DATE: June 22, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Substantial Amendment to 2019-20 Annual Action Plan
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Conduct public hearing to receive testimony on proposed changes to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Emergency Solutions Grants program;
2. Approve substantial amendment to the 2019-20 Annual Action Plan to amend and add uses for Emergency Solutions Grants funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; and
3. Authorize Director of the Department of Social Services to execute Standard Form 424, Certifications, and Entitlement Agreement for additional Emergency Solutions Grants funding.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the recommended actions will allow the County to comply with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities (CARES) Act Emergency Solutions Grant funds (ESG-CV); amend the 2019-20 Annual Action Plan, as required by HUD to update funding amounts between activities for ESG-CV1 and identify funded activities for ESG-CV2; authorize the County to receive its allocation of ESG-CV2 funds; and, allow Department of Social Services Director to execute required documents and application to HUD. Agreements related to the services provided with ESG-CV funding will come before your Board separately as appropriate. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. Should your Board elect not to approve the recommended actions, the County would be out of compliance with HUD requirements for ESG-CV, and the second round of funding would be forfeited leaving $3,371,431 in homeless services funding for recapture.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The additional ESG-CV2 funding ($3,371,431) includes an allowance of 10% or $337,143 for administrative costs. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department of Social Services Org 5610 FY 2021-22 Recommended Budget. There is no match requirement for ESG-CV funding.
DISCUSSION:
On June 4, 2019, your Board approved the 2019-20 Annual Action plan allowing the County to submit the required funding documents to HUD for the 2019 ESG entitlement funds.
On July 7, 2020, your Board approved the first substantial amendment allowing the County to request ESG-CV1 funds in the amount of $846,921 through the CARES Act. As HUD required the 2019-20 plan amendment for the funding, this same plan must be updated for the ESG-CV2 funding ($3,371,431). The funds are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 among individuals and families who are homeless and to support additional assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.
The Action Plan is submitted annually and serves as the County's application for its allocation of entitlement funds. As the ESG-CV2 funds had not been allocated at the time the first substantial amendment was prepared, an additional substantial amendment is necessary to identify how these new funds will be used.
ESG funds may be used for the following program components: street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing, Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and administrative activities. ESG-CV2 funds will be used to provide services under the rapid rehousing, street outreach, and emergency shelter activities. Through coordinated planning with the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care, funding will fill gaps in services and increase activities that will ensure that persons experiencing homelessness have the resources necessary to move into permanent housing as quickly as possible. Additionally, the funded activities for ESG-CV1 have been updated to include services in the following activities: rapid rehousing, HMIS, and street outreach. The updates were necessary after reviewing other available funding and the plans for current and future homeless services.
Approval of the plan amendments by your Board will enable the Department to submit the required funding documents to HUD. The Annual Action Plan has also been available for public review and comment on the County’s website at www.co.fresno.ca.us/grants <http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/grants> and the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care’s website at <http://www.fresnomaderahomeless.org/>. Agreements related to the services provided with ESG-CV funding will come before your Board separately as appropriate.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #7, July 7, 2020
BAI #14, June 4, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Substantial Amendment to 2019-20 Annual Action Plan
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa