TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and all necessary documents, subcontracts, and any subsequent amendments, with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, to receive and expend $1,335,000 for the Unsheltered Homeless Services Enhancement Program, for an estimated period of November 1, 2022 through October 31, 2025, with the option to renew for an additional three-year period, at the discretion of the City Manager; and
Increase appropriations in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department by $1,335,000, offset by grant revenues. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Since 1990, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation (Foundation) has worked with community advocates, nonprofits, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California, other foundations, and the private sector to identify solutions to chronic homelessness in Los Angeles.
The Foundation’s focus is to prioritize populations at the greatest risk of long-term homelessness, emphasize permanent housing and services, make systems and services people-centered and share best practices and lessons learned with other cities. Their approach works to reduce inequity, making both short-term and permanent housing easy to access, affordable and built for individuals’ specific needs as they experience homelessness.
On August 22, 2022, the City of Long Beach (City) was notified that the Foundation was awarding the City $1,335,000, under application # 28815. The Health and Human Services Department (Health Department) will utilize the grant funds to provide therapy and counseling to people on the streets, with the goal of improving mental health and substance use resources and services connections. Additionally, the funding will also provide moving assistance for people experiencing homelessness and to procure a vehicle for the program.
The Foundation’s grant will augment the Health Department’s Encampment Resolution Funding, a State program established to assist local jurisdictions in ensuring wellness and safety of people experiencing homelessness in encampments, support innovative and replicable efforts to resolve critical encampment concerns, support individuals to access safe and stable housing using Housing First Approaches, and encourage a data-informed, coordinated approach to address unsheltered homelessness at encampments.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani on September 14, 2022 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on September 21, 2022.
EQUITY STATEMENT
The City has incorporated the Equity Toolkit and strategies outlined in the Everyone Home Long Beach plan into this recommendation as requested by the City Council. This recommendation will assist people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach by providing critical resources and services to continue efforts to end and prevent homelessness in the Long Beach community.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on October 11, 2022, to commence the program as soon as possible and spend down the funds before the deadline set forth by the funder.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive funding in an amount not to exceed $1,335,000 for an estimated three-year period of November 1, 2022 through October 31, 2025. An appropriation increase of $1,335,000 is requested in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department, offset by grant revenue. Funding will support programs with clear pathways to connect people to resources, including mental health and substance use resources as well as permanent housing options, and administrative costs. No match or in-kind service mandate is required. Any indirect costs that might not ultimately be eligible for grant funds will be funded by the Health Operating Fund, General Fund, or other eligible grant funds. This recommendation has minimal staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. Grant revenues will offset the cost of two additional full-time employees required to meet the scope of the services outlined in the grant. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER