Title
Resolution Approving a Contract with the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County for the 2020 - 2021 Winter Emergency Shelter and Warming Center ($72,000.00)
Memorandum
Attached for your consideration is a request to approve a contract for the expenditure of $72,000.00 for winter emergency shelter and warming center response cycle for 2020 - 2021. This funding would in effect pay for a portion of the warming center costs for this winter.
The 2020-2021 Winter warming shelter planning and budget continue to shift, as pandemic response is factored in. As reported previously, the Delonis Center capacity has been reduced from approximately 145 to 70 to allow for physical distancing. Rotating congregations are being engaged for a longer period (one month as opposed to one week) but have a nightly capacity of about 25 individuals. Additional funding has been provided through CHRT and Emergency Solutions Grant funding to cover costs hotel rooms for Shelter clients who are medically fragile. Work continues on a daytime and overnight congregate shelter with adequate social distancing for overflow for the coldest nights of the year.
Costs for winter warming shelter may increase due to the need for an additional location for staffing.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: City Council approved the $72,000.00 in its FY21 General Fund budget
Staff
Prepared by: Teresa Gillotti, Director, Office of Community & Economic Development
Reviewed by: Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, 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 and 2019-2020 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 of recommendations for the 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 Winter housing and homelessness response cycles;
Whereas, Washtenaw County has budgeted $83,540 for the 2020-2021 emergency shelter and warming center response cycle;
Whereas, City Council approved $72,000.00 in its FY 2021 budget for the 2020-2021 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, although that might fluctuate due to changes needed to provide safe and physically distance space due to the pandemic; and
Whereas, The total costs to operate the Warming Center for the 2020-2021 emergency shelter and warming center response cycle are estimated at $350,000-400,000, which is an increase due to the pandemic.;
RESOLVED, That City Council approves the contract with the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County for the expenditure of $72,000.00 to assist the with the 2021-2022 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.