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Human Services requesting conceptual approval by the Board for the Public Housing Authority (PHA), as the lead Continuum of Care (CoC) agency, to submit a 2009 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Supportive Housing Program competitive grant consolidated application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in an amount up to $176,801, which will include a request for a second one-year renewal of funding in the amount of $13,339 for the County's Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and eligible community agency funding request(s) received in response to a County Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process.
FUNDING: Federal Continuum of Care 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 the consolidated application process. If awarded, County match requirements for this application are estimated to be $3,176 for the HMIS funding request and would be met with General Fund dollars included in the Department's FY 09-10 budget for this purpose.
Background: The 2003-2008 General Plan Housing Element Measure HO-FF directed the Department of Human Services to "work with community and local organizations in providing community education on homelessness, gaining better understanding of the unmet need, and developing and maintaining emergency shelter programs, including funding for programs developed through inter-jurisdictional cooperation and working with local organizations to annually apply for the End Chronic Homelessness through Employment and Housing grant". The 2008 Housing Element continues these goals under Measure HO-24 and policies HO-4.4, HO-4.5 and HO-4.6, with the expected outcome of updating the Continuum of Care Strategic Plan. In accordance with these provisions, the El Dorado County Continuum of Care Stakeholders Committee was formed April 4, 2006 to develop a Continuum of Care Strategic Plan to prepare the County to address the needs of the homeless population and to address the funding constraints of community-based, non-profit and faith-based organizations that serve homeless populations. This collaboration is used to obtain and share information, provide community education and to work collectively on homeless problems and solutions. In 2007, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) authorized the Department of Human Services to be the lead organization for the El Dorado County Continuum of Care activities.
A HUD requirement for Continuum of Care (CoC) jurisdictions is the implementation of a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to collect data on the homeless population in order to identify the unmet needs of the chronically homeless population in our jurisdiction. To meet this requirement, on June 12, 2007 the Board of Supervisors approved the submittal of an application to HUD to receive a three-year grant of up to $40,016 under the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Supportive Housing Program (SHP) allocation for the purposes of purchasing and implementing a HMIS. A one-year grant of $13,339 was subsequently awarded on December 21, 2007. The grant agreement was executed on January 9, 2009 for the HMIS funding award, for a term that expires on January 9, 2010. The HMIS implementation approved under this grant agreement is in process, and funds will be used to purchase the HMIS software user licenses for participating community agencies, relevant computer and data storage equipment, customization of the software program, and system administrator and end-user training. On September 24, 2008 the Board of Supervisors approved the submittal of an application to HUD to request HMIS 2008 renewal funding in the amount of $13,339 under the 2008 SHP allocation. El Dorado County was awarded the renewal funding on February 19, 2009, and is waiting for receipt of the HUD grant agreement.
Reason for Recommendation: Based on updated information provided during a web-based HUD broadcast, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is expected to release the 2009 Continuum of Care (CoC) Homeless Assistance Program Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) on or around August 24, 2009. The Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program funding supports transitional housing programs and supportive services for persons that meet the HUD definition of homelessness and are unsheltered or reside in an emergency shelter or transitional housing. Funding components include the Shelter Plus Care (S+C), Section 8 Single Room Occupancy (SRO) and the Supportive Housing Program (SHP). Eligible activities under these funding components may include acquisition, new construction, leasing costs, operating costs, support services, rental assistance, HMIS and administrative costs up to 5% of the award amount. Emergency Shelter activities are not eligible under this funding source. HUD has established a Pro-Rata Need allocation for the El Dorado County Continuum of Care in the amount of $176,801.
The El Dorado County Public Housing Authority (PHA), as the lead agency in the El Dorado County Continuum of Care, is required to submit one consolidated application on behalf of any CoC partners wishing to request grant funds. It is anticipated that submittal of a consolidated funding application under this NOFA would provide renewal funding in the amount of $13,339 to allow the County of El Dorado to continue the ongoing implementation, administration and maintenance activities of the dedicated HMIS program, as well as funds to eligible community organizations within the El Dorado County Continuum of Care that respond to a County Request for Qualifications and Statement of Interest. The entire consolidated funding application is not to exceed the $176,801 Pro-Rata Need Allocation determined by HUD. El Dorado County would be a party to the grant agreement for the HMIS funds only, and agreements for funds awarded to other potential applicants as part of the consolidated application process would be executed between the individual applicant agencies and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
If the application is funded, existing staff would be utilized to administer the continuing activities under this grant. The proposed grant budget for the one year HMIS renewal application under the Continuum of Care Supportive Housing Program would be funded by the $13,339 grant and by a proposed local leverage commitment that would be made by Board Resolution in the amount of $3,176 for in-kind staff services funded with the Department's General Fund Affordable Housing - Housing Element Implementation dollars budgeted for this purpose. There are no additional County costs anticipated during the grant period.
The proposed grant budget for the HMIS is outlined as follows:
Supportive Housing Program (SHP) Budget during Grant Term:
CoC SHP funding - General Administration $ 635
County of El Dorado - Local Leverage/In-Kind Staff Time 3,176
HMIS implementation and Administration $12,704
Total SHP Budget: $16,515
Action to be taken following Board approval: Human Services to develop the 2009 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program consolidated grant funding application and all relevant documents for Board of Supervisors consideration with a request for Board approval to submit said application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Contact: Daniel Nielson, 642-7275
Concurrences: N/A