DATE: July 7, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing the County as Administrative Entity for CARES Act Allocation of Emergency Solutions Grant Funding
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt Resolution authorizing the County of Fresno, through the Department of Social Services, to serve as the Administrative Entity on behalf of the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Allocation of Emergency Solutions Grant funding administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department of Social Services to serve as the Administrative Entity (AE) on behalf of the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care (FMCoC) for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Allocation of Emergency Solutions Grant -Coronavirus (ESG-CV) funding administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Approval will also allow the Department to procure ESG eligible services throughout the jurisdiction of the FMCoC. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board elect not to approve the recommended action, the FMCoC would forfeit $1,008,000, or up to $2,016,000, in ESG-CV funding available to assist persons experiencing homelessness in the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. If the recommended resolution is approved, HCD will contract with the County to make $1,008,000 available, with 5% or $50,400 for administrative costs. Although $1,008,000 was allocated to the FMCoC, $2,016,000 is listed in the proposed resolution as recommended by HCD in the event that additional funds become available, which would still allow 5% or $100,800 for administrative costs. Funding will be available for use until August 30, 2022. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the CARES Act. The Act identified additional funding for the ESG Program to support preparation for, and response to, the community impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The HCD has distributed allocations utilizing a formula-based method to Continuums of Care, including the FMCoC.
As the AE, the Department will administer ESG-CV funds throughout the FMCoC Service Area with a prioritization to non-entitlement areas. Non-entitlement areas are units of general local government that do not receive funds directly from HUD; within the FMCoC jurisdiction, non-entitlement areas include Madera County, Clovis, Coalinga, Firebaugh, Huron, Parlier, Orange Cove, Sanger, and San Joaquin. ESG-CV funds must be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus among individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or receiving homelessness assistance; and to support additional homelessness assistance and prevention activities to mitigate the impacts created by Corona Virus
Approval of the recommended action will authorize the Department, on behalf of the County, to act as AE for ESG-CV funding received by the FMCoC, allowing additional homeless services to be provided throughout its jurisdiction. The ESG-CV funds are to be utilized to address homelessness and may be used for currently eligible activities related to crisis response including: Emergency Shelter, Homeless Prevention, Street Outreach, Rapid Rehousing, and Homeless Management Information System.
With your Board’s approval of the recommended action, HCD will issue the Standard Agreement for the funds, which will be brought to your Board for approval. The recommended resolution identifies that your Board will maintain the power to execute the Standard Agreement and agreements with subrecipients. Additionally, the recommended action designates the Director of the Department of Social Services as an Authorized Signer for documents pertaining to the administration of CARES Act ESG-CV funding.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa