Title
Adopt a Resolution to:
Approve and authorize the Director or Assistant Director of Social Services to sign and submit an application, sign and execute the state funding agreement for a term ending June 30, 2028 for an estimated amount of $2,555,065 and any future amendments with the California Interagency Council for Homelessness, Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round Five (HHAP-5), and sign and execute an Memorandum of Understanding with the regional partners, San Benito County and the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers for a term of March 27, 2024 through June 30, 2028.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt a Resolution to:
a. Approve and authorize the Director or Assistant Director of Social Services to sign and submit an application for $2,555,065 for funding from the California Interagency Council on Homelessness, Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round Five (HHAP-5);
b. Approve and authorize the Director or Assistant Director of Social Services to execute the state funding agreement, with the California Interagency Council for HHAP-5 for a term ending June 30, 2028, for an amount estimated at $2,555,065;
c. Approve and authorize the Director or Assistant Director of Social Services to sign all future HHAP-5 funding amendments on behalf of the County for continued funding from the California Interagency Council for a term ending June 30, 2028; and
d. Approve and authorize the Director or Assistant Director of Social Services to sign an execute an Memorandum of Understanding with San Benito County and the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers on the partners’ key action plans/timeframes included in the regional grant submission.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On September 29, 2023, the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) in partnership with the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced the availability of a fifth round of Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Program funding. Round One of funding was $650 million authorized by Assembly Bill (AB) 101 in 2019, Round Two of funding was $300 million authorized by AB 83 in 2020, and Round Three of funding was $1 billion authorized by AB 140 in 2021, and Round Four of funding was $1 billion authorized by AB 140 in 2021.
HHAP Round 5 is a $1 billion block grant program authorized by AB 129 of 2023 and approved by Governor Gavin Newsom on July 10, 2023. The application makes available $760 million of the $1 billion appropriated to eligible Cities, Counties, and Continuums of Care (CoCs) as the HHAP-5 base allocations and $9.5 million for planning allocations. The local Round 5 allocations announced are as follows with the Round 4 allocation provided for comparison:
The general purpose of the HHAP-5 program is to continue to build on the regional coordination developed through previous Cal ICH (previously known as HCFC) grant funding to support local jurisdictions in their unified regional response to reduce and end homelessness and ensure the long-term sustainability of housing and supportive services, by strategically pairing these funds with other local, state, and federal resources to effectively reduce and ultimately end homelessness. The eligible uses for HHAP-5 remain largely unchanged from previous rounds, however the HHAP-5 statutes reorganize the eligible uses into three main buckets: 1) costs that support permanent housing; 2) costs that support interim housing; 3) costs that support service provision and system support. This change represents a strategic alignment aimed at amplifying the focus on regional coordination, permanent housing, sustainability, and person-centered services. The overarching objective of HHAP funds remains - to effectively address and end people’s experiences of homelessness.
To be considered eligible for HHAP-5 base allocations, eligible applicants must apply as part of a region and must be signatory to a Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan (Action Plan) which must be approved by the Council. The County of Monterey is required to partner with the CoC operator and the County of San Benito for this program. Representatives for the County from Department of Social Services and CAO Homeless Services Office have engaged in collaborations with representatives from the County of San Benito and the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers to prepare our Action Plan, application, and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as required for this application.
The Action Plan follows the required template embedded within the HHAP-5 application and includes the mandatory system performance measures identified by the state. The application organizes each entity’s responsibilities and timeframes for implementing key actions and the MOU commits all partners in the region to participate and comply with the Action Plan.
Approval of the recommended actions allows the Director or the Assistant Director of Social Services to apply for the HHAP, Round 5 allocation and execute all documents (MOU, application, standard funding agreements, amendments, etc.) required for the award. The other Partners will be going to their Boards, therefore all Parties will be signing tandem due to the application deadline.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Department of Social Services, CAO Homeless Services Office, San Benito County Health and Human Services Agency, and the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers as the Continuum of Care operator have collaborated in this effort. County Counsel will review and approve the standard state funding agreement, as well as any future amendments, as to form before the Department signs and returns the agreement to the California Interagency Council.
FINANCING:
The Department is recommending the submission of the HHAP, round 5 application based upon the attached Funding Plan (Attachment A).
If awarded, 50 percent of the award will be disbursed initially plus a proportion of the Supplemental Allocation and 1 percent of the Planning Allocation. The remainder disbursement will be issued after obligating 75 percent of the initial program obligation and 50 percent of the base allocation by June 30, 2026 dependent upon sufficient spend down and performance. There is an administrative cap of seven (7) percent and ten (10) percent of the funds must be set aside for services for homeless youth populations. Funds must be fully expended by June 30, 2028.
The Department is recommending submission of the full application based on the attached Funding Plan in the amount of $2,555,065. Sufficient appropriations and revenues will be incorporated within the Social Services Community Program 001-5010-SOC004 FY 2024-25 Requested Budget. There is no change to the existing General Fund Contributions in this budget unit.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This application correlates to the Health & Human Services Strategic Initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors by working collaboratively to develop and address a plan for ending homelessness.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
X Health & Human Services
__ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Lauren Suwansupa, Community Affiliation Manager, x8492
Approved by: Lori A. Medina, Director, x4430
Attachments:
Attachment A, Funding Plan
Resolution
Memorandum of Understanding