HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12011987 - IO.1 TO, _Board of Supervisors /oFc
RRa": Internal Operations Committee and C1t(a
Finance Committee Costa
DATE: November 23 , 1987 C
SUBJECT: Community Services Department Shared Housing Program,
SPECIiIC REOUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE the attached report of the County Administrator regarding the Shared
Housing Program and AUTHORIZE the Community Services Department to begin
implementing the program.
BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:
on September 22, 1987 , the Board of Supervisors referred to our Committees
the proposal of the Community Services Department to establish a Shared
Housing Program for single parents. On October 20 , 1987 , the Board of
Supervisors approved the October 12, 1987 report of the Internal Operations
Committee which referred the proposed program to the County Administrator
for examination with regard to a number of issues and questions raised by
the Committee. Subsequently, the Board of Supervisors approved the report
of the Finance Committee which concurred with the referral of the Internal
Operations Committee questions to the County Administrator.
On November 9 , 1987 , our Committees met with the Community Services .
Department and the County Administrator to discuss the issues and questions
outlined in the October 12, 1987 Internal Operations Committee report.
Our Committees were satisfied with the information presented in the
November 5 , 1987 report of the County Administrator in response to the
Internal Operations Committee. Accordingly our Committees agreed to
recommend proceeding with the program subject to verifying the provision of
insurance as discussed in the County Administrator' s report and determining
the position of the Social Services Department regarding the Shared Housing
Program.
Since the November 9, 1987, joint meeting of our Committees, the County
Administrator' s Office has determined that its Risk Management Division and
the Community Services Department have agreed on the provision of insurance
coverage under the County self insurance program at a cost to the department
of $1000 per dwelling unit.
The Social Department has completed its review of the program and has now
taken a position of support.
C- OWL^
Supe N. C. Fanden qsup
Powers
Supervisor T. Torl_akson S roder
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ` YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
S I GNATURE IS 1:
ACTION OF' BOARD ON December 1, 1987 A?PROVED AS RECGMMENDED X OTHER X
A1so, .DIRECTED that Community Services Department provide quarterly reports to the
Board on the implementation of the Shared Housing Program.
a
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT '— ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES. AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT; ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
County Administrator
cc" Director, Comm. Svcs. Dept. ATTESTED
Social Services Director PHIL BATCHELOR. CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Health Services Director SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Exec. Dir. , Housing Authority
Chair, HSAC
M382/7-83 Chair, FACSAC BY _.DEPUTY
George Johnson, Staff HSAC
Internal Operations Committee and Finance Committee
rRCM: Phil Batchelor ClJl llra
County Administrator C sta
DATE: November 5, 1987 Co "1
J
SUBJECT: Community Services Department Shared Housing Program
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMP EN DATION:
APPROVE the report of the County Administrator regarding the Shared Housing
program for unwed mothers proposed by the Community Services Department and
RECOMMEND that the Board of Supervisors approve the program contingent upon
the resolution of the insurance issue discussed in this report.
BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECONIl&NDATIONS:
On October 20 , 1987 , the Board of Supervisors approved the October 12, 1987
report of the Internal Operations Committee which referred the proposed
program to the County Administrator for examination with regard to a number
of issues and questions raised by the Committee as discussed below:
A. What precisely is the program being proposed and how will it operate?
The ,program is designed for single women under the age of 30 with one
child under the age of 3 who are currently homeless or in danger of
becoming homeless. The purpose of the program is to provide enrollees
with the ability to attain long term economic self sufficiency and thus
avoid the likely alternative of life long poverty and welfare
dependency. The program involves the provision of shared housing units
for three to five enrollees per household. The shared housing units
will be used as the basis for residential educational programs. In
addition to providing education opportunities for the enrollees, the
program will provide enrollees with positive peer group influence,
enable AFDC recipients to manage their finances by sharing expenses,
provide training and other services to the enrollees and encourage
shared child care and other household chores.
While occupational training and education will be one of the major
objectives of the program, enrollees will also receive counseling and
training services in the areas of pregnancy avoidance, personal
appearance, self esteem, consumer awareness, financial management, home
safety, parenting and nutrition. Enrollees will be required to
negotiate individual development contracts which will include short and
long term goals, activities to reach goals, required behavior, periodic
review process, and recognition that the program is of a limited
duration. Enrollees will be required to devote at least 40 hours per
week to school and employment.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT? _ YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
S I GNATURE I S 1:
A ON OF BOARD ON A?PROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: PERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: ATTESTED
PHIL BATC R. CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS A OUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382/7-83 BY _ TY
Shared Housing Report
Nbvember- 5•,, 1987
Page Two
B. How will the program be financed and to what extent are the proposed
budget figures considered reasonable and realistic?
