DATE: March 28, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Resolution, Amendment, and Standard Agreement for Housing Navigators Program Rounds 1 and 2 Funding
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Adopt Resolution authorizing the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to execute Standard Agreements for California Department of Housing and Community Development Housing Navigators Program funding; and,
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Amendment to the Standard Agreement with the California Department of Housing and Community Development for Round 1 of Housing Navigators Program funds, effective upon execution by the State, extending the term through December 31, 2023, total not to exceed $144,290; and,
3. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Standard Agreement with the California Department of Housing and Community Development for Round 2 of Housing Navigators Program funds, effective upon execution by the State, through October 30, 2025, total not to exceed $144,290.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Department of Social Services to receive funding for a program designed to assist youth, ages 18-21 to secure and maintain housing. There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board could choose not to approve the recommended actions, however, the actions are required for receipt of funds. If recommended actions are not approved, the County would be required to return current funds under Action #2, and forgo future funds under Actions #1 and #3.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. If approved, the Department would receive funds through established California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) processes, including $144,290 for Housing Navigators Program (HNP) Round 1 and $144,290 for HNP Round 2. 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:
HCD has allocated HNP funding to assist young adults to obtain and maintain housing, with priority given to young adults in the foster care system. HNP resources are intended to provide case management services through the use of housing navigator staff, who assist young adults to secure and maintain housing and make linkages to key resources in the community.
HNP Resolutions Nos. 20-103 and 21-369 were unanimously approved by your Board on March 24, 2020 and December 14, 2021, directing the Department to apply for HNP Rounds 1 and 2 funding, respectively. Most recently, Resolution No. 22-328 was approved on October 25, 2022, updating the department’s directorship in allocation acceptance process, due to the change in the Department’s directorship in 2022.
Recommended Action #1 is required in order to specify in the resolution that the Board Chairman is authorized to execute Standard Agreements in connection with the HNP allocations. The most recent resolution (No. 22-328) authorized the County Board of Supervisors to execute Standard Agreements but did not designate a signatory. The recommended resolution authorizes the Board Chairman as the signatory that will execute the Standard Agreement on behalf of the Board. This is required in accordance with HCD contracting processes.
The Department is partnering with the Fresno Economic Opportunity Commission (EOC) and Fresno City College to provide Housing Opportunities Promote Education (HOPE). The Department braids funding with HCD Transitional Housing Program funds, to assist youth that are homeless or unstably housed through direct financial assistance with housing, as well as case management that is targeted to raise students’ income. A total of 88 students experiencing homelessness or housing instability have benefitted from housing navigation services since the pilot began on July 13, 2021, of which 15% have been formerly or currently in the foster care system. The agreement was most recently amended on July 12, 2022 to add HNP Round 2 funds in the amount of $144,290.
On June 15, 2022, the Department was informed by HCD that the HNP Round 1 funding expenditure deadline was extended from June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2023, and that amendments would be provided within six months. Recommended Action #2 would allow the Department to continue receipt and use of funds that were not fully expended by the original deadline of June 30, 2022. Recommended Action #3 is a Standard Agreement for HNP Round 2 funding which will allow the Department to receive and utilize the $144,290 of funds committed to current HNP services in the agreement with Fresno EOC.
In accordance with County Administrative Policy No. 27, the Department is submitting the Amendment and Standard Agreements received from HCD for HNP funding for Board approval. If approved by the Board, the Department will return the Amendment and Standard Agreement to HCD for final execution and receipt of funds.
The Amendment and Standard Agreement are provided by the State and therefore do not follow the County Example Service Agreement. With your Board’s approval of the recommended actions, the Department will integrate funds into the existing HOPE partnership.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #52, October 25, 2022
BAI #59, July 12, 2022
BAI #86, December 14, 2021
BAI #57, July 13, 2021
BAI #54, March 24, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution
On file with Clerk - Standard Agreement Amendment with HCD
On file with Clerk - Standard Agreement with HCD
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander