TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Kelly Olivera. - Assistant City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cauley, MPA, Economic and Community Development Director
Albert A. Baker, Assistant Economic and Community Development Director
DATE: May 6, 2024
RE:
Title
Day Resource Center Operator Selection
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
District 2
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
GOAL II: The City of Fayetteville will have a Responsive City Government supporting a diverse and viable economy.
• Objective 2.2: To invest in community places to ensure revitalization and increase quality of life
Goal IV: Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
• Objective 4.6: To reduce poverty and homelessness.
Executive Summary:
The Day Resource Center (DRC) is a multi-disciplinary service center for people at risk or currently experiencing homelessness. The DRC is located at 128 South King Street and opened in August 2023. Cumberland HealthNET (CHN), the current operator, notified the City of its intention not to renew the lease and agreement as operator on January 31, 2024. In response, the City issued a Request for Proposals in March 2024. Four responses were received, and Manna Dream Center is recommended by the DRC Committee and staff to move forward. The City Council is asked to provide consensus directing staff to enter into a one-year contract with Manna Dream Center to operate the Fayetteville DRC.
Background:
In September of 2017 the State awarded Cumberland County with disaster recovery funds. Subsequently, the City took on responsibility for the DRC with Council action on October 28, 2019, where the City executed a Sub-recipient agreement with the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) for the construction of a DRC. The City invested approximately $6.99M in the construction of the facility and at least $300,000 annually for the operation and maintenance. In September of 2022, the City Council provided consensus for CHN to operate the DRC. Upon CHN’s notification of nonrenewal, the City issued a request for proposals (RFP) from March 6 to March 27, 2024. Four applications were received in response to the RFP. Those applications were from Manna Dream Center, Marius Maximus Foundation, ServiceSource, and United Ministries in Christ with EB LYFE Community Services.
A DRC Committee was formed to assist in reviewing proposals on the requirements highlighted in the RFP that required plans that promotes community partnerships, responsible building management, improving promotion and marketing, soliciting volunteers and donations, along with a plan for community feedback and council updates. The committee consisted of seven members, which included a person with lived experience, the Chair of the Continuum of Care, a Fayetteville Redevelopment Commissioner, a community advocate, the head of Off-Road Outreach, the President of the Arts Council, and the Assistant Economic and Community Development Director. The DRC Committee compiled scores for the submitted RFPs as follows:
• Manna Dream Center 78
• Marius Maximus Foundation 44
• ServiceSource 85
• United Ministries and EB LYFE 55
After scoring, the DRC Committee interviewed the two final applicants on April 18, 2024. Afterwards, consensus from the DRC Committee was reached to recommend the Manna Dream Center to the City Council as the operating partner.
Issues/Analysis:
In a comparison of the top two finalists, Manna Dream Center and ServiceSource, the DRC Committee highlighted the following:
|
Manna Dream Center |
ServiceSource |
|
In-kind leadership and oversight |
In-kind leadership and oversight |
|
3 City Funded FTE |
4 City Funded FTE |
|
Proposal within Budget |
Proposal Over Budget ($170k) |
|
Leveraging $47,000 and 600 volunteers |
Leveraging $230,962 in existing services |
|
30 years of experience (nationwide) |
25 years of experience (nationwide) |
|
Provides shelter, food, meals, showers, and financial assistance to homeless |
Provides job placement and case management to homeless |
Budget Impact:
Manna Dream Center submitted a budget within the parameters of the proposal with the current funding level of $300,000 annually. Manna Dream Center proposal also leveraged the proposal with $47,000 with an in-kind contribution. This in-kind contribution included administration oversight ($20,000), food ($12,000), temporary financial benevolence assistance ($10,000), and janitorial services ($5,000). The proposed plan continues the City funding three staff members, security, janitorial services, and utilities for a Monday - Friday 8 to 5 operation. Like all proposals submitted, Manna Dream Center required additional funding to expand the hours of operation and scope of services through partnerships.
Options:
1. Provide consensus directing staff to enter into a one-year contract with Manna Dream Center to operate the Fayetteville DRC.
2. Do not provide consensus directing staff to enter into a one-year contract with Manna Dream Center to operate the Fayetteville DRC.
3. Direct staff to some other action.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends the City Council provide asked to provide consensus directing staff to enter into a one-year contract with Manna Dream Center to operate the Fayetteville DRC.
Attachments:
Presentation - Day Resource Center Operator Selection