Agenda Date: 12/17/2024
Subject:
Title
Resolution 128-2024: Approving an amended Intergovernmental Agreement between the Cities of Englewood, Littleton, Sheridan, and the County of Arapahoe, Colorado, for the continuation of a Tri-Cities Homelessness Coordinator position and related Tri-Cities Homelessness Action Plan projects
Body
From:
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager
Prepared by:
Lucy M. Lucero, Executive Assistant
Presentations:
Mike Gent, Deputy City Manager
PURPOSE:
To approve an amended intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Cities of Englewood and Sheridan, and Arapahoe County to continue the Tri-Cities Homelessness Coordinator position and related Tri-Cities Homelessness Action Plan projects.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
A safe community and providing high quality governance.
DISCUSSION:
In 2021, Councils from the Cities of Englewood, Littleton, and Sheridan adopted the Tri-Cities Homelessness Action Plan. The document included recommendations and action steps with projects organized into four themes:
1. Governance
2. Single Adult System
3. Workforce Development; and
4. Family System
Intended as a three-year implementation plan, the Action Plan is set to expire on December 31, 2024. As part of the governance theme, the hiring of a Tri-Cities Homelessness Coordinator ("Coordinator") assisted the cities by providing project capacity, liaising with the County and other governmental and external entities, troubleshooting and coordinating the completion of projects, and tracking data towards performance metrics. Of the 30 action steps included in the original plan, 17 have been completed and most of the others are in progress.
Under the terms of the IGA, Arapahoe County will provide the Coordinator with:
* General oversight
* Employment
* Materials and workspace, including a computer, County email address, and cell phone
* Funding for projects will be reviewed and approved by the Board of County Commissioners
The Cities agree to provide funding for the Coordinator position and projects and ensure that the Action Plan is up to date through the Coordinator's period of employment. Reporting will include:
* Tri-Cities - On a monthly basis, the Coordinator will file a short report and present it to the monthly meeting of the Tri-Cities Homelessness Policy Committee.
* Program Administration - On a monthly basis, the Coordinator will meet with the Tri-Cities designated management to discuss progress and plans.
* Reporting - The Coordinator will, on a quarterly basis, update performance data towards metrics in the Action Plan on the Tri-Cities website.
* Councils and Board of County Commissioners - On an annual basis, the Coordinator will file a report and present it to scheduled meetings of each of the three City Councils as well as the Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners; and
* Annual Report - On an annual basis, the Coordinator will develop an annual report which will contain details on the status of each project and data towards each metric.
The work of the Coordinator will focus on coordinating and overseeing the implementation of projects included in the Tri-Cities Action Plan. While the final version of the Action Plan extension will go before the three Councils in early 2025 for approval, the draft plan includes six projects which require funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The City Council heard a presentation on the action plan extension at a joining meeting with the partner City Councils on November 21st.
The period of the IGA will be three (3) years beginning on January 1, 2025, and ending on December 31, 2027. The IGA can be renewed for additional one-year periods by written agreement of the parties after the initial term expires.
BACKGROUND:
Action Plan Overview
For the last three and a half years, the Cities of Englewood, Littleton, and Sheridan have collaborated on issues related to regional homelessness through the Tri-Cities Homelessness Policy Committee. In the summer of 2020, Tri-Cities contracted with the University of Denver (DU) to conduct studies to better understand the root causes of chronic (individual) and family homelessness in the region. After reviewing these studies, the City Councils of Englewood, Littleton, and Sheridan met on January 28, 2021 and gave support to contracting with a consultant to develop a Tri-Cities Homelessness Action Plan. Finalized in the summer of 2021 and adopted by all three City Councils, the Action Plan includes several projects and initiatives organized around four themes.
* Governance
* Single Adult System
* Family System; and
* Workforce Development
Accomplishments to Date
Since the establishment of the Action Plan in 2021, the Coordinator worked to manage or assist in the completion of 17 of the 30 action steps included in the Action Plan, as well as to begin working on most of the remaining 13 projects. Major projects in the Action Plan completed over the course of the last three years include:
* Building a strong governance structure through the implementation of the Coordinator role, a lived experience advisory board, and increasing staff capacity to address challenges (Governance).
* Formalized a data-driven approach through the increased use of the homelessness management information system (HMIS); increased referrals to the OneHome Coordinated Entry system and developed a system of tracking and reporting on plan implementation and outcome achievement (Governance).
* Created a community education and engagement strategy including the launch of a centralized Tri-Cities webpage and welcome home community engagement program (Governance).
* Streamlined access to homeless services for single adults within the region through the establishment of a navigation center (Single Adult System).
* Provided street-based services including the launch of a coordinated outreach team and continued support of local meal and food distribution programs (Single Adult System).
* Created partnerships with existing workforce programs including Bridge House and CrossPurpose (Workforce Development).
* Streamlined access to homelessness services and prevention for families through engaging local school districts as partners (Family System).
Benefits of a Coordinator
* Capacity for the three cities to work on homelessness-related projects, as all three cities lack staff positions dedicated to homelessness coordination.
* Efficient and effective tracking of all projects and data towards all performance metrics in the Action Plan.
* Troubleshooting challenges with program and project implementation.
* Understanding the needs of nonprofit organizations and identifying how they can best partner with the cities.
* Serving as a liaison with Arapahoe County, the State of Colorado, and other external agencies to ensure that the cities are up to date on trends and funding opportunities.
While the Coordinator, not the Tri-Cities Policy Committee, provide direct services, the Coordinator plays a key role in connecting nonprofit service providers, understanding their needs, and working to build partnerships between nonprofit service providers and municipal governments.
Prior Actions or Discussions
* July 6, 2021 - Study session discussion on the draft Tri-Cities Homeless Action Plan
* September 21, 2021 - Approval of Tri-Cities Homeless Action Plan
* March 1, 2022 - Approval of the IGA for Provision of Homelessness Coordinator Services
* March 7, 2023 - Approval of amended IGA for Tri-Cities Homeless Action Plan
FISCAL IMPACTS:
If approved, the IGA will continue the Coordinator position, with funding approval each year through the end of 2027. In addition to funding for this position at a cost of $120,000 per year (including benefits and related costs), the IGA includes $185,000 in funding to complete projects in the Action Plan. The total cost, including an additional $62,500 from the City of Littleton, is $487,000 with the City of Littleton paying $275,000, the City of Englewood paying $170,000 and the City of Sheridan paying $42,500.
Year #1
Year #2 (if approved)
Funder
City of Littleton - 50%
$60,000
$60,000
$92,500
$275,000 *
City of Englewood - 40%
$48,000
$48,000
$74,000
$170,000
City of Sheridan - 10%
$12,000
$12,000
$18,500
$42,500
Total
$120,000
$120,000
$185,000
$487,500
*The City of Littleton agreed to pay an additional $65,000 towards the completion of the IGA.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the attached amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Cities of Englewood, Littleton, and Sheridan, and Arapahoe County to continue the Tri-Cities Homelessness Coordinator position and related Tri-Cities Homelessness Action Plan project.
ALTERNATIVES:
Approval of the IGA provides the ability and resources to progress additional components of the Action Plan. Delay in approval to develop a Tri-Cities Coordinator may pose a challenge to future collaboration with this group.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Resolution 128-2024 approving an amended Intergovernmental Agreement between the Cities of Englewood, Littleton, Sheridan, and the County of Arapahoe, Colorado, for the continuation of a Tri-Cities Homelessness Coordinator position and related Tri-Cities Homelessness Action Plan projects.