The County of Yolo and the cities of Davis, West Sacramento, Winters and Woodland have a long history of collaborating on issues of homelessness. The County and cities have shared participation in the Homeless Coordination Project since February of 1988, and in recent years have jointly participated in a myriad of other projects intended to reduce homelessness in the local communities. In fiscal year 2018-19, the jurisdictions are working together on a range of funding applications, shared services and housing projects. Through this work, the jurisdictions have identified a need for expanded emergency shelter in the Yolo community, especially during the winter months.
According to the most recent Yolo County Homeless Count (conducted in January of 2017), there were approximately 459 people experiencing homelessness in Yolo County on the night of the count. Of these individuals, 54 percent (248 individuals) were living in emergency shelter or transitional housing. The remaining 46 percent (211 individuals) were living in unsheltered locations such as the outdoors, a vehicle or a building not meant for habitation.
People who live in unsheltered situations often have poorer health, less access to health care and an increased risk of premature mortality as compared with their sheltered counterparts. This risk increases during the winter months, when cold and wet weather may make outdoor conditions unlivable and exacerbate poor health conditions.
To address these concerns, the County and cities have been partnering with faith-based organizations throughout Yolo County to identify opportunities to expand emergency shelter options during the cold weather season. Stakeholders in each local community have worked collaboratively to develop proposed solutions, all of which are based on the concept of interfaith winter shelters housed at local congregations and operated with the support of local community volunteers. While all similar in concept, the proposed projects in each community are structured differently depending on the identified local needs and resources available. A summary of each project is provided below.
Davis Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter (D-IRWS)
- Dates of Operation: December 2, 2018 – March 17, 2019 (7 nights per week)
- Scope of Services: D-IRWS is an established cold weather shelter that has been operating since 2007. D-IRWS operates a network of 25-40 beds per night, which rotates between participating congregations in the Davis community. Intake occurs at a designated off-site location, and transportation is provided to the shelter site by volunteers. The facility is staffed by an overnight paid staff as well as trained community volunteers. The proposed funding provided by the City and County will expand the existing program in partnership with CommuniCare Health Centers, to provide a nurse practitioner and medical assistant on site two nights per week.
- Estimated Budget: $14,000 (cost share of 50/50 between City of Davis and County of Yolo)
- Partners: City of Davis, CommuniCare Health Centers, County of Yolo and Davis Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter
West Sacramento Winter Warming Center (WS-WWC)
- Dates of Operation: November 26, 2018 – March 15, 2019 (5 nights per week)
- Scope of Services: The proposed pilot project will operate a network of up to 20-bed rotating winter warming centers, which will be available 5 nights per week at participating church facilities. Intake will occur at designated off-site locations. The centers will serve a maximum of 20 adults per night, and will be staffed by 1 or 2 paid overnight staff as well as trained community volunteers. Transportation of guests to and from the facility will be provided by Shores of Hope.
- Estimated Budget: $40,000 (cost share of 50/50 between City of West Sacramento and County of Yolo)
- Partners: City of West Sacramento, County of Yolo and Mercy Coalition of West Sacramento
Woodland Interfaith Winter Shelter (W-IRS)
- Dates of Operation: January 1, 2019 – February 28, 2019 (7 nights per week)
- Scope of Services: The proposed project will operate a 20-bed interfaith winter shelter. Intake will occur at the Fourth and Hope shelter, where guests will be checked in and offered hot dinner before transferring to the alternate shelter location. This interfaith shelter operates as an expansion of the existing Fourth and Hope shelter, with families and single women being served at the interfaith shelter, and single men remaining at the Fourth and Hope shelter. The interfaith shelter is staffed by a paid overnight staff person as well as trained community volunteers.
- Budget: $28,000 (County of Yolo to pay $14,000 for overnight staff costs, and City of Woodland to provide an equal share of funding for a paid project coordinator, supplies and in-kind staff support)
- Partners: City of Woodland, County of Yolo and Woodland congregations
At this time, staff recommends that the Board authorize the Procurement Manager to execute up to three agreements for interfaith winter shelter and warming centers in a not-to exceed amount of $20,000 per agreement. While the costs of each project are currently projected at amounts that range from $10,000 to $20,000 depending on the jurisdiction, staff is still negotiating with project partners regarding the scope of work and budget for each project. This action would allow staff the flexibility needed to finalize negotiations and promptly execute these agreements before the proposed project start dates.
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