Title
Resolution Approving a Contract with the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County for the 2024-2025 Winter Emergency Shelter and Warming Center ($222,000.00)
Memorandum
Attached for your consideration is a request to approve a contract for the expenditure of $222,000.00 for winter emergency shelter and warming center response cycle for 2024-2025. This funding would in effect pay for a portion of the warming center costs for this winter.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: The funds for this contract have been budgeted in the FY25 General Fund Community Development budget.
Staff
Prepared by: Toni Kayumi, Director, Office of Community & Economic Development
Reviewed By: Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The 2013-14 winter season was particularly brutal for Washtenaw County residents - and no more so for those most vulnerable residents struggling with homelessness;
Whereas, The local sheltering system was stretched beyond capacity to accommodate the overwhelming demand for safe, warm space during the near-constant emergency weather conditions;
Whereas, The Office of Community & Economic Development - on behalf of the City of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and the local Continuum of Care Board - and the Washtenaw Housing Alliance convened a Winter Emergency Shelter/Warming Center Response work group in the fall of 2014;
Whereas, The workgroup proceeded to review the scope of the problem, surface and evaluate a set of possible solutions, and explore a variety of community partnerships and funding sources;
Whereas, The effort resulted in an improved, better planned, and efficiently coordinated action in the 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024 emergency shelter and warming center response cycle;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County each committed up to half of the total cost recommendations for the 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023 - 2024 Winter housing and homelessness response cycles;
Whereas, Washtenaw County has budgeted $1,332,590.00 for the 2024-2025 emergency shelter and warming center response cycle;
Whereas, City Council approved $222,000.00 in its FY 2025 budget for the 2024-2025 emergency shelter and warming center response cycle;
Whereas, The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County will provide in-kind support which in regular years has been estimated at $112,960.00; and
Whereas, The total costs to operate the Warming Center for the 2024 - 2025 emergency shelter and warming center response cycle costs remain higher than normal due to the ongoing pandemic;
RESOLVED, That City Council approves the contract with the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County for the expenditure of $222,000.00 to assist with the 2024 - 2025 emergency shelter and warming center response cycle;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute the contract after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take all necessary actions to implement this resolution.