Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes a non-competitive service contract with YWCA Madison Inc for tenant resource services to support tenant capacity building in Dane County. The 2024 adopted budget increased the Public Health Madison Dane County expenditures budget offset by County funding by $68,000 to support amended contracts in 2024 of current Violence Prevention Unit 2023 grantees for tenant capacity building. Although this is County funding, MGO 4.26 requires the Common Council to approve service contracts of $50,000 or more if the contractor was not selected through a competitive selection process. The reasons for selecting this contractor in the attached Noncompetitive Selection Request Form. No appropriation is required.
Title
Authorizing a non-competitive service contract with YWCA Madison Inc for tenant resource services to support tenant capacity building
Body
WHEREAS, the 2024 Adopted County Budget increased Public Health Madison Dane County expenditures by $68,000 to support amended contracts in 2024 of current Violence Prevention Unit (VPU) 2023 grantees for tenant capacity building. These funds would be available for grantees to perform program activities, including but not limited to hiring a tenant organizer, supporting meetings of tenants to discuss their housing concerns, and training of the grantees and tenants they serve on housing rights and tenant organizing; and
WHEREAS, YWCA Madison Inc, a 2023-2024 grantee, is a nonprofit organization that been providing housing for our community’s women at 101 E. Mifflin Street since 1968. Today, they are Dane County’s largest provider of affordable housing for single women. A new program they have developed to support this work is “Steps to Stability.” The program connects families and individuals experiencing homelessness and/or housing stability to housing related services and direct financial assistance to support a successful housing search and/or maintenance of housing. The program provides housing location search and voluntary tenant education services to homeless families or individuals utilizing or otherwise eligible for emergency shelter, as well as families at imminent risk of entering shelter; and
WHEREAS, the program also provides four annual voluntary tenant education courses based on the nationally known and accredited “Rent Smart” curriculum which includes (but not limited to) the following topics: prioritizing housing needs and preferences, reviewing rental applications, reviewing leases, overview of landlord/tenant law, maintaining an apartment, and preparing for transitions; and
WHEREAS, Public Health seeks to utilize the funds provided through the 2024 County budget to support the above-mentioned program developed by YWCA Madison. The agency is one of the few in the county currently providing this form of tenant support services. Further, they are the only agency in the 2023-2024 VP funded grantee cohort providing this form of housing support; and
WHEREAS, MGO 4.26 requires Common Council approval of service contracts of $50,000 or more if the contractor was not selected through a competitive selection process, and the reasons for selecting this contractor are set forth above and in the attached Noncompetitive Selection Request Form; and
WHEREAS, the cost of services will be billed quarterly as project expenses are reported estimated to be up to $68,000 per year; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Board of Health for Madison and Dane County on behalf of Public Health Madison and Dane County is authorized to execute a non-competitive service contract with YWCA Madison Inc for the purpose and at the price described above; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Public Health Director, or their designee, is authorized to sign the agreement.