COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Services Agency

DATE:

September 21, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

October 19, 2004

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Charlene A. Silva, Director of Health Services

Gale Bataille, Director of Mental Health Services

SUBJECT:

Amendment to the Agreement with Shelter Network

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution:

A) Authorizing the President of the Board to execute an amendment to the agreement with Shelter Network.

B) Authorizing the Director of the Health Services Agency to execute subsequent amendments and minor modifications not to exceed $25,000 and to make minor changes in the type of services and activities provided under the Agreement.

Background

Shelter Network was founded in 1987 to provide a comprehensive coordinated network of housing and social services for the homeless residents of the San Francisco Peninsula. Initiated by a broad-based community response to the plight of homeless families and single adults, Shelter Network is a model of community involvement and has become a principal provider of housing and support for Peninsula homeless families and individuals.

Housing resources for seriously mentally ill individuals on fixed incomes are critically scarce in San Mateo County. As a result, many of these individuals are homeless or at high risk of becoming homeless.

On December 22, 2003 our County Manager signed Agreement number 61000-04-C135 with Shelter Network to provide 2 dedicated transitional beds for San Mateo County Mental Health clients. Housing provided under this Agreement is at the Maple Street Shelter.

Discussion

This Amendment increases the number of transitional beds available to County clients to 4. Under this amended Agreement, for FY 2004-05 and FY 2005-06 (through May 1, 2006), Shelter Network will provide one fee-for-service transitional bed and three dedicated transitional beds for mentally ill clients. Transitional program residents are placed for up to six months and have their own individual cubicles. Case management services are also provided which include an initial assessment of fiscal resources, job skills and opportunities, and referrals to other service providers as needed.

This component of the housing continuum allows a cost efficient alternative to using more costly emergency services (i.e. Psychiatric Emergency Services, inpatient administrative days, and Corrections). Placement in this and other Mental Health adult residential service facilities is managed within the budget for these services, which is $3,233,844 in the approved budget for FY 2004-05.

The term of the amended Agreement is unchanged, remaining May 23, 2003 through May 1, 2006. The Amendment to the Agreement has been reviewed and approved by Risk Management and County Counsel.

The performance objectives are as follows:

Performance Measure

2003-04 Objective

2003-04 Actuals

2004-05 Objective

Minimum percentage of clients who were moved or discharged from a Mental Health funded bed to a regular Maple street bed within 7 days of admission.

35%

79%

*n/a

Minimum percentage of clients who shall obtain stable (permanent or transitional) housing upon discharge.

**n/a

**n/a

50%

* Mental Health has revised its performance measures to establish like measures for similar services. This performance measure has been deleted from the Agreement.

** This is a new shelter performance measure for this provider for FY 2004-05.

Vision Alignment

This Amendment to the Agreement with Shelter Network keeps the commitment to Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All and goal number 8: Help vulnerable people-the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at risk youth, and others - achieve a better quality of life. The amended Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by providing transitional housing for this vulnerable population at risk of homelessness.

Fiscal Impact

The Agreement maximum is being increased by $61,380, from $96,570 to $157,950. This is the result of anticipated increase in services for FY 2004-05 by $32,850, from $32,850 to $65,700, and anticipated increase in services for FY 2005-06 by $28,530, from $27,270 to $55,800.

The amended Agreement maximum is $157,950. $65,700 has been included in the Mental Health adopted FY 2004-05 budget. Realignment will fund 100%. There is no net County cost.