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Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents, and any subsequent amendments, between the City of Long Beach and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to accept American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding in the amount of $3,874,939 for the Healthy Homes Initiative ($874,992) and the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program ($2,999,947) for a period of three years from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2012; and increase appropriations in the Health Fund (SR 130) and in the Department of Health and Human Services (HE) by their respective amounts for a total of $3,874,939. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded funding to the Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) for the Healthy Homes and Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Programs as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which became effective on February 17, 2009. The awards total $3,874,939 in grant funds, and will contribute to controlling or removing health hazards from homes in the City. Due to the timely application by the Health Department for these funds, the City received two out of only eight awards that were given in the State of California. These funds will assist in retaining existing Health Department staff, create four new temporary jobs at the Health Department, as well as support private remediation contractors who will likely retain or generate new jobs in Long Beach.
The Healthy Homes Initiative (HHI) will provide home environment assessments and housing-based hazard remediation for families of children with asthma to reduce or eliminate asthma and allergy triggers. Community education efforts will also increase knowledge and awareness of asthma and allergy triggers in the home environment, and empower residents to reduce or eliminate these triggers. HHI program services will be targeted in zip codes 90813 and 90805, although referrals into the program will be accepted citywide. Funding for the HHI Initiative is $874,992 for a period of three years.
The Lead-Based Hazard Control Program (LBP) will provide lead-based paint hazard control services to 300 units of pre-1978 constructed affordable housing in zip codes 90802,90804,90805,90806,90810, and 90813. These areas were approved by HUD for this program as they contain a disproportionately high percentage of children with elevated blood-lead levels, an aging housing stock, and a high percentage of lowincome families.
Program services will include health education, outreach, training in lead-safe work practices to increase employability of local area unemployed and/or low-income individuals, and relocation services to affected residents. Additionally, the Health Department will provide these services to families regardless of their location within the city of Long Beach when a child is reported to the Health Department to have an elevated blood-lead level. Funding for the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program is $2,999,947 for a period of three years. It is anticipated that this funding will create multiple other jobs in the community as a part of lead abatement subcontracts.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Trang on March 27, 2009 and by Budget and Performance Management Bureau Manager David Wodynski on April 6, 2009.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this item is requested on April 21, 2009 as funding for this program became available as of April 1, 2009. As these are ARRA stimulus dollars, rapid implementation is required to maximize the impact locally.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive grant revenues of $3,874,939 to offset expenditures of the same amount. This funding covers all direct and indirect costs associated with this grant. An appropriations increase is requested in the Health Fund (SR 130) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HE) in the amount of $874,992 for the Healthy Homes Initiative and in the amount of $2,999,947 for the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program and is included as part of the recommendation. There is no impact to the General Fund.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
RON R. ARIAS
DIRECTOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
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APPROVED: |
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PATRICK H. WEST |
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CITY MANAGER |