Administration seeks added consultant funding for homelessness technical assistance

Councilwoman Cabrera presented an ordinance on June 24 seeking council authorization to execute a first amendment to a professional services agreement with Mullen and Lonergan Associates. Tom Ford, Department of Real Estate and Housing (sitting in for Director Wheeler), said the amendment would increase compensation to the consultant to support newly funded homelessness programs and federal compliance work.

Ford explained the contract increases respond to two separate needs: a larger year‑two increase to support new programs funded after a CDBG substantial amendment and the reallocation of some public service dollars to Home ARP (the federal American Rescue Plan homelessness funding). "Specifically for year two, we're looking to increase the year two fee for service by $145,000. And we're looking to increase the fee for services in year three, year four and year five by an additional $70,000 each year," Ford said.

Ford described the consultant’s role as providing technical assistance for subrecipients (including Ministry of Caring, Catholic Charities, Lutheran Community Services and Family Promise), helping reconcile federal accounting with the city's Munis system, and reviewing federal compliance language in contracts with the Law Department. Committee members asked why fees rose and whether additional services or cost‑of‑living adjustments justified the change; Ford tied the increase primarily to expanded program responsibilities tied to Home ARP and federal reporting requirements.

The committee did not take a final vote and placed the ordinance on the July 2 full City Council agenda. Council members signaled they understood the need for technical assistance while noting that the increases affect public funds and warrant review at the council floor vote.