Title
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Authorize the HHSA Director, on behalf of the County of El Dorado, to accept the Home Safe Program funding allocation, administered by the California Department of Social Services for the term upon execution through June 30, 2024, in the amount of $394,567;
2) Authorize the HHSA Director to sign the Director’s Certification, as a requirement of requesting the funding allocation;
3) Delegate authority to the HHSA Director to execute the resulting funding agreement, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management; and
4) Authorize the HHSA Director, or designee, to execute and administer any subsequent administrative documents relating to said award, including any extension(s) or amendment(s) thereto that does not increase the funding allocation or term, including required fiscal and programmatic reports.
FUNDING: 100% State General Funding authorized pursuant to Senate Bill 129 (Chapter 69, Statutes of 2021) under the Budget Act of 2021 appropriated for the Home Safe Program.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On October 15, 2021, the County of El Dorado (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) received a Notice of Funding Allocation, via an All County Welfare Director Letter (ACWDL) addressed to all counties and federally recognized tribal governments in California, for The Home Safe Program. This Home Safe Program is administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and was established in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 under Assembly Bill (AB) 1811 (Chapter 35, Statutes of 2018) to provide housing related assistance to older and dependent adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness due to abuse and neglect. The Budget Act of 2021 (Senate Bill (SB) 129, Chapter 69, Statutes of 2021) appropriated a total of $92.5 million for Home Safe for FY 2021-22 to be expended through June 30, 2024. The one-time, non-competitive Home Safe allocation for El Dorado County for FY 2021-22 is $394,567, which requires no match funding, and has a planned expenditure period from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024. The Home Safe Program supports the safety and housing stability of seniors and adults with disabilities served by or in the intake process for HHSA’s Adult Protective Service who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Home Safe may offer housing related financial assistance, housing stabilization services, and wrap-around supportive services, including, but not limited to interim housing, rental assistance, housing navigation, case management, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, legal services, and credit repair. Home Safe also provides outreach services as well as case management for connections to any additional service needs that may be warranted. As the State only notified Counties of this eligible funding on October 15, 2021, and as the State is requiring the submission of required documents in early December in order to receive funding, the County of El Dorado Home Safe Program is still in the planning phase to determine the exact service array and means of implementation. It is known at this point, however, that some combination of the described eligible services will be developed specifically to provide new and expanded housing supports for vulnerable seniors served by Adult Protective Services. Due to an anticipated tight turnaround from the State 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 allocation, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval, to ensure that HHSA can execute the agreement in the required timeline.
The CDSS requires Home Safe grantees to operate their program in accordance with Housing First Principles, under Welfare Institutions Code (WIC) Section 8256, and requires grantees to consult with local public benefit advocacy agencies and their broader homelessness response systems as they develop and implement their program. This includes establishing or continuing to support meaningful partnerships with the local homeless Continuum of Care, tribal housing authorities, health and behavioral health systems, and other local housing service providers. Home Safe grantees are allowed to expend funds on evidence-based practices in homeless assistance and prevention, including housing risk screening and assessments, emergency shelter, housing first, rapid rehousing, and supportive housing with services offered to elder and dependent adults who experience abuse, neglect, or exploitation and otherwise meet the eligibility criteria for adult protective services.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to authorize the HHSA Director to accept this non-competitive funding allocation, the County will not receive $394,567 in funds to provide housing supports and services to vulnerable seniors.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has approved the Director's Certification.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve are recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agenda item. Upon receipt of the final funding amount and plan for spending the allocation, the Health and Human Services Agency will return to the Board with a Budget Transfer Request, if appropriate.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
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