Title
Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 056-2019, which delegates authority to the Director of the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) to execute any agreement, amendment or other document resulting from the California Emergency Solutions and Housing Program Notice of Funding Availability application;
2) Designate the Health and Human Services Agency as the Administrative Entity for purposes of this grant opportunity;
3) Authorize the HHSA Director to accept funding and execute the grant agreement, if awarded, including any extension(s) or amendment(s) thereto, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management Approval; and
4) Authorize the HHSA Director, Assistant Director of Administration and Finance, or the Chief Fiscal Officer, to administer any agreement or subsequent administrative documents relating to said award, including required fiscal and programmatic reports.
FUNDING: State and Federal Funding, specifically the California Emergency Solutions and Housing Program.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On August 15, 2018, California Department of Housing and Community Development (CDHCD) issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the 2018 California Emergency Solutions and Housing (CESH) Program. On October 16, 2018, the Board approved Resolution 221-2018 (File ID 18-1522) designating Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) as the Administrative Entity for the CESH Grant funding. On January 11, 2019, HHSA received a letter announcing the award of this grant funding in the amount of $474,717.
On March 21, 2019, CDHCD issued a second NOFA for the 2019 CESH Program. Based on the CESH formula allocation, the County could receive $277,237 in funding from this second grant, including a 5% administrative cost of $13,862. As a part of 2019 allocation of funding, CDHCD has requested a new resolution from the Board designating an Administrative Entity.
Funding from this 2019 grant is to be used for eligible activities, which could include: (1) rental assistance, housing relocation, and stabilization; (2) operating subsidies for new and existing affordable permanent housing units for homeless individuals and/or families; (3) flexible housing subsidy funds for local programs that establish or support the provision of rental subsidies in permanent housing; (4) operating support for emergency housing interventions; (5) systems support for activities necessary to maintain a comprehensive homeless services and housing delivery system, including Coordinated Entry System (CES) data, and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) reporting, and planning activities; (6) developing or updating Coordinated Entry Systems; and (7) developing or updating a plan to address actions taken within the Continuum of Care (CoC).
The CESH grant requires applicants to be an Administrative Entity, which must be one of the following: (1) a unit of general purpose local government; (2) a nonprofit organization that has previously administered U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CoC funds; or (3) a unified funding agency as defined in 24 Code of Federal Regulations part 578.3, Section 50490. Since the El Dorado CoC does not strongly meet any of these three criteria, and the Board previously designated HHSA to be the Administrative Entity of the CESH funding available in 2018, HHSA is recommending to act as the Administrative Entity on behalf of the El Dorado CoC to increase the likelihood of successfully receiving this grant funding that will benefit the community.
As the Administrative Entity, HHSA will work directly with the CoC in determining how the new allocation of funding will be used, based upon CoC established priorities for CESH and State requirements for funds, to support allowable activities as identified in the funding announcement.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decline to adopt the attached Resolution, thereby eliminating the County from applying for this second CESH grant opportunity.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
1) 10/16/18 - File ID # 18-1522 - CA Emergency Solutions and Housing Grant
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is likely no Net County Cost associated with this item. CESH grant limits the administrative costs associated with the grant to five percent (5%).
In the event the County is awarded this CESH grant, HHSA will return to the Board with a budget transfer request, once the funding agreement has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on the attached Resolution.
2) Clerk of the Board to return one (1) certified copy of said Resolution to HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Road, Suite B.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
County Strategic Plan “Healthy Communities” objective: “Protect against adverse outcomes among children, adults, and seniors.”
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director