Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution approves the selection of Porchlight, Inc. as the operator of a permanent shelter serving men experiencing homelessness, and authorizes the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into agreements and contracts with the organization for this work. The timeline for the permanent shelter is to complete design in Q2 of 2023 and begin construction in Q4 of 2023 through Q2 of 2025. No appropriation is required in 2022. Funding for these services will be included in future operating budgets.
Title
Approving the selection of Porchlight, Inc. as the operator of a new facility, to be constructed by the City, to provide emergency shelter and supportive services primarily to male-identifying persons in Madison and Dane County that experience homelessness, and to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into any agreements and contracts with Porchlight, Inc. necessary to fulfill that purpose.
Body
WHEREAS, for more than 30 years, the sole overnight shelter that served single men in Madison and Dane County that experienced homelessness was operated by a local non-profit, Porchlight, Inc., and utilized spaces in the basements of several churches in the City’s downtown; and,
WHEREAS, public health threats to shelter users and the community caused by the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of that shelter in March 2020, and prompted the City to establish a series of temporary alternatives in City-owned properties, which have been operated by Porchlight Inc.; and
WHEREAS, the lack of a suitable space to provide shelter services on an ongoing basis convinced City and County elected officials of the need to develop a permanent facility, an effort in support of which both the Madison Common Council and Dane County Board of Supervisors have authorized funds in their respective capital budgets; and,
WHEREAS, on April 25, 2022, the Common Council enacted RES-22-00295 (Legistar File #70582), which identified the property located at 1902 Bartillon Drive as the site on which to build a permanent shelter and directed the Community Development Division (CDD) to undertake a competitive process to select an organization(s) to operate the new facility; and,
WHEREAS, on June 16, 2022, CDD released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) soliciting responses from organizations interested in operating the shelter and providing related services, singly or through collaborations with other partners, and;
WHEREAS, CDD formed a team to review and evaluate responses to the RFQ which was comprised of staff from CDD and the Mayor’s Office; a member of the Dane County Homeless Services Consortium (HSC) Board of Directors; a member of the City-County Homeless Issues Committee, with lived experience; and a staff person from the Dane County Department of Human Services; and,
WHEREAS, Porchlight, Inc. - a local non-profit organization that has operated an overnight drop-in shelter in Madison since 1984, provides a daytime program for individuals with mental illness (Safe Haven), oversees a Transitional Housing Program serving U.S. Veterans, and owns 184 units of permanent housing at which it provides property management and case management services - was the only applicant to submit a proposal to be the lead operator, in response to the RFQ; and,
WHEREAS, in its response, Porchlight, Inc. identified six partner agencies as among those with whom it intends to collaborate in operating and providing supportive services to shelter guests including Catalyst for Change, Kabba Recovery Services, MACH OneHealth, Nurse Disrupted, VA Homeless Outreach and WisCARES; and,
WHEREAS, the review team determined the response submitted by Porchlight, Inc. satisfied the review criteria set forth in the RFQ and concluded that Porchlight, Inc. was an acceptable candidate to recommend to the Common Council to operate the new shelter.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Common Council approves the selection of Porchlight, Inc. as the operator of a new shelter to be constructed at 1902 Bartillon Drive primarily to serve male-identifying persons in Madison and Dane County that experience homelessness; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into agreements and contracts with Porchlight, Inc. to perform that and related roles, in a form or forms subject to approval by the City Attorney’s Office, and with any financial considerations on behalf of the City subject to review and approval by the Common Council.