appropriation required. Following an RFP process, a staff review panel recommends funding Catalyst for Change in the amount of up to $137,000 and MACH OneHealth in the amount of up to $33,000.
Title
Approving the allocation of funds authorized by the Common Council in the 2021 Adopted Operating Budget for use in expanding housing-focused street outreach services and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute agreements with Catalyst for Change and MACH OneHealth to provide those services.
Body
BACKGROUND
The number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness-sleeping outside, in cars, and in other places not meant for human habitation-has been increasing in recent years across the country, and Madison has seen a similar trend. Dane County Homeless Services Consortium identified approximately 150 to 250 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the last three July point-in-time (PIT) counts.
Solutions for unsheltered homelessness must include multiple strategies and interventions. Strategies should include the provision of safe, welcoming and low-barrier shelters; development of affordable and accessible housing options; meaningful collaboration with multiple systems of care such as community justice, health, behavioral health, and domestic violence support; and increased support for culturally competent and housing-focused outreach services.
In the 2021 budget process, the Common Council increased funding available for street outreach services and housing strategies by $175,000. The Community Development Division conducted a Request for Proposals process to allocate those funds. This resolution seeks approval of CDD recommendations from that RFP process.
ACTION
WHEREAS, the Common Council has adopted the 2020-2024 City of Madison Consolidated Plan, which identifies homelessness as a critical issue within the community and outlines a set of strategies and priorities to address those problems using community-based groups; and,
WHEREAS, through an amendment, the Community Development Division's Adopted 2021 Operating Budget included up to $175,000 to increase funding for street outreach and related housing support; and,
WHEREAS, the Community Development Division issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on June 8, 2021 seeking to expand or extend street outreach programs by identifying one or more qualified partners to provide intensive housing-focused outreach services for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, with the goal of reducing the number of people who are unsheltered in the City of Madison; and,
WHEREAS, Catalyst for Change and MACH OneHealth submitted proposals in response to the RFP which were deemed, upon evaluation by the staff review panel, to be highly responsive to the requirements and preferences laid out in the RFP and worthy of being selected to provide the requested services; and,
WHEREAS, the staff review panel recommended funding Catalyst for Change in the amount of up to $137,000 and MACH OneHealth in the amount of up to $33,000.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby approves the selection of Catalyst for Change and MACH OneHealth to provide f Housing-Focused Street Outreach services and the specified funding amounts; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into contracts with Catalyst for Change and MACH OneHealth to provide the services described herein.