The program will be funded by a state grant from the Department of
Economic Opportunity in the amount of $49 ,782. 00 . The budget is
designed to fund two family development specialist positions to
supervise the program. The major operating cost of the program will be
the cost of obtaining the group homes which includes deposits for first
and last month rent payments and utility services. The program is
designed on a incremental or modular basis of up to seven shared homes.
The program will begin operation in a staged fashion by obtaining and
opening one or two homes at a time. Accordingly, if any unexpected
expenses arise, the budget can be adjusted to accommodate such expenses
by reducing the number of group homes to be operated. From that
standpoint it appears that the proposed budget is realistic for a
project of this type.
In addition to the state grant in the amount of $49,782 .00, the
community services department is anticipating an additional $49 ,149 . 00
in federal homeless funds which could be used to enrich or enlarge the
program.
C. What impact will the proposed program have on the other programs and
operations of the Community Services Department, particularly the
contracts with the delegate agencies.
The department has consulted with the delegate agencies regarding this
program. The impact on the delegate agencies will be as follows:
United Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations (UCSSO) : UCSSO has
agreed to provide staff support for one West County unit. This will
decrease the hours of the anticipated consolidated UCSSO and Southside
Community Center Richmond office. The operation of the other UCSSO
offices will not be affected.
Neighborhood House: Neighborhood House staff will not be expected to
run a shared housing unit but has agreed to help with career
development and educational planning for all enrollees.
Southside Community Center: Southside is already operating one
transition housing unit. It is anticipated that the agency will staff
one of the shared housing units.
Concerted Services: It is anticipated that Concerted Services will
staff one of the units.
Carquinez Coalition: It . appears that Carquinez Coalition will not be
directly affected by the program.
D. To what extent has the proposed program been discussed with the Social
Services Department, Health Services Department and Contra Costa
Housing Authority and to what extent do those departments concur with
the goals and specific plans proposed by the Community Services
Department?
As requested by the Internal Operations Committee, a meeting was
convened of the above departments on November 2, 1987 to discuss the
Shared Housing Program. With the exception of the Social Services
Department, all of the above departments have expressed support for the
program. Although the Social Services Department has not taken a
position on the program, it is preparing a response for submission to
the Internal Operations Committee and the Finance Committee.
E. What level of liability insurance is being required of those who will
operate the Shared Housing Program and to what extent will this program
expose the County to further liability?
Shared Housing Report
Npvemj�er . 5 , 1987
Page Three
The budget for the proposed program includes a minimal amount for
insurance on the assumption that the Shared Housing units would be
operated by the Community Services Department rather than delegate
agencies.
The County' s Risk Management Division has conducted a preliminary
assessment of the liability exposure of the proposed program and
estimated costs of providing insurance policies to cover that exposure.
Risk Management estimates that it would cost approximately $3 ,000 per
Shared Housing unit to provide the necessary insurance coverages. It
is evident that such costs could not be funded by the proposed budget
of the Shared Housing Program. Accordingly, the program would have to
be covered under the County self-insurance program with a contribution
to the self-insurance fund. Coverage of the program under the County
self-insurance program would require the implementation of certain
measures to minimize the risk of loss. As of this date, the Risk
Management division has not developed a cost figure for participation
in the self-insurance program. Therefore, if your Committees are
inclined to approve this program, it should be done subject to
arrangements for County self-insurance program coverage at a cost that
can be absorbed the Shared Housing Program budget.
F. To what extent has this proposed program been discussed with the Family
and Children' s Services Advisory Committee?
Attached to this report is a letter from Nola Ashford, Chairperson,
Family and Children' s Services Advisory Committee which supports the
program and recommends that the Community Services Department be
authorized to proceed with the program.
In addition to meeting with the various County departments involved in
programs that relate to the proposed Shared Housing Program, your
Committees requested that we convene a meeting with the delegate
agencies to receive input on the proposed program. The Community
Services Department has on several occasions met with the delegate
agencies individually to discuss the program. Additionally, last week
Ida Burke made telephone contact with each of the delegate agencies to
review the status of the proposed program.