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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), in collaboration with the El Dorado Opportunity Knocks (EDOK) Continuum of Care (CoC), recommending the Board:
1) Make findings pursuant to Section 3.13.030 (B) of the El Dorado County Ordinance Chapter 3.13, Contracting Out, that the provision of Rapid Rehousing and Operating Subsidies in affordable housing units through Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH), require specialty skills and qualifications not expressly identified in County classifications are involved in the performance of the work;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign, competitively procured by the EDOK COC, Funding Out Agreement 9234 with TCH for Rapid Rehousing services, in the amount of $63,788.92, and for a term upon execution through March 31, 2027, and with the option to extend the term of the Agreement for three additional one-year terms through March 31, 2030, for a maximum five-year term, subject to EDOK CoC Board and HHSA Director approval;
3) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign, competitively procured by the EDOK COC, Funding Out Agreement 9239 with TCH to rehabilitate affordable housing units, in the amount of $113,442.75, and for the term upon execution through April 30, 2027, and with the option to extend the term of the Agreement for three additional one-year terms through April 30, 2030, for a maximum five-year term, subject to the EDOK CoC Board and HHSA Director approval;
4) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute amendments relating to Agreements 9234 and 9239, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the agreements; and
5) Authorize the HHSA Director, or the Chief Assistant Director, to execute programmatic, administrative, and fiscal documents relating to Agreements 9234 and 9239.
FUNDING: 100% State Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 1 and Round 4 grant funding.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The HHAP Program, administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), is a block grant awarded to counties, cities and CoCs to build regional coordination focused on moving homeless individuals and families into permanent housing. HHAP funds must be expended on the expansion or development of a region’s local capacity to address immediate homelessness challenges.
On February 11, 2020, the Board designated HHSA to serve as the Administrative Entity (AE) for the EDOK CoC for the HHAP Round 1 (HHAP-1) grant program (Legistar file 20-0161). On November 15, 2022, the Board designated HHSA to serve as the AE for the EDOK CoC for the HHAP Round 4 (HHAP-4) grant Program (Legistar file 22-1921). As the EDOK CoC AE, HHSA coordinates the disbursement and expenditure of EDOC CoC’s HHAP-1 and HHAP-4 funding allocations awarded from HCD to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address homelessness in El Dorado County.
EDOK CoC has received HHAP-1 grant funds that must be expended by June 30, 2025, and HHAP-4 grant funds that must be expended by May 31, 2025. To meet these expenditure deadlines, EDOK CoC determined it was necessary to subaward their HHAP-1 and HHAP-4 allocations via a competitive solicitation to local housing and homelessness service providers, in accordance with HHAP eligible uses.
On October 4, 2024, the EDOK CoC Board approved a recommendation from the EDOK CoC Finance Committee to request Letters of Interest (LOI) from parties interested in providing project proposals for the use of HHAP-1 and HHAP-4 funds. LOIs were received by October 21, 2024, and reviewed by the committee. On November 1, 2024, the EDOK CoC Board voted to award $113,442.75 in HHAP-1 funds to TCH for Operating Subsidies in affordable or supportive housing units, emergency shelters, and navigation centers. With this funding, TCH will upgrade around 20 heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units at their three Permanent Housing with Services properties located in South Lake Tahoe. Such upgrades will allow TCH to stay in compliance with local building codes and ordinances and improve energy efficiency.
Subsequently, the EDOK CoC Board voted to award HHAP-4 funds to TCH for the provision of a Rapid Rehousing (RRH) Program. RRH is a tenant-based, time-limited, permanent housing program that includes wrap-around services, typically for short- to medium-term housing, with the goal of helping individuals become self-sufficient enough to maintain housing without long-term subsidies. On November 1, 2024, the EDOK CoC Board awarded RRH funding to TCH in the amount of $63,788.92.
HHSA, as the AE for EDOK CoC’s HHAP-1/HHAP-4 allocations, recommends the Board approve these Funding Out Agreements to enable EDOK COC to meet the HHAP-1 and HHAP-4 expenditure deadlines, and to allow EDOK CoC to provide CoC Program services to individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness in El Dorado County.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve this recommendation, EDOK CoC would not be able to expend their HHAP-1/HHAP-4 funding allocations prior to the expenditure deadlines. Any HHAP funds not expended by the deadline will revert to State General Fund (Health & Safety Code, 50220 [e]). Additionally, TCH, the grantee designated as recipient of this funding, would not be able to operate their programs and would therefore remove these valuable services from the community.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 02/11/20, 20-0161, HHSA HHAP Application and Resolution
2) 11/15/22, 22-1921, HHSA HHAP Round 4 Funding
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel, Human Resources, and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no General Fund Cost associated with this agenda item. Sufficient appropriations were included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Budget and FY 2025-26 Budget request, and will be included in future budgets for the term of the Agreements.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on one original Funding Agreement 9234.
2) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on one original Funding Agreement 9239.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Area of Focus: Safe and Healthy Communities
Priority: Develop a continuum of support and housing opportunities for unhoused individuals
Action Item: Continue Engagement with County departments, the homeless community, and countywide partners to develop effective strategies including for example, transitional housing.
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency