TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to submit a grant application, through the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the 2016 Continuum of Care for Homeless Assistance Program, and execute all necessary documents, subgrants and any amendments changing the amount of the award or extending the grant term upon receipt of HUD funding. The grant award amount will be between $6.5 million and $8.5 million for the period of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach has applied for Continuum of Care (CoC) funding since 1995 to address homelessness. With the goal of assisting homeless individuals and families to leave the streets and achieve self-sufficiency to the maximum extent possible, the system consists of the following components: 1) street outreach and engagement, 2) coordinated entry with supportive services, 3) rapid rehousing, and 4) permanent housing retention.
The CoC strategy must align with the City’s Consolidated Plan and Housing Element components in relation to housing and services for special needs populations. Examples of leveraged community resources include, but are not limited to: Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME, Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), Public Housing, Mental Health Services Act, Veterans funding and other State, city, county, private, and foundation funds. The local CoC system, combined with all of its nonprofit partner agencies, leverages almost $20 million in funds to promote a seamless service delivery model that has been recognized both regionally and nationally.
On June 9, 2015, the City Council approved the Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) to be the lead recipient agency for the 2015 CoC Homeless Assistance Program. In 2015, the Health Department was subsequently granted $6,965,080 to fund 19 renewal projects and 3 new projects...
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