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CC - Approval of a Software License Agreement with Aikido Labs for the Development of the Culver City Connect Application for the Development of a Homeless Management Information System, the Development of Data Governance Polices, User Licenses, and the Creation and Maintenance of Data Sharing Platform for First Responders and Case Managers in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $85,200.
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Meeting Date: December 13, 2021
Contact Person/Dept: Tevis Barnes - CDD/Housing
Christina Stoffers - CDD/Housing
Phone Number: (310) 253-5780
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas-City Council and Housing (12/07/2021); Akido Labs (11/22/2021); Westside Council of Governments (WSCOG) Homeless Working Group (11/17/2021); Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness (11/16/2021); Saint Joseph Center (11/30/2021); Upward Bound House (11/30/2021); Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (11/30/2021)
Department Approval: Sol Blumenfeld, Community Development Director (11/22/2021)
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RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council Ad Hoc Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee (Subcommittee) recommends the City Council approve a Software License Agreement in an amount not-to-exceed $85,200 with Akido Labs for the development of the Culver City Connect Application (App) for the development of a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), the development of data governance polices, user licenses, and the creation and maintenance of data sharing platform for first responders and case managers.
BACKGROUND
Addressing the needs of vulnerable people experiencing homelessness is paramount in Culver City. Culver City’s Point-In-Time (PIT) Homeless Count for January 2021 showed a 35% year-on-year increase in homelessness since January 2020. During the 2021 homeless census, City staff counted visible unsheltered individuals, cars, vans, RVs, tents, and makeshift structures. According to the 2021 PIT Homeless Count results, there were 291 people experiencing homelessness within the City, of which 247 were unsheltered (44 sheltered homeless at Upward Bound House the evening of the Count).
Persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness and living with severe mental illness, alcohol dependency, or substance abuse disorders are particularly at-risk of dying on the streets due to victimization of violence, exacerbation of chronic medical conditions, and repeat exposure to the elements. These residents are also high utilizers of emergency services including police, paramedic transports, homeless outreach, and hospital emergency room utilization.
Enhanced data tracking and homeless outreach activities among City staff and service providers is Goal #4 under the Plan to Prevent and Combat Homeless adopted by City Council on July 9, 2018. To help in effectuating this goal, on March 23, 2021, the Subcommittee received a presentation from Akido Labs (Akido) on Connect App and the establishment of a Culver City Connect to identify, track, and maintain a database of the unhoused community, and create a means for local first responder and case manager to interface. The Akido Connect is already utilized by the County of Los Angeles and the cities of Santa Monica and Long Beach.
DISCUSSION
The Culver City Connect App provides two-way communication between first responders and homeless case managers. This allows case managers to learn in near-real-time when their clients have interacted with emergency services to increase pre-discharge engagement. During this interim period, evidence suggests that vulnerable persons are more likely to accept offers for service over returning to the streets. The introduction of the Culver City Connect App will help to strengthen the infrastructure already in place. The infrastructure to address and prevent homelessness includes:
Homeless Outreach and Engagement - Homeless outreach, data collection, and connection to social services and housing through a partnership with Saint Joseph Center which includes expanded outreach on Monday - Fridays from 7:30AM -10PM and on Saturdays from 2PM to 10PM.
Development of a Mobile Crisis Intervention Program - A specially trained team comprised of social workers, medical technicians, and peer advocates, instead of law enforcement, to meet the community’s mental and behavioral health needs.
Westside Council of Government (WSCOG) Homeless Working Group - Culver City is an active participant in the WSCOG Homeless Working Group to play a larger role in developing regional strategies to address homelessness.
Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness (ACOHH) - The ACOHH meets monthly to advise Council and staff on the appropriate funding to implement solutions and identify short-, medium- and long-term strategies to end and prevent homelessness. (See Note 1. for more information on current homeless programming infrastructure).
Akido Labs
Created in 2015 from the University of Southern California (USC) Digital Health Lab, Akido is a care delivery platform headquartered in Los Angeles with the mission to ensure our most vulnerable communities thrive. Akido believes that deep collaboration with civic leaders coupled with modern data technologies can transform our basic human services infrastructure.
Scope of Work
Akido will be supporting Culver City staff in addressing problems related to homelessness by deploying and supporting the Akido Connect technology to provide first responders and case management staff with information that helps improve care of individuals experiencing homelessness. Akido will provide the following scope of work:
• Working with key stakeholders to identify technology specifications (data specifications, device specifications, and network specifications).
• Performing system integration with existing City systems to populate the mobile application with City data (as dictated by the data specifications and other City requirements).
• Performing technology deployment, training, and providing technical support (for IT stakeholders) as well as product support (for end users).
Implementation Timeline
Detailed below is the implementation timeline for the Culver City Connect App to go-live:
Phase 1: Discovery (February 7, 2022 - April 4, 2022)
• Identify technology specifications (data collection specifications, data sharing specifications, device specifications, and network specifications)
• Interview and conduct observations with key personnel including Mobile Crisis Response Team
Phase 2: Data Integration and Solution Configuration (March 7, 2022 - June 6, 2022)
• Identify data governance rules (user permissions, user types)
• Perform system integration with existing City systems to populate the Connect with City data (as identified during Discovery)
Phase 3: Go-Live (June 7, 2022)
• Train staff and key personnel on Connect
• Provide and maintain customer support
Competitive Bidding Requirements Do Not Apply/Software Exemption
Pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code Section 3.07.055.E, these software services are exempt from competitive bidding requirements.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The development of a HMIS was approved under the FY 2021-2022 Housing Division budget. There is sufficient funding to support this expenditure not-to-exceed $85,200, which will be appropriated from account 47650710.732160.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Akido Labs Proposal
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Approve a Software License Agreement in an amount not-to-exceed $85,200 with Akido Labs for the development of the Culver City Connect Application for the development of a Homeless Management Information System, the development of data governance polices, user licenses, and the creation and maintenance of data sharing platform for first responders and case managers; and
2. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.
NOTES
1. Culver City Housing Navigator - As of November 8, 2020, Culver City Housing has hired a Housing Navigator to establish working relationships with landlords, identify available and appropriate housing units for homeless clients, and act as liaison between both landlord and tenant. The Housing Navigator is currently working with five unhoused individuals who have received Culver City Section 8 turnover vouchers.
Culver City Homeless Incentive Program - The Culver City Housing Authority contracts with the Los Angeles County Development Authority to administer the Homeless Incentive Program, which provides financial assistance to persons at-risk of homelessness with grants for utility payments and rent arrears, as well for security deposit assistance.
Culver City Homeless Info Line - The City maintains a Homeless Info Line for community members to call and request outreach or services to the local homeless population. The City also maintains a Homeless Resource Guide that includes detailed information about services available in the area.
Culver City Affordable Housing Linkage Fee - Culver City Council passed of an Affordable Housing Linkage Fee. The Linkage Fee will charge $5 per square foot for developers of new real estate, specifically, new non-residential properties, to help support affordable housing in Culver City.
Motel Reuse Study - The City is currently exploring the purchase of two motels for conversion of two motels for a shelter or permanent supportive housing based upon a prior study and Council authorization.
Upward Bound House Contract - The City also funds Upward Bound House outreach activities and case management for homeless children and their families and homeless and housing insecure children and their families who attend Culver City Unified School District schools.
Culver City Rapid Rehousing Program - The City has implemented a rapid rehousing program in partnership with the County (County Homeless Initiative strategy C2). Through this program, the City provides five formerly homeless individuals and families with rental subsidies of up to 1,000 per month, per unit, for up to 12 months to move them out of homelessness as they locate permanent housing. This City’s contribution is combined with County funding and wraparound services.
Culver City Unified School District Needs Committee - The Homeless Coordinator attends monthly meetings with Culver City Unified School District to discuss Housing Program updates as it related to homelessness and to assist the district with any families who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless.