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Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Approve and accept COVID-19 Emergency Homeless Funding in the amount of $109,909, administered by the California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency’s Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council, for the purposes of responding to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on homeless populations;
2) Delegate authority to the Director of Health and Human Services Agency to execute the Standard Agreement and any funding agreement or request for the distribution of funding, including any extension(s) or amendment(s) thereto, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management Approval; and
3) Designate the Health and Human Services Agency to serve as the Administrative Entity for the El Dorado County Continuum of Care (CoC) for the administration of the CoC allocation of COVID-19 Emergency Homeless Funding in the amount of $119,463, and authorize the Director to execute the Standard Agreement and any agreements or requests for funding related to the CoC allocation, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management Approval.
4) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Budget Transfer form specific to Covid-19 Emergency Homeless Funding, thereby increasing State Revenue and Appropriations by $229,372. (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: State emergency funding signed by Governor Newsom on March 17, 2020, through Senate Bill 89. The County’s allocation of funding is $109,909; the CoC’s allocation of funding is $119,463.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC) released award letters on March 23, 2020, granting funds in two separate allocations, $119,462.49 for the El Dorado County Continuum of Care and $109,908.68 for the County. The purpose of the funding is to protect the health and safety of people experiencing homelessness and reduce the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.
This funding can be used for prevention and containment efforts for shelters, including medically indicated services and supplies, including testing and handwashing stations, and enhancement to shelter facilities. The award emphasizes proper social distancing techniques to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among homeless populations. Funding can also be used for emergency shelter operations, increasing shelter capacity, increasing isolation capacity, street outreach, transportation, and increased staffing supports for infectious disease preparedness and case management for clients.
HHSA intends to use the funding as soon as possible with an intent to pay for any of the identified allowable activities and costs necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the homeless population. In an effort to expedite the distribution of funding, the State Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council is distributing the COVID-19 funding based on a funding formula methodology that was used for the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Program, which includes considerations of both the Point In Time (PIT) Count and the proportionate share of homeless in the State.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to approve these recommendations, both the County and CoC would be ineligible to receive the available emergency funding.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
The Board has previously designated the Health and Human Services Agency to serve as the Administrative Entity for the CoC for the HHAP Grant, the HEAP Grant, the 2018 CESH Grant, and the 2019 CESH Grant.
1) Item #200161, February 25, 2020
2) Item #18-1762, December 4, 2018
3) Item #18-1522, October 16, 2018
4) Item #19-0553, April 23, 2019
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
COVID-19 funding is one-time, emergency funding that must be expended by June 30, 2020. It is highly anticipated the County will not be able to hire additional staff to perform allowable activities with this funding. It is anticipated the funding will be sub-awarded to community based organizations, who can help the County respond to the current emergency effectively with the homeless population. The funding requires no matching funds from the County. A budget amendment has been attached to this item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to provide a Certified Minute Order to HHSA upon approval of the Minutes by the Board.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
County Strategic Goal: “Healthy Communities, Improved Health, Well-being, and Self-sufficiency of El Dorado County communities, residents, and visitors.”
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director