ECHO HOUSING HBE CONTRACT AMENDMENT

BACKGROUND The City has operated a First Time Home Buyer Program for many years, with supporting program services provided until 2014 by the Tri-Valley Housing Opportunity Center (TVHOC). TVHOC closed in 2014, and at that time the Cities of Livermore, Dublin, and Pleasanton collaborated to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify agencies that could provide administration support and homebuyer counseling services for the City's Below Market Rate (BMR) Homeownership Programs and other First Time Homebuyer Programs. In 2014, ECHO Housing was selected as the most qualified provider of homebuyer education services as it is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency with experience providing first time homebuyer education workshops through grants received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As a result of the same RFP process, Hello Housing was selected as the firm most qualified to provide the BMR administration services. Pleasanton contracted with Hello Housing between January 2016 and April 2021, when the organization informed the City that it would no longer provide homebuyer program administration services. As a result, in March 2021, the City issued a new RFP for homebuyer program administration, from which BAAHA was selected. More information on ECHO Housing and BAAHA's scope of services are provided below, and a summary of their performance under the current agreements is provided in Attachment 3. DISCUSSION Both ECHO Housing and BAAHA are providing specialized and essential services in support of the City's homebuyer programs. Both agencies have a positive performance history in Pleasanton, having provided their services with success for a number of years. Moreover, with their experience and expertise, both agencies are considered sole source service providers which will be most successful in offering these services to Pleasanton residents without disruption or issues. ECHO Housing is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency that provides first time homebuyer education workshops through grants received from HUD. BAAHA, meanwhile, has been providing services to municipal governments, such as Pleasanton, to assist low- and moderate-income families in becoming homeowners. The proposed agreements establish services with ECHO Housing and BAAHA for one year, and allow for the agreements to be extended annually with City Manager approval through year five (maximum term through June 30, 2028) ECHO Housing - Proposed Agreement for Fiscal Year 2023/24 ECHO Housing has delivered homebuyer education services on behalf of the City since January 2016. Based on past years' performance, staff recommends that ECHO Housing's services continue for a period up to five years, and not to exceed $125,000 in total compensation. The proposed agreement will allow ECHO Housing to continue to provide pre- and post-purchase counseling services at the Housing Opportunity Center HOC) it established at 141 North Livermore Avenue (the former Tri-Valley Housing Opportunity Center in Livermore), through-a part-time dedicated homebuyer counselor Page of Docusign Envelope ID: F53F1E05-ADA3-465D-BE20-156E055217E3