DATE: January 24, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Revenue Agreement with California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grant (#22-HHAP-20015), effective upon execution by the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency through December 31, 2026 ($5,047,892); and,
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the related Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Authorized Signatories Form, as the Authorized Representative.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions which will allow the Department of Social Services to receive the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 3 (HHAP-3) funding from the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH) on behalf of the County of Fresno and the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care (FMCoC). The Department will serve as the Administrative Entity for the combined funding allocation that will be used to support regional coordination and provide homeless services in the FMCoC service area (Fresno and Madera counties). It is necessary for the Chairman to be designated as the Authorized Representative on the HHAP Authorized Signatories Form to execute the HHAP-3 standard agreement. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board elect not to approve the recommended actions, the County would be out of compliance with the HHAP-3 Standard Agreement to Apply with BCSH executed by your Board on October 5, 2021 and would forfeit $5,047,892 in HHAP-3 funding available to assist people experiencing homelessness in the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The total FMCoC and County HHAP-3 allocations ($6,730,522) are $3,753,702 and $2,976,820, respectively. The Department received an initial disbursement of 25% ($1,682,630) in September 2022. If the recommended actions are approved, the Department will receive the remainder disbursement of 75% ($5,047,892) in HHAP-3 funding allocated to the County of Fresno ($2,232,615) and the FMCoC ($2,815,277) to provide homeless services in the FMCoC service area. The maximum of 7% ($353,352) from the remainder disbursement, will be retained by the County for the Department’s administrative costs. A required minimum of 10% ($504,789) from the remainder disbursement must be set aside for youth homeless services. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2022-23 Adopted Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
On October 5, 2021, your Board executed an Agreement to Apply with BCSH, affirming the County’s intent to submit a joint application for HHAP-3 grant funding allocated to the County and the FMCoC. A joint application would enable the County to receive an initial disbursement of 25% ($1,682,630) of the combined HHAP-3 allocations ($6,730,522) and use a combined application and reporting process for County and FMCoC HHAP-3 funds, thereby reducing the County’s administrative burden.
On February 1, 2022, your Board executed an Initial Disbursement Agreement with BCSH for $1,682,630 in HHAP-3 funds. On June 21, 2022, your Board conducted a public hearing to receive testimony on the proposed HHAP-3 local homelessness action plan and approved the action plan including the use of HHAP-3 funds to address homelessness in the FMCoC service area.
Although the FMCoC’s HHAP-3 allocation will be administered by the Department, services provided with HHAP-3 funds must be implemented in alignment with the joint service plan developed in cooperation with the FMCoC and the other regional HHAP-3 recipients. The Department will coordinate with FMCoC leadership on implementation of HHAP-3 funded programs.
The combined HHAP-3 allocation will support the following services for those experiencing or at-risk of homelessness across the region: street outreach to engage and provide services to unsheltered individuals and families, rapid rehousing services to provide medium-term rental assistance and housing case management, landlord engagement services to expand available housing inventory, Triage Centers to provide emergency shelter and intensive case management, Bridge Housing to provide interim housing for households awaiting placement in permanent housing, diversion services to quickly connect households seeking shelter services with permanent housing to avoid entering homelessness, and services tailored to homeless youth ages 18 - 24, including youth-targeted Bridge Housing and rapid rehousing for housing relocation and stabilization services.
With your Board’s approval of the recommended actions, $5,047,892 in HHAP-3 funding will be available to provide emergency assistance to people experiencing homelessness in the community. Agreements or amendments for services supported by the HHAP-3 grant will be brought before your Board for approval at a future date, as appropriate.
REFERENCE MATERIAL
BAI #10, June 21, 2022
BAI #30, February 1, 2022
BAI #36, October 5, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - HHAP-3 Standard Agreement
On file with Clerk - HHAP Authorized Signatories Form
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander