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County Administrator's Report 12. 7.
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| BCC Regular Meeting |
Budget & Finance Consent |
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| RECOMMENDATION: |
Recommendation Concerning the Agreements for Emergency Solutions Grant Program with Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc., and Opening Doors Northwest Florida, Inc. - Clara Long, Interim Neighborhood & Human Services Department Director
That the Board take the following action concerning the Agreements for Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program:
A. Approve the Agreement for the Emergency Solutions Grant Program with Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc., subject to Legal review and sign-off, providing ESG support, in the amount of $32,660, for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing financial assistance and case management services to ESG eligible clients in Escambia County;
B. Approve the Agreement for the Emergency Solutions Grant Program with Opening Doors Northwest Florida, Inc., subject to Legal review and sign-off, providing ESG support, in the amount of $32,661, for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing financial assistance and case management services to ESG eligible clients in Escambia County; and
C. Authorize the Chairman or Vice Chairman to execute the Agreements and all related forms or documents as may be required to fully implement the Agreements.
[Funding: Fund 110, Other Grants & Projects Fund, HUD Emergency Solutions Grant, Cost Center 370293] |
| BACKGROUND: |
The 2016 and 2017 Escambia Consortium Annual Action Plan as approved by the Board included an allocation for the Emergency Solutions Grant Program, which is specifically utilized for homeless activities. Rapid Re-housing and Homeless Prevention services are two eligible activities under the grant. $65,321 is available for these activities, which must be expended by September 2020. The 2016 ESG Program contains $33,101 and 2017 ESG Program contains $32,220 for direct financial assistance and case management for rapid re-housing (RRH) and homelessness prevention (HP) activities for households at or below 30% of area median income meeting HUD's definition of homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Funding can be used for rent and security deposits and utility assistance for applicants meeting the program eligibility requirements. Case Management funding is also incorporated to ensure that all HUD program requirements are met, including client intake, inspection of rental units for habitability, visual inspections of units for Lead Based Paint, third party verifications of income eligibility, verification of homelessness or homeless risk, financial literacy education, assistance with locating affordable units, outreach to landlords and utility providers, and documentation of client information into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). All funding must be matched 100%. Neighborhood Enteprise Division staff is working with HUD to request waivers related to COVID-19, which would permit some virtual unit inspections, decreases in frequency of income recertifications, and waiver of fair market rent caps during this pandemic.
The Neighborhood Enterprise Division issued a request for proposals from interested agencies to administer these activities, and received a response from Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc. (Exhibit I) and Opening Doors Northwest Florida, Inc. (Exhibit II). Funding was split between the two agencies, with the Agreement with Catholic Charities (Exhibit III) to give priority to Homeless Prevention activities and the Agreement with Opening Doors (Exhibit IV) to give priority to Rapid Rehousing activities. |
| BUDGETARY IMPACT