DATE: November 6, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: California Emergency Solutions and Housing Program Administrative Entity Resolution
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 the California Emergency Solutions and Housing Program administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action is necessary for the County’s participation as the Administrative Entity (AE) on behalf of the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care (FMCoC) for the California Emergency Solutions and Housing (CESH) Program, allowing the Department of Social Services to administer the funds to service providers for eligible homeless services within the FMCoC’s jurisdiction. On October 12, 2018, the FMCoC submitted the CESH Program Application to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) with a placeholder resolution to meet the October 15, 2018 deadline, contingent upon your Board’s approval. There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should the Board elect not to approve the recommended action, the FMCoC would forfeit approximately $1,563,085 of funding available to serve the homeless in the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. If approved, HCD will contract with the County to make an estimated $1,563,085 available in CESH Program funds with up to 5% or $78,154 of the grant to be used for administrative costs. Although $1,563,085 was allocated to the FMCoC, $3,126,170 is listed in the proposed resolution as recommended by HCD, in the event that additional funds become available. Funds from the grant will be available for use for five years from the date the State executes a contract with the AE. There is no matching contribution requirement for these funds. Sufficient appropriations are included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
Senate Bill (SB) 850 (Chapter 48, Statutes of 2018) established the CESH Program, which is funded with a portion of SB 2, Building Homes and Jobs Act (Chapter 364, Statutes of 2017), homeless revenue and approximately $25,000,000 in unallocated California Emergency Solutions Grant funds.
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department to serve as the AE and replace the application’s placeholder resolution to administer the CESH Program funds, which will allow additional homeless services to be provided within the FMCoC’s jurisdiction, including the County of Madera. CESH funds may be used for five primary activities: housing relocation and stabilization, operating subsidies for permanent housing, flexible housing subsidy, operating support for emergency housing interventions, and system support for homeless services and housing delivery.
An ad hoc committee comprised of thirteen FMCoC members, which includes a Department representative, was formed to develop a plan for CESH funding, utilizing strategies recommended by Barbara Poppe and Associates in the A Framework for Action report.
Although CESH funds are allocated to the FMCoC and are under its jurisdiction, the Department, as the Administrative Entity, will be responsible for awarding funds to service providers through the County’s procurement process. Agreements resulting from the process will be brought to your Board for consideration, as appropriate.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #5, November 6, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution
On file with Clerk - CESH Program 2018 Application
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa