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Health and Human Services Agency, acting as the Administrative Entity for the El Dorado County Continuum of Care, is recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Budget Transfer Form to add $1,448,323.63 of Homeless Emergency Aid Program grant funds, with no local match required. (4/5 vote required) (Est. Time: 15 Min.)
FUNDING: Homeless Emergency Aid Program grant funds are administered by the California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On December 4, 2018, the Board authorized the submission of a grant application to the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, Homeless Coordinating and Financing Counsel (HCFC), for the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) grant. The Board also designated the Director of Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) to serve as the Authorized Representative for the Administrative Entity for the grant, in accordance with the requirements of the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and delegated authority to the Director to accept funding and execute the grant agreement. In accordance with the NOFA, the Administrative Entity must be a local government entity or nonprofit organization that has previously administered US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding and also be designated by the Continuum of Care (CoC) to administer funds. The NOFA continues to say that the parameters of the program, including the uses of the funding, should be determined by the CoC, while one-hundred percent of the funding allocation will be disbursed directly to the Administrative Entity, which is responsible for ensuring funds are expended for eligible uses and to ensure reporting requirements are met.
On January 9, 2019, HHSA was notified the grant proposal submission was successful, and that $1,448,232.63 had been awarded to the El Dorado County CoC by HCFC. As a result of the grant award, HHSA is requesting the Board authorize a budget transfer in the amount of the award to HHSA, as the Adminstrative Entity, for the purposes of completing the activities proposed within the grant proposal.
The grant proposal identified limited funding for HHSA’s administrative costs, in addition to funding for programs that impact Transitional Age Youth, programs that impact Chronic Homelessness, and funding to purchase or rehab property dedicated to shelter. Consistent with the intent of the El Dorado County CoC: $72,400 would be allocated to cover HHSA administrative expenses; $325,000 would be allocated to assist Homeless Youth through local community based organizations; $200,000 would be allocated to the Probation Department; and $850,912 would be set aside for the future purchase or remodel of a property for shelter.
HEAP funds are authorized by Senate Bill 850, which was signed into law by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. on June 27, 2018. The funding provides $1,448,323.63 in State funding for homeless programs and services identified by the CoC, with a five-percent (5%) set aside for administrative costs. HEAP funding was awarded to the El Dorado County Opportunity Knocks Continuum of Care (CoC) as a result of a grant proposal submitted by the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA); the HHSA is serving as the Administrative Entity for the El Dorado County’s CoC for this grant program.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to approve the budget transfer request, HHSA would be unable to administer the HEAP program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
December 4, 2018, 18-1762 - HHSA HEAP Application.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Approved by County Counsel and Risk Management. Subsequent subaward will impact the Probation Department positively with additional funding for services.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
An increase to General Fund is not expected at this time. The funding sets aside five-percent (5%) for the administration of grant related activities, however it should be noted that grant funding will not pay for administrative positions. It is expected that the administrative work required by this grant will be managed with existing resources. However, should administrative resources become required in the future, HHSA will return to the Board.
A large portion of the grant funding will be subcontracted to Probation and Community Based Organizations; the remainder will be set aside for a major property purchase or renovation project. Once the property purchase or renovation is better defined, the scope of the burden for administering that part of the project may be better understood. At this time, the money is simply set aside until the project is better defined and potential additional funding opportunities are explored.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on Budget Transfer Request and will forward the budget transfer form to the Auditor/Controller for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Health and Human Services Agency Strategic Plan Project 2.4 “Efficiency in Funding.”
County Healthy Communities Goal, Objective 2 “Provide effective programs to assist individuals and families in achieving self-sufficiency.”
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director HHSA