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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 154-2023, for submission to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), which is required to apply for the 2023 Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program Balance of State Allocation;
2) Delegate authority to HHSA to submit an application on behalf of the County in the estimated amount of $400,000, with a required one-to-one match in the estimated amount of $400,000, to be met through existing grant funding received by HHSA Housing and Homelessness Services, for the ESG Balance of State Allocation of federal funding administered by HCD;
3) If awarded, delegate authority to the HHSA Director, or HHSA Chief Assistant Director, to accept the ESG Balance of State Allocation funding, in the estimated amount of $400,000 with a required match that will be met through existing grant funding, and execute any grant agreement, with a term to be determined, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval; and
4) Authorize the HHSA Director, or HHSA Chief Assistant Director, to execute further documents related to said award, including any extension(s) or amendment(s) thereto, which do not increase the Net County Cost of the Agreement.
FUNDING: 100% Federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), administered by HCD, with a required one-to-one cash match to be met by Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funding.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On July 28, 2023, HCD’s Division of Federal Financial Assistance released the 2023 ESG Program Balance of State Allocation Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). The NOFA announced the availability of approximately $5 million in new federal funds pursuant to Subtitle B of Title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, to be allocated to eligible Continuum of Care (CoC) Service Areas.
The ESG program provides funding for the following objectives: Engaging individuals and families experiencing homelessness; Improving the quality of Emergency Shelters for individuals and families experiencing homelessness by helping to operate these shelters, and by providing essential services to shelter residents; Rapidly re-housing individuals and families experiencing homelessness; and Preventing families/individuals from becoming homeless.
The funds are distributed in two separate funding pools: the CoC allocation and the Balance of State allocation. Funding in the Balance of State allocation is made available based on recommendations from a CoC in two ways:
1. Through regional competitions within three geographic regions (Northern Region, Bay Area Region, Central and Imperial Valley Region) pursuant to the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 25 CCR Section 8404 (a) (3); and
2. Through a non-competitive process for Rapid Re-Housing activities.
HHSA, as an entity in the Central and Imperial Valley Region, intends to only apply through the regional competition in the estimated amount of $400,000 to support the temporary Emergency Shelter operations agreement with Volunteers of America Northern California Northern Nevada (6722). The Balance of State funding requires a one-to-one match from a non-ESG source, estimated to be $400,000, for a total budget of $800,000. HHSA has identified the source match for ESG Balance of State to be met with HHAP funds currently awarded to HHSA, obligated to fund operating subsidies in new and existing affordable or supporting housing units, emergency shelters, and navigation centers. HHSA does not intend to apply through the non-competitive process for Rapid Re-Housing activities.
Per the ESG Balance of State NOFA, the application must include a completed Authorizing Resolution (AR) approved by the applicant’s governing board and on the required HCD template. The AR designates a person (or persons) responsible for, and authorized to execute, all documents related to the application for ESG funds and submittal of funds requests.
ESG Balance of State applications for the regional competition are due to the applicant’s local CoC, which in the County is El Dorado Opportunity Knocks (EDOK), for local review and rank competition. HHSA submitted their completed application to EDOK by September 22, 2023, as required. Subsequently, local CoCs will evaluate all received ESG Balance of State applications and will recommend Homelessness Service Provider applicants for award to HCD. These award recommendations are due to HCD by October 16, 2023.
Lastly, the AR template required by HCD states that the “Applicant is an approved Applicant by their Continuum of Care under the Balance of State Allocation and is hereby authorized and directed to receive an ESG grant, in an amount not to exceed $400,000 in accordance with all applicable rules and laws.” The Continuum of Care will be considering Review and Rank and finalization of recommendations at its October 06, 2023, Board meeting. Considering the Board of Supervisors’ meeting schedule and HCD’s ESG submission deadline of October 16, 2023, HHSA requests the Board approve the AR at the October 10, 2023, meeting of the Board of Supervisors.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve these recommendations, the County will fail to complete all requirements necessary to apply for the 2023 ESG Balance of State funding opportunity and will forfeit an opportunity to be awarded additional funding for the temporary Emergency Shelter operations.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 08/24/21, 21-1254, HHSA Award of RFQ No. 21-952-038 for Operations and Case Management of Interim Site
2) 06/28/22, 22-1080, HHSA #6277 Volunteers of America NC
3) 07/13/21, 21-1000, HHSA - HHAP Grant Round 2 Funding Acceptance
4) 11/16/21, 21-1720, HHSA HHAP Round 3 Resolution, Funding Acceptance and Budget Transfer Request
5) 11/15/22, 22-1921, HHSA HHAP Round 4 Funding
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agenda item. The required match in the estimated amount of $400,000 will be met with existing HHAP funding received by HHSA. If awarded, this grant funding will be included in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget and in subsequent budget requests.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on Board of Supervisors Resolution and contact hhsa-grants@edcgov.us for pick up.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Health and Human Services Agency