DEPARTMENT: Social Services
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Contract With 360 Communities For Dakota County Housing Clinic Housing Support Workers
end
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, Dakota County Social Services staff, Dakota County Courts and partners have collaborated to create an eviction court clinic called the Dakota County Housing Clinic (DCHC); and
WHEREAS, the DCHC is a voluntary program that offers support, including legal assistance, financial assistance, and access to housing support services, to tenants at the first appearance for eviction cases; and
WHEREAS, housing support workers are present at court hearings scheduled three days per week; and
WHEREAS, these positions work with the courts, do pre-court outreach to tenants, connect tenants to resources and services, provide support for applications for federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA), Emergency Assistance and Emergency General Assistance funds, and assist with communication and coordination between tenants, landlords and courts; and
WHEREAS, on August 1, 2021, Dakota County entered into a contract with 360 Communities to begin this work for $99,000 for the period of August 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution 21-415 (August 24, 2021), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized an amendment to add an additional $56,000 for additional services in the same contract period, for a total not to exceed contract amount of $155,000 effective upon execution which was fully funded with Emergency Rental Assistance funds for Housing Stability Services, including court coordination services; and
WHEREAS, with the passage of the Eviction Moratorium Off-Ramp legislation, the DCHC planning committee anticipated a high volume of evictions to be filed and a high volume of cases to flow through eviction court; and
WHEREAS, to accommodate this work, Social Services proposed to add three additional Housing Support Worker positions to DCHC via a contract with 360 Communities; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution 22-295 (July 19, 2022), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized an amendment to add an additional $82,835 to the contract for a total of $237,835 and extend the term to December 31, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the additional time has allowed this team to continue serving clients in eviction court and the additional funds will allow this team to expand by one full-time Housing Support Worker; and
WHEREAS, to support continued Housing Clinic activities, staff proposes a new contract with 360 Communities for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, for a total not to exceed amount of $359,276.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute a contract with 360 Communities for housing clinic housing support workers funded by the Emergency Rental Assistance funds for Housing Stability Services for a total not to exceed contract amount of $359,000, for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, 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 contract, within the amount budgeted, to alter the number and types of clients served, types of services provided, service expectations and rates, and the contract term, consistent with County contracting policies, subject to the approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the contract shall contain a provision that allows the County to immediately terminate the contract 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.
end