DATE: June 4, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: MOU with Housing Authority of the City of Fresno
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Board Chairman to execute the Foster Youth to Independence Memorandum of Understanding with the Housing Authority of the City of Fresno, effective June 4, 2024 through September 30, 2027 ($0).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department of Social Services (Department) to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Housing Authority of the City of Fresno (HACF) which will allow the HACF to submit an application for the Foster Youth to Independence grant to the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development for Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV).
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board elect not to approve the recommended action, the HACF will not meet the application requirements to apply for up to 50 HCV for former foster care youth who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. There is no monetary exchange between the parties for the responsibilities outlined in the MOU. Salary and benefit costs associated with these functions are budgeted in the FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget of Social Services budget, Org 5610, and will be included in subsequent budgets as appropriate.
DISCUSSION:
The Foster Youth to Independence initiative will make available HCV to Public Housing Agencies in partnership with Public Child Welfare Agencies. The HCV would be available for youth at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age (have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, and are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older. The HCV will provide housing assistance for up to 36 months, with possible extensions for up to 24 months if certain requirements are met. The maximum award of HCV will be based on the size of the HACF current voucher program and the identified need; currently, the maximum voucher award for HACF would be 50 vouchers.
The MOU between the local Public Housing Agency and the Public Child Welfare Agency is a required piece of the application as it identifies the specific roles and responsibilities for each party, clearly outlines youth eligibility, and describes the supportive services that are to be provided. Both the Public Housing Agency and the Public Child Welfare Agency will have staff members that will serve as lead FYI liaisons. The assigned HACF liaison will accept referrals from the Department, screen the referrals to ensure that youth are eligible for HCV assistance, administer FYI vouchers in accordance with applicable program regulations and requirements, and will train Department staff on the HCV program. The assigned DSS liaison will determine and forward all referrals to the HAFC FYI liaison, monitor the FYI program and ensure all client referrals meet the required guidelines for participation, and will also ensure clients are receiving supportive services. Although the FYI only provides assistance in the form of HCV, the Department has funding sources that are specifically for youth who are at-risk or experiencing homelessness. Through this partnership with HACF, the County will be able to provide the rental assistance and the housing case management to youth that are eligible for FYI and therefore increasing the long-term success of maintaining permanent housing if awarded.
The full FYI application must be submitted by HACF no later than July 18, 2024. The MOU does not follow the County’s boilerplate as it was drafted to meet the application requirements. The recommended MOU is effective June 4, 2024 through September 30, 2027.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - MOU with HACF
On file with Clerk - Digital Signature Verification
CAO ANALYST:
Dylan McCully