Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency to receive the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 2 allocation of $1,207,830 of one-time flexible block grant funds to build on the regional coordination created to support local jurisdictions in their unified regional responses to reduce and end homelessness for the period upon execution by the State through June 30, 2026; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign amendments to this agreement as long as they do not significantly change the scope of work or responsibilities.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency to receive the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 2 allocation of $1,207,830 of one-time flexible block grant funds to build on the regional coordination created to support local jurisdictions in their unified regional responses to reduce and end homelessness for the period upon execution by the State through June 30, 2026; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign amendments to this agreement as long as they do not significantly change the scope of work or responsibilities.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On November 13, 2020, the State of California, Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC) announced the availability of a second round of Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP-2) grant funding. This second round of funding was authorized by AB 83 (Committee on Budget, Chapter 15, Statutes of 2020) and signed into law by the Governor. On January 12, 2021, the Board of Supervisors authorized the Department of Social Services to submit the HHAP-2 application.
Per HSC §50218(a)(1-4), final allocations were calculated based on the official 2019 Housing and Urban Development Point-In-Time (PIT) counts as of January 3, 2020. The County of Monterey is allocated $1,207,830 (Attachment A). The Salinas/Monterey, San Benito Counties Continuum of Care (CoC) was allocated $1,507,181.
The general purpose of the Program is to continue to build on the regional coordination developed through previous HCFC grant funding to support local jurisdictions in their unified regional response to reduce and end homelessness. The program provisions for the eligible use of the funding is listed in Attachment B. Staff from the County Department of Social Services (DSS), Housing and Community Development (HCD), and the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers (CHSP) met to discuss community priorities for the HHAP-2 allocation. Staff developed the following funding priorities based on an assessment of goals and priorities to support the operations of the new homeless navigation center the Salinas Housing Advancement, Resources and Education (SHARE) Center:
1. SHARE Center ($1,012,890.40)
• Operations ($205,734.24) - Operational costs for the new navigational center.
• Service Coordination ($137,156.16) - This may include access to workforce, education, and training programs, or other services needed to promote stability in permanent housing.
• Rapid Rehousing ($670,000) - This includes rental subsidies and incentives to landlords, such as security deposits and holding fees.
2. Homeless planning ($23,764.80) - Funding will be leveraged with other program funding towards a strategic homelessness plan and/or infrastructure development to support coordinated entry systems and Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS).
3. Transitional age youth (TAY) programs ($96,626.40) - Funding requires a minimum of 8% toward youth programs. The County will collaborate with CHSP to develop and implement a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness through rapid rehousing.
4. Administrative costs ($74,548.40) - For the Department of Social Services to administer the program.
Attachment C, Expenditure Plan details these amounts by Program categories
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Department of Social Services (DSS), Housing and Community Development (HCD), and the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers have collaborated in this effort. County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
On June 7, 2021, DSS was awarded $1,207,830 of HHAP, Round 2 State Funding by the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency for a term from the execution date of the agreement through June 30, 2026. Funding will be disbursed upon the execution of the Agreement. There are sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for SOC004 included in the FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget. The grant balance remaining will be appropriated in future county budgets, per Attachment C, Expenditure Plan.
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, 2026, 100 percent of HHAP-2 funds must be fully expended.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This agreement correlates to the Health & Human Services Strategic Initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors by working collaboratively to address and develop a plan for ending homelessness.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__Economic Development
__Administration
X Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Lauren Suwansupa, CAM, x8492
Approved by: Lori A. Medina, Director, x4430
Attachments: HHAP-2 Standard Agreement
Attachment A, Award Letter
Attachment B, Program Provisions
Attachment C, Expenditure Plan
Proposed Agreement is on file with the Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report