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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Authorize the submission of a grant application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the 2021 Continuum of Care Planning Renewal Grant in the estimated amount of $12,592, and including a match requirement of $3,148 that will be met through existing grant funding received by the Housing and Homelessness Services programs;
2) If awarded, authorize the HHSA Director, acting as the Collaborative Applicant on behalf of the El Dorado Opportunity Knocks Continuum of Care, to execute the resulting funding agreement effective upon execution with a one-year term, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management;
3) Authorize the HHSA Director to administer any agreement or subsequent administrative documents related to said award, including any required fiscal and programmatic reports as well as any amendments to the agreement that do not increase the total award or term of the agreement; and
4) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer increasing revenue and appropriations by $12,592 for the Planning Renewal Grant.
FUNDING: Federal funding awarded by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the estimated amount of $12,592, with a required match contribution of $3,148 that will be met through existing grant funding received by the Housing and Homelessness Services programs.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The El Dorado County Public Housing Authority, as part of the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), is designated by the El Dorado Opportunity Knocks Continuum of Care (CoC) to serve as the Collaborative Applicant and Administrative Entity for the CoC. In this role, the Public Housing Authority submits annual consolidated applications for CoC funding on behalf of and in support of the CoC. Planning Grant awards are to be used to support the El Dorado Opportunity Knocks CoC to improve strategic planning efforts as well as provide technical assistance to build the knowledge and administrative capacity of its member organizations. The Board of Supervisors previously accepted funding for the 2019 CoC Planning Grant on October 20, 2020 under Legistar item 20-1310, and also accepted funding for the 2020 CoC Planning Grant on September 28, 2021 under Legistar item 21-1446.
On August 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the annual CoC Competition and Non-Competition Award. The NOFO allows the County to propose multiple single project activity applications, which includes an application for the renewal of the annual HUD CoC Planning Grant in the estimated amount of $12,592. The funding requires a match of $3,148, which will be met with other existing grant funds received by the Housing and Homeless Services programs. If awarded, the funding award is to be used for CoC technical assistance, training, and planning activities.
While Board of Supervisors (BOS) Policy A-6 provides authority to a Department head to apply for grants, A-6 further states that the department head shall bring the decision to accept a grant before a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. As many of HHSA’s state and federal funders have a very tight turnaround on their request to receive an executed agreement, HHSA is requesting advance approval from the Board to authorize the HHSA Director to execute the resulting funding agreement from this grant, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval, to ensure that HHSA can execute the grant agreement in the required timeline.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could decline to apply for and accept the funding award, in which case, the Continuum of Care would not be eligible to receive the funding award. This would reduce the level of technical assistance available to local service providers.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) October 20, 2020, File ID 20-1310, Agenda No. 16, HHSA PHA 2019 Continuum of Care (CoC) Planning Allocation grant agreement; and
2) September 28, 2021, File ID 21-1446, Agenda No.14, HHSA PHA 2020 CoC Planning Grant.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel and Risk Management
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agenda item. The required match of $3,148 will be met using existing grant funding received by the Housing and Homeless Services programs. If approved, the budget transfer will increase revenue and appropriations in Community Services by $12,592.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain signature of Chair on the attached Budget Transfer Request (BTR); and
2) Submit the BTR to the Chief Administrative Office for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director