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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 (HUD) for the 2022 Continuum of Care Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Project Renewal grant in the estimated amount of $9,817, effective upon execution of the grant funding agreement, with a one-year term that begins when the first revenue request is made to HUD, and includes a match requirement of $2,454 which will be met through existing grant funding received by the County as the HMIS Lead;
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 grant funding agreement with a one-year term, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management; and
3) Authorize the HHSA Director, or HHSA Chief Assistant 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.
FUNDING: 100% Federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding in the estimated amount of $9,817, with a required 25% match contribution of $2,454 which will be met through existing grant funding received by the County as the HMIS Lead.
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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 HHSA Public Housing Authority submits annual consolidated applications for Continuum of Care funding on behalf of and in support of the CoC. In February 2021, the CoC designated HHSA as the HMIS Lead Agency. As the HMIS Lead, this process also includes submission of a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) grant, on behalf of and in support of the CoC. The Board of Supervisors previously accepted funding for the 2021 CoC HMIS Grant on November 9, 2021, (File ID: 21-1672).
On August 1, 2022, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the 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 HMIS project grant in the estimated amount of $9,817. This funding requires a 25% match of $2,454, which will be met through existing grant funding received by the County as the HMIS Lead. HMIS grant awards are to be used to support the El Dorado Opportunity Knocks CoC HMIS data management and quality improvement efforts to strengthen CoC strategic planning. The grant will also assist with providing technical assistance related to the HMIS system in order to build the knowledge and administrative capacity of the CoC's members.
While Board of Supervisors 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 timelines.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could decline to apply for and accept the grant funding award, in which case, the Continuum of Care would not be eligible to receive the funding award. This funding is used for the contract with the HMIS technology system and for the purchase of the licenses used by community providers. If the County and Continuum of Care did not receive these funds, alternative funding would need to be identified to meet this Federal and State mandated technology system.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) October 20, 2020, File ID 20-1310, HHSA PHA 2019 Continuum of Care (CoC) HMIS grant agreement
2) November 9, 2021, File ID 21-1672, HHSA Continuum of Care HMIS Grant 2021
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agenda item. The required match of $2,454 will be met using existing grant funding received by the Housing and Homelessness Services programs. As this is a renewal grant funding under this agreement is included in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Daniel Del Monte, Interim Director