Title
LEASE AGREEMENT FOR COMCARE'S HOMELESS PROGRAM.
Presented by: Marilyn Cook, LSCSW, Executive Director, COMCARE.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the lease agreement and authorize the Chairman to sign.
Body
Background: In an effort to facilitate a collaborative approach to resources and referrals for homeless citizens of Sedgwick County, COMCARE has committed to co-locate the Center City Homeless Program with United Methodist Open Door (UMOD) in a building that UMOD recently purchased and renovated at 402 East Second Street. Having a one-stop resource center to serve various needs of the homeless population has been a major goal for the community and this program. This goal was identified by the Taskforce to End Chronic Homelessness (TECH) Committee in 2006 as one of the five recommended strategies to help end chronic homelessness.
COMCARE’s Homeless Program - also known as Center City, serves individuals who have a serious mental illness and who live in places not considered adequate shelter, such as cars, abandoned buildings, and emergency shelters. As a program component of Community Support Services, Center City provides comprehensive mental health services, including psychiatric care, individual and group psychotherapy, mental illness/chemical addiction counseling, employment support, peer support and intensive case management. The objective of the program staff is to stabilize consumers’ mental health status and daily living needs with an emphasis on housing and employment.
COMCARE’s Center City Homeless Program currently operates at 154 North Topeka, on a month-to-month lease. The new location for this program consists of approximately 7500 square feet of office and therapy space located in the second story of the building at 402 East Second Street. In addition, staff will have access to common use areas, such as a staff break room, elevator, entrances, stairways and a staff parking area. As the building was recently remodeled, it has been modified to provide for an efficient usage of space and all ADA considerations have been met by the landlord.
The initial term of the lease is for five (5) years, beginning February 1, 2012. The lease also contains five (5) successive, one-year automatic renewal terms that can be exercised. The lease cost for this location is $7,000.00 per month. Yearly square foot cost for this space is $11.23 per square foot. Additionally, the program is responsible for property taxes on the leased portion of the building and employee parking area and 20.7% of the buildings utility costs for electric and gas service.
Alternatives: The BoCC could choose to not approve the lease for this new location, in which case COMCARE would need to secure another location for the Center City Homeless Program.
Financial Considerations:
310496-12 - Center City Administration I
Monthly Lease Rate= $7,000.00
Legal Considerations: The authority for this action is K.S.A. 19-101. A simple majority vote is required.
Policy Considerations: All Sedgwick County policies have been followed in the development of this lease agreement.
Outside Attendees:
Multimedia Presentation: none