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 2013 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 $5.5 million and $8 million, for a period of one to five years. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The City has applied for Continuum of Care (CoC) funding since 1995 to address homelessness. The objective of this program is to aid individuals and families with children to end homelessness through permanent housing. The CoC's goal is to assist homeless individuals and families to leave the streets, become stable, and achieve self-sufficiency to the maximum extent possible. The CoC system consists of the following components: 1) prevention 2) outreach and assessment, 3) emergency shelter, 4) supportive services, 5) transitional housing, and 6) permanent housing with and without supportive services.
As a part of the CoC, the jurisdiction must demonstrate how all available funds and programs are used to leverage CoC funds. 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 and other state, city, county, private, and foundation funds. The local Continuum of Care system, combined with all of its nonprofit partner agencies, leverages almost $20 million in funds from these other sources to promote a seamless, effective service delivery model that has been recognized both regionally and nationally.
On August 14, 2012, the City Council approved the Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) to be the lead recipient agency for the 2012 CoC Homeless Assistance Program. The Health Department was subsequently granted $6,955,801 to fund 28 renewal programs. Attachment 1 is a listing of agencies that are eligible to apply for annual renewal in the 2013 process as part of the City's funding application.
HUD required the Health Department to submit the 2012 CoC application with a 2.5 percent reduction proposal of currently operating projects. Subsequently, HUD awarded a renewal of full funding. Based upon Congressional action related to the Federal Sequestration, HUD anticipates the 2013 CoC application will require a submission that includes additional reduction proposals of renewal project funding.
The City's Homeless Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) oversees the grant renewal/ allocation process, in collaboration with the CoC Steering Committee, comprised of diverse community stakeholders. The Health Department will again be the lead recipient agency for 2013 and is recommending that the sub-recipient agencies chosen through the 2012 Request for Proposal (RFP) process remain eligible for the 2013 application submission to HUD. Upon award notification from HUD, the Health Department will monitor the performance of all program sub-recipients to ensure compliance with Federal and local grant requirements and ensure local objectives are also met. The City's Housing Authority will administer the CoC Program Rental Assistance projects, formerly referred to as Shelter Plus Care.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Vu on July 5, 2013 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on July 12, 2013.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on August 13, 2013 to allow the Health Department to begin the process of responding to the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the 2013 Continuum of Care Competitive Process.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Health Department portion of the grant is expected to be approximately $920,157 with a cash match requirement of $230,039, which the City fulfills through the operation of the Multi-Service Center. Funding will be made available through HUD and an appropriation will be requested in the Health Fund (SR 130) and in the Department of Health and Human Services (HE), as needed. Currently, eleven City employees facilitate the operations of the Multi-Service Center and seven City employees provide grant management and oversight services. Sub-recipient contracts with 12 non-profit agencies support more than 100 other jobs in Long Beach.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Paula Barrow, Chair
Homeless Services Advisory Committee
By:
SUSAN PRICE,
ACTING DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER