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Human Services Department requesting conceptual approval to submit an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program Grant application to the California Department of Housing and Community Development in an amount to be determined, noting eligible programs include homelessness prevention, homeless diversion and rapid re-housing, minimum grant amounts are $300,000, and may not exceed $600,000.
FUNDING: Federal ARRA-HPRP Grant Funds
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: There is no cost associated with the application process, other than staff time associated with application preparation process. No County match is required for receipt of this funding.
Reason for Recommendation: The California Department of Housing and Community Development is expected to release an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) - Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) on or after June 30, 2009. The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program provides grant opportunities for the development of homelessness prevention programs for households who are at imminent risk of becoming homeless or persons that are presently homeless. It is anticipated that an application under the HPRP NOFA would provide between $300,000 and $600,000 for homelessness prevention activities during a three-year term commencing October 1, 2009 and ending September 30, 2012.
An application under this NOFA for the development of homelessness prevention programs would support the 2009 General Plan Housing Element Goal HO-4, "To recognize and meet the housing needs of special groups of county residents, including a growing senior population, the homeless, agricultural employees, and the disabled through a variety of programs." Eligible activities under the HPRP funding source include financial assistance to help pay for housing or services, such as short or medium-term rental assistance (3-18 months), security deposits, utility deposits, utility payments, moving cost assistance, up to 6 month rental arrears and motel and hotel vouchers. In addition, housing relocation and stabilization services can be provided, such as case management, outreach and engagement, housing search and placement, legal services to help persons stay in their rental homes or credit repair. The purpose of this program is to provide homelessness prevention assistance to households that would otherwise become homeless without this assistance and to rapidly re-house persons who have already become homeless.
The activities under this grant would be administered by the Department of Human Services, which administers the Public Housing Authority (PHA). The PHA is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded program that administers Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly known as Section 8), providing rental assistance to low-income individuals and families who select their own rentals on the private market in El Dorado County. Activities provided under the HPRP program will be coordinated with other assistance programs administered by the Department of Human Services, such as TANF/CalWORKs funded programs. HPRP program activities are exempt from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Assuming Board conceptual approval, it is anticipated that the completed grant application will be agendized on July 28, 2009 for the Board to conduct a required Public Hearing to allow for public comment, approve said application and adopt a Resolution authorizing the submittal of the referenced HPRP application to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Action to be taken following Board approval: Human Services to develop the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program grant funding application and all relevant documents for Board of Supervisors consideration and approval to submit said application to the State Department of Housing and Community Development.
Contact: Janet Walker-Conroy, 642-7272
Concurrences: N/A