REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director Planning and Development Department PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director Planning and Development BY: KAREN JENKS, Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization Manager Housing and Community Development Division SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to homeless services agreements provided under the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program: 1. Approve an Agreement with Elevate Community Services to operate the Ambassador Inn as a low-barrier emergency homeless shelter in the total amount of $829,988.50. 2. Approve an Agreement with Elevate Community Services to operate the Villa Motel as a low-barrier emergency homeless shelter in the total amount of $879,428.00 ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council approve the HHAP agreements with Elevate Community Services (Elevate) and authorize the City Manager to sign all implementing agreements. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Fresno (City) entered into Emergency Solutions Grant-Coronavirus (ESG-CV) agreements with Elevate to operate low-barrier emergency homeless shelters at the Ambassador Inn and Villa Motel through March 31, 2022. In order to continue the homeless shelter operations being provided under these agreements, staff recommends utilizing HHAP funds to enter new agreements with Elevate for shelter operations beginning April 1, 2022, through August 31, 2022. BACKGROUND On January 13, 2022, City Council approved ESG-CV agreements with Elevate to operate Ambassador Inn and Villa Motel as temporary low-barrier emergency homeless shelters through March 31, 2022, in an amount of $1.25 million. The two locations provide the City an additional 107 rooms needed to provide shelter and related services including, but not limited to, site security services, food and beverage services, and homeless counseling services. The City Council previously authorized the acquisition of the Ambassador Inn and Villa Motel using American Rescue Plan Act funds to use as temporary, low-barrier emergency homeless shelters. In order to ensure shelter operations are not interrupted once the City takes title to these properties, staff recommends using available HHAP funds to enter into Agreements with Elevate to continue operations of the two motels as temporary, low-barrier emergency homeless shelters for the period April 1, 2022, to August 31, 2022. The City Manager has authorized and approved staff's determination that Elevate is uniquely qualified to operate the Ambassador Inn and Villa Motel triage centers/emergency shelter based upon the organization's mission, facilities, capacity, readiness, and track-record in addressing both homelessness and the unique challenges of homelessness in a COVID-19 environment. Staff plans to bring forward future amendments to extend the term of shelter operations and increase the funding amount once it receives the state funding under HHAP 3. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS This item is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference is not applicable because of the use of state funds. FISCAL IMPACT The agreements will be funded through the City's HHAP allocations. Attachments: 1. Agreement with Elevate Community Services - Ambassador Inn 2. Agreement with Elevate Community Services - Villa Motel