DATE: May 12, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Budget Resolutions for Homeless Funds
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2019-20 appropriations and estimated revenues for the Emergency Homelessness Funding Grant Fund 0065, Subclass 17240, Org 1135 in the amount of $1,883,713 for State COVID-19 Emergency Homelessness Funding Grant funding (4/5 vote); and
2. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2019-20 appropriations and estimated revenues for Department of Social Services Org 5610 in the amount of $1,883,713 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Department of Social Services to address budgetary needs caused by the unanticipated pandemic and utilize State of California COVID-19 grant funding to reimburse Department expenditures for homeless response services. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. If the recommended actions are not approved, the Department will not have sufficient appropriations to transfer the Emergency Homelessness Grant revenue to fund homelessness response services expenditures in the Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the first recommended action will increase appropriations and estimated revenues in the Emergency Homelessness Funding Grant Org 1135 to fund Operating Transfers Out to DSS Org 5610 to offset costs for direct services to the homeless population. Approval of the second recommended action will increase appropriations and estimated revenues in DSS Org 5610 for contracted agreements associated with the COVID-19 Emergency Homelessness Funding Grant.
DISCUSSION:
On March 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency in California due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 18, 2020, the Governor signed Executive Order N-32-20 providing flexibility to local governments to spend emergency homelessness funding on solutions to combat COVID-19 and its impacts on the homeless population.
On March 24, 2020, your Board approved an agreement with RH Community Builders to increase low-barrier emergency shelter beds during the COVID-19 local emergency to mitigate the risk of transmission among the unsheltered population.
On April 14, 2020, your Board approved State Revenue Agreements 20-HFC-00096 and 20-HFC-00097, County Agreement Nos. 20-145 and 20-146, respectively, with the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency to receive grant funding. The Department, acting as the Administrative Entity on behalf of the County of Fresno and Fresno-Madera Continuum of Care, received COVID-19 Emergency Homelessness Funding intended to protect the health and safety of homeless populations and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
On April 16, 2020, the Fresno City Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Fresno for their allocation to support the community-wide joint COVID-10 Emergency Homelessness Response plan. On April 28, 2020, your Board approved the MOU, which supports response services in both the City and County.
Approval of the recommended actions allow the Department to utilize the State of California COVID-19 Emergency Homeless grant funding (Org 1135) to reimburse contracts paid through the Department of Social Services Org 5610.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #38, April 28, 2020
BAI #38, April 14, 2020
BAI #10.2, March 24, 2020
BAI #2, March 17, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk -Resolution (Org 1135)
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org 5610)
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa