Title
Authorize CAO/IGLA staff to apply for the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP);
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Authorize CAO/IGLA staff to apply for the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The State of California, Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP) grant funding application is due February 15, 2020. Staff has prepared a draft budget based on County homeless priorities and seeks authorization to submit the application based on its recommendations. Staff requests the Health, Housing and Human Services Committee provide direction on County homeless priorities and needs to assist in finalization of the HHAP grant funding application.
Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP)
On December 6, 2019, the State of California, Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC) announced the availability of Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP) grant funding. HHAP is a $650 million block grant program designed to support regional coordination and expand and/or develop local capacity to address state-wide homelessness challenges. Spending must be informed by a best-practices framework focused on moving homeless individuals and families into permanent housing. HHAP is authorized by AB 101 (Committee on Budget, Chapter 159, Statutes of 2019), which was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on July 31, 2019.
AB 101 (Committee on Budget, Chapter 159, Statutes of 2019) authorized $650 million in one-time block grant funding for local jurisdictions; $190 million will be made available for Continuum of Care (CoC)s; $275 million will be made available for cities or cities that are also counties with populations greater than 300,000 (as of January 1, 2019), and $175 million will be made available for counties. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), designed the CoC program to promote communitywide commitment end homelessness, fund efforts by nonprofit providers and State and local governments to expeditiously rehouse the homeless.
Per HSC §50218(a)(1-4), final allocations were calculated based on the official 2019 HUD Point-In-Time (PIT) counts as of January 3, 2020. The County of Monterey is allocated $2,660,606.63. The Salinas/Monterey, San Benito Counties CoC was allocated $3,185,326.18.
Per HSC §50219(c), program allocations are eligible to be used to fund:
• Rental assistance and rapid rehousing;
• Operating subsidies in new and existing affordable or supportive housing units, emergency shelters, and navigation centers. Operating subsidies may include operating reserves;
• Incentives to landlords, including, but not limited to, security deposits and holding fees;
• Outreach and coordination, which may include access to job programs, to assist vulnerable populations in accessing permanent housing and to promote housing stability in supportive housing;
• Systems support for activities necessary to create regional partnerships and maintain a homeless services and housing delivery system, particularly for vulnerable populations such as families and homeless youth;
• Delivery of permanent housing and innovative housing solutions such as hotel and motel conversions;
• Prevention and shelter diversion to permanent housing; and
• New navigation centers and emergency shelters based on demonstrated need.
Additional provisions concerning HHAP fund spending include:
• Per HSC §50218(b), at least 8 percent of program allocations must be used for services that meet the specific needs of homeless youth populations;
• Per HSC §50219(d), up to 5 percent of allocations may be used for a strategic homelessness plan and/or for infrastructure development to support coordinated entry systems and Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS); and
• Per HSC §50219(e), up to 7 percent of allocations may be used for administrative costs incurred by the city, county, or CoC to administer its program allocation. This does not include staff costs or other costs directly related to implementing or carrying out activities funded by the program allocation.
Staff from the County Administrative Office (CAO), Department of Social Services (DSS), Resource Management Agency (RMA), Monterey County Health Department, and the Bureau of Behavioral Health, met on January 13, 2020 to discuss County priorities for the $2,660,606.63 HHAP allocation. Staff developed the following funding priorities based on an assessment of County goals and priorities to shelter unhoused homeless within the County and to find permanent housing opportunities for those living in shelters: administrative costs 7% ($186,242.46); homeless plan 5% (133,030.33); transitional age youth (TAY) programs 8% ($212,848.53); shelter at 855 E. Laurel 11% ($212,848.53); rental assistance 40% ($1,064,242.65); rapid rehousing 24% ($638,545.59); and landlord incentives 5% ($133,030.33). The attached HHAP Allocation table details these amounts.
Per HSC §50220(a), County obligation and expenditure deadlines require the full program allocation to be contractually obligated on or before May 31, 2023. Any funds not contractually obligated by this date will revert to the CoC that serves the County. By June 30, 2023, the County must provide HCFC with evidence that the funds were transferred and submit an updated budget that clearly identifies the transferred funds.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Administrative Office (CAO), Department of Social Services (DSS), Resource Management Agency (RMA), Monterey County Health Department, the Bureau of Behavioral Health, Natividad Medical Center, and the Sheriff’s Office.
FINANCING:
Receiving this report creates no fiscal impact on the General Fund or on revenues. However, staff costs from each department are included within each department’s budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The housing program priorities and objectives advance the Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives that promote the production of diverse, safe, healthy and affordable housing opportunities for all residents of Monterey County.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
X Economic Development
__Administration
X Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: _____________________________________________________________
Anastacia Wyatt, Housing Program Manager, Ext. 5387
Approved by: _____________________________________________________________
Nicholas E. Chiulos, Assistant County Administrative Officer, Ext. 5145
Attachments:
Board Report
HHAP Application Funding recommendation