In an effort to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 in the homeless population and protect our community’s most vulnerable populations following recommended guidelines from regional, state and federal officials, the City has come up with a plan to provide emergency shelter for high-risk homeless persons in Fairfield. The plan consists of providing emergency temporary shelter for 90 days to non-symptomatic homeless persons.

Jurisdictions throughout the state and particularly the Bay Area are taking a multifaceted approach to best serve the needs of their community and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Examples include securing available shelter beds, stationing mobile trailers, creating outdoor tent cities, and renting motel rooms to name a few.  Staff reviewed existing resources, shelters and service providers to determine what inventory and services are available throughout Fairfield to ensure any plan would follow CDC and Public Health guidelines as well as the ability to demonstrate extensive experience utilizing government funding. After review and consultation, staff is proposing entering into agreements with up to two identified experienced service providers that would provide a total of up to 80 sheltered beds for up to 90 days.  These agreements, in coordination with the City Manager’s Office and Police Department Homeless Intervention Team, will accomplish the following:

• Place homeless at risk for contracting, spreading, and/or succumbing to the COVID-19 virus in a shelter and removed from congested homeless encampment setting

• Provide bed, showers, hygiene, and meals, among other services

• Follow COVID-19 best practices protocol to prevent the potential spread of the virus
• Work directly with local healthcare providers, should someone show identified symptoms

• Coordinate with service providers to connect those exiting this program with support services

Proposed structure for implementation:

Utilizing a simple, yet required screening tool, the Police Department Homeless Intervention Team (HIT) will identify those homeless meeting the high-risk criteria.  Anyone meeting the criteria and are willing to go into temporary shelter will be brought to the identified location based on availability using the structure identified in Exhibit B attached.

Since it is unlawful to force someone into shelter, staff proposes following a multi-step approach on the chance the HIT Team is unable to identify all 80 high-risk homeless, and/or convince them to go into shelter for COVID-19. Should City Council approve this plan, staff will immediately contract with SHELTER Solano to secure the first 50 beds identified in Step 1. As/if the need arises, staff can then initiate Step 2 to ensure emergency beds are available. Staff will continue to negotiate with the service provider identified in Step 2 to best serve our high-risk homeless population. 

Initial up-front cost for Step 1 is $173,300. If all identified beds are needed (Step 2), the total cost for 90 days is not to exceed $325,000, to be paid from Fund 267, Responsibility Code 12175.

The City’s proposed Emergency Sheltering costs qualify under FEMA for reimbursement. In accordance with section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, eligible emergency protective measures taken to respond to the referenced Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) disaster, at the direction or guidance of state, local, tribal, and territorial public health officials, may be reimbursed under Category B of FEMA’s PA program if necessary to save lives, protect improved property, or public health and safety, and/or lessen or avert the threat of catastrophes. Staff recommendation is to allow these costs to be reimbursed through FEMA.

Dawn M. La Bar, Special Projects Manager

(707) 428-7749

dlabar@fairfield.ca.gov