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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 004-2023 authorizing the County to accept the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Transitional Housing Program (THP) Round 4 Allocation Award in an estimated amount not to exceed $405,164, and the Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP) Round 1 Allocation Award in an estimated amount not to exceed $109,764;
2) Approve and authorize the HHSA Director, or the Assistant Director of Human Services, to act on behalf of the County to sign the THP Allocation Acceptance Round 4 form and the HNMP Allocation Acceptance Round 1 form, which are required by HCD to accept these funding allocations;
3) Approve and authorize the HHSA Director, or the Assistant Director of Human Services, to act on behalf of the County to execute the resulting funding agreements for both THP Round 4 and HNMP Round 1, and any subsequent amendments that do not increase HNMP above $109,764 or THP above $405,164, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval; and
4) Authorize the HHSA Director, or the HHSA Assistant Director of Human Services, to execute and administer any subsequent administrative documents relating to both the THP Round 4 and HNMP Round 1 awards, including required fiscal and programmatic reports.
FUNDING: 100% State of California Department of Housing and Community Development funding.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The State of California Housing and Community Development (HCD) allocates funding to counties for the purpose of housing stability to help young adults ages 18 to 24 years of age, through the following programs:
Transitional Housing Program:
For the Transition Housing Program (THP), pursuant to Item 2240-102-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2022, (Chapter 249 of the Statutes of 2022) and Chapter 11.7 (commencing with Section 50807) of Part 2 of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code (HSC), HCD shall allocate funding to counties for the provision of THP services. Funds shall be used to help young adults who are eighteen (18) to twenty-four (24) years of age secure and maintain housing with priority given to young adults formerly in the state's foster care or probation systems. Use of funds may include, but are not limited to: 1) Identifying and assisting housing services for this population in the community; 2) Assisting this population to secure and maintain housing; 3) Improving coordination of services and linkages to community resources within the child welfare system and the Homeless Continuum of Care; and 4) Providing engagement in outreach and targeting to serve those with the most severe needs.
Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program:
For the Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP), pursuant to Item 2240-103-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2022 (Chapter 43 of the Statutes of 2022) and Chapter 11.8 (commencing with Section 50811) of Part 2 of Division 31 of the HSC, HCD shall allocate funding to counties for the provision of HNMP services. The program funds housing navigators who will act as a housing specialist to assist young adults with their pursuits of locating available housing and overcoming barriers to locating housing. Housing navigation and maintenance activities may include, but are not limited to: 1) Assisting young adults aged eighteen (18) to twenty-four (24) years of age secure and maintain housing, with priority access given to young adults in the state's foster care system; 2) Providing housing case management which include essential services in emergency supports to foster youth; 3) Preventing young adults from becoming homeless; and 4) Improving coordination of services and linkages to key resources across the community including those from within the child welfare system and the local Continuum of Care.
On November 1, 2022, the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) was offered the opportunity to accept funding from HCD for THP Round 4, in the amount of $202,585, and for HMNP Round 1, in the amount of $54,882. To accept both rounds of funding, HCD requires a Resolution that authorizes the HHSA Director, or in their absence, the Assistant Director of Human Services, to sign and submit the Allocation Acceptance forms for both THP and HNMP, and to execute the grant agreements, and any amendments thereto.
In addition, HCD is offering additional allocations to counties if after the submission deadline has passed, HCD determines that there are remaining funds available for distribution for either or both housing stability programs. Therefore, if HHSA receives a notification from HCD that remaining funds are available, the Resolution affirms that the HHSA Director, or the Assistant Director of Human Services, can accept additional funds. Although the amounts of additional funds available, if any, are currently unknown, HCD provided guidance to HHSA to double the original amounts of acceptance in the Resolution, which brings the total estimated not-to-exceed amount to $405,164 for THP Round 4, and the total estimated not-to-exceed amount to $109,764 for HNMP Round 1. These amounts are identified in the Resolution.
Historically, HHSA was awarded the three prior THP rounds of funding which began in 2021. Round 1, 2 and 3 were awarded for $32,000 each, therefore, the current HHSA THP Round 4 allocation has increased significantly. HHSA subcontracts with local vendors for these housing stability services. HNMP is a new program developed by the state, however, HHSA has been awarded two Rounds of the Housing Navigators Program, a similar HCD program, in the amounts of $26,855 for each Round. HHSA will execute new subcontract agreements, or amend existing agreements, with local vendors for the new HNMP services. The approved Resolution and signed Allocation Acceptance forms, in the amount of $202,585 for THP Round 4, and $54,882 for HNMP Round 1, are due to HCD upon immediate approval and execution by the County.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve the THP or HNMP funding allocations, HHSA will not be awarded the funding to support young adults who have gone through the foster care system in securing and maintaining housing.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 11/09/21, File ID 21-1545, Transitional Housing Program Round 3 Resolution 139-2021
2) 10/06/20, File ID 20-1070, Transitional Housing Program Round 2 Resolution 150-2020
3) 05/12/20, File ID 20-0523, Transitional Housing Program Resolution 083-2020
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no General Fund cost associated with this Agenda item. Sufficient appropriations were included in the FY 2022-23 Budget for the THP Round 4 and the HNMP Round 1 funding and will be included in future budgets for the term of the funding agreement.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on one (1) original Resolution.
2) Clerk of the Board to return one (1) certified Resolution and one (1) Certified Minute Order to HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Road.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, Interim Director, Health and Human Services Agency