DEPARTMENT: Social Services-Housing & Community Resources
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Contract Amendments With Residential Transitions, Inc And DARTS For Apartment Services
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize execution of contract amendments with Residential Transitions, Inc (RTI) and DARTS for apartment services.
SUMMARY
The Apartment Services program is a homelessness and eviction prevention program in Social Services paid for by Local Affordable Housing Aid funds. The Apartment Services program offers flexible on-site services to residents at apartment buildings throughout Dakota County, including four general population buildings and 15 Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) senior buildings (9 receiving on-site support weekly, bi-weekly or monthly and 6 with phone support). Buildings were selected using a vulnerability scoring tool that includes emergency services calls, evictions, social services referrals, poverty census tract and access to basic services (food, transportation). Buildings also need to accept rental assistance vouchers. Social Services contacted buildings owners and property managers that received a high vulnerability score to introduce the Apartment Services program and interested property owners responded with letters of interest.
Services for chosen buildings are provided by RTI and DARTS, as selected through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process in 2023. RTI and DARTS help tenants problem solve issues that may impact their housing stability, including dispute resolution, navigation of financial assistance, crisis mediation, budgeting, connection to long-term housing assistance resources, and referrals to the Dakota County service teams (Prevention, Adult Mental Health, Crisis Stabilization, Employment and Economic Assistance, waiver-funded services, etc.). Due to this program, there has been a decreased call for emergency services, decreased tenant and community impact, increased housing stability and increased access to short- and long-term services.
By Resolution No. 24-471 (September 24, 2024), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized the Community Services Director to execute contracts with DARTS for a not to exceed amount of $171,629 and RTI for a not to exceed amount of $250,620 to provide apartments services for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
The Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved Local Affordable Housing Aid funding to expand these services in 2025. This will support one additional general population building and will expand services to provide on-site support to all 15 senior buildings (Attachment: Apartment Services Partner Buildings).
OUTCOMES
How much? Services available to 1,341 Dakota County residents
How well? Tenants linked to services and benefits to maintain housing stability
Is Anyone Better off? Households maintain housing stability at a higher rate than previous years
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends Board authorization to execute contract amendments with RTI and DARTS for apartments services with the amounts and terms listed in the Resolution.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
These contracts are funded utilizing Local Affordable Housing Aid funds and is included in the 2025 Social Services Budget.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the Apartment Services program is a homelessness and eviction prevention program in Social Services paid for by Local Affordable Housing Aid funds; and
WHEREAS, the Apartment Services program offers flexible on-site services to residents at apartment buildings throughout Dakota County, including four general population buildings and 15 Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) senior buildings (9 receiving on-site support weekly, bi-weekly or monthly and 6 with phone support); and
WHEREAS, buildings were selected using a vulnerability scoring tool that includes emergency services calls, evictions, social services referrals, poverty census tract and access to basic services (food, transportation); and
WHEREAS, buildings also need to accept rental assistance vouchers; and
WHEREAS, Social Services contacted building owners and property managers that received a high vulnerability score to introduce the Apartment Services program and interested property owners responded with letters of interest; and
WHEREAS, services for chosen buildings are provided by Residential Transitions, Inc (RTI) and DARTS, as selected through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process in 2023; and
WHEREAS, RTI and DARTS help tenants problem solve issues that may impact their housing stability, including dispute resolution, navigation of financial assistance, crisis mediation, budgeting, connection to long-term housing assistance resources, and referrals to the Dakota County service teams (Prevention, Adult Mental Health, Crisis Stabilization, Employment and Economic Assistance, waiver-funded services, etc.); and
WHEREAS, due to this program, there has been a decreased call for emergency services, decreased tenant and community impact, increased housing stability and increased access to short- and long-term services; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 24-471 (September 24, 2024), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized the Community Services Director to execute contracts with DARTS for a not to exceed amount of $171,629 and RTI for a not to exceed amount of $250,620 to provide apartments services for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved Local Affordable Housing Aid funding to expand these services in 2025 and this will support one additional general population building and will expand services to provide on-site support to all 15 senior buildings.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute a contract amendment with Residential Transitions, Inc to add $62,000.10 to the current not to exceed contract amount of $250,617.90 for a new not to exceed amount of $312,618 for the term of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute a contract amendment with DARTS to add $40,753 to the current not to exceed amount of $171,629 for a new not to exceed amount of $212,382 for the term of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Community Services Director is hereby authorized to amend said contracts, consistent with the amount budgeted, to alter the contracts amount and the contracts term up to one year after initial expiration date, consistent with County contracting policies, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the contracts shall contain a provision that allows the County to immediately terminate the contracts in the event sufficient funds from county, state, or federal sources are not appropriated at a level sufficient to allow payment of the amounts due.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
24-471; 9/24/24
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Apartment Services Partner Buildings
BOARD GOALS
☒ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Emily Schug
Author: Madeline Kastler