Title
Authorization to Enter into Contracts to Provide Refugee, Asylee and Immigrant Services (Ordinance S-48205)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into agreements with the International Rescue Committee, Inc. (IRC) and the Haitian American Center for Social Economic Development - Arizona (HACSED) to provide refugee, asylee and immigrant services to Phoenix residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The total for each agreement is $1.5 million, with an aggregate amount of $3 million. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item for the life of the contract.
Report
Summary
The IRC is a recognized leader and provider of refugee, asylee and immigrant programming and services within the Phoenix community. Funding of up to $1.5 million provided to the IRC will assist to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by maintaining critical humanitarian aid through IRC’s Phoenix Welcome Center, and by increasing access to English as Second Language (ESL) classes, citizenship education and food assistance programs for eligible residents. Funding of up to $1.5 million provided to HACSED will support the establishment of infrastructure in the form of a Welcome Center that will eliminate barriers, raise the level of comfort, and facilitate a more humane operation for refugees, asylees and immigrants seeking assistance within the City of Phoenix. Direct services include ESL classes, employment services and short-term transitional housing for eligible residents.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and increased number of newly arriving immigrants and refugees to Phoenix, the need for these services has increased substantially.
Contract Term
The term for each agreement will be one year from or about Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022, with two one-year options to extend through Dec. 31, 2024, to be exercised at the discretion of the City Manager or his designee.
Financial Impact
Aggregate expenditures will not exceed $3 million over the life of the agreements. Funding breakdown for each contract is as follows:
IRC: $1.5 million
HACSED: $1.5 million
There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding is available through the City’s allocation of the federal American Rescue Plan Act funding and is under the City’s Financial Assistance for Phoenix Refugee and Asylee Community category of the strategic plan.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Human Services Department.