Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of Amendment No. 9 to the interlocal agreement with Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center d/b/a Integral Care for the homeless outreach street team, to increase funding for the final renewal option in the amount of $37,885, effective October 1, 2023, for a total agreement amount not to exceed $3,709,342.
De
Lead Department
Downtown Austin Community Court.
Fiscal Note
Funding for this amendment in the amount of $37,885 is available in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Operating Budget for Downtown Austin Community Court.
Prior Council Action:
• On May 18, 2017, Council approved agenda item 20170518-016 approving negotiation and execution of a 12-month interlocal agreement with Integral Care.
• On October 5, 2017, Council approved agenda item 20171005-008 adding renewal options and funding to the interlocal agreement.
• On August 30, 2018, Council approved agenda item 20170830-010 adding funds to the interlocal agreement.
• On August 8, 2019, Council approved agenda item 20190808-020 adding funds to the interlocal agreement.
• On October 1, 2020, Council approved agenda item 20201001-09 adding funds to the interlocal agreement.
• On May 20, 2021, Council approved agenda item 20210520-007 adding funds and extension options to the interlocal agreement.
• On August 12, 2021, Council approved Ordinance 20210811-001 adopting the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 City Budget, which included additional funding for the interlocal agreement.
• On September 30, 2021, Council approved agenda item 20210930-019 adding funds to the interlocal agreement.
• On August 16, 2023, Council approved Ordinance No. 20230816-008 adopting the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Operating Budget.
For More Information:
Robert Kingham, Court Administrator, Downtown Austin Community Court (512) 974-1394.
Additional Backup Information:
The Homelessness Outreach Street Team (HOST) is a partnership between the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC), Austin Police Department (APD), Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Integral Care (IC). Together these organizations are proactively reaching out to individuals and families living on the streets to help them connect to the services they need to successfully transition from homelessness to housing.
Integral Care (IC) provides five full-time employees to the HOST team: one Program Lead, three Qualified Mental Health Professionals, and one Peer Support Specialist. IC also provides access to one relief Advance Practice Psychiatric Clinical Nurse.
HOST is one piece of the larger effort to move individuals from homelessness to improved well-being and housing stability. The purpose and goals of HOST is to identify individuals who are experiencing homelessness, learn what challenges they face and work to connect them to services such as medical and behavioral health care, case management, and housing.
Approval of this item would authorize the addition of $37,885 for increased costs associated with personnel and programmatic expenses. Funds for staff and programmatic expenses have been at the same level since October 2020, and this increase will help ensure that HOST can continue to operate at the current service level.
Amendment #8 exercised the sixth 12-month renewal option beginning October 1, 2022, for $399,354.
Amendment #7 authorized the addition of $289,625 in one-time funding to enhance services for those engaged by EMS and expand HOST’s capacity for the total people that can be served.
Amendment #6 authorized negotiation and execution of an amendment to the interlocal agreement for two actions. First, to add $600,000 additional funding beginning June 1, 2021, to increase staffing in support of intensive outreach and engagement to the individuals living in the encampments targeted through the Housing-focused Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) initiative. Second, to add three renewal options beginning October 1, 2021, to ensure continuation of services at the same level as the previous year, as well as necessary costs associated with direct assistance to clients and programmatic expenses.
Amendment #5 exercised the fourth 12-month renewal option beginning October 1, 2020, for $399,354, which included $137,000 additional funding to ensure continuation of services at the same level as the previous year, as well as necessary costs associated with direct assistance to clients and programmatic expenses.
Amendment #4 exercised the third 12-month renewal option beginning October 1, 2019, for $262,354, which included $20,000 additional funding for expenses related to an increase to a staffing licensure and client transportation costs.
Amendment #3 exercised the second 12-month renewal option beginning October 1, 2018, for $242,354.
Amendment #2 added funding for a Peer Support Specialist through the end of all remaining renewal options for $195,000.
Amendment #1 exercised the first 12-month renewal option beginning October 1, 2017, for $242,354.
The original 12-month agreement was approved by Council for $242,354 beginning October 1, 2016.
Outcomes expected from HOST include reduced EMS transports, emergency room visits, and jail bookings, generating significant savings for the community. IC will work on increasing connection to case management, social services, medical care, behavioral health services, and housing, which will help individuals improve their well-being and work toward reaching their full potential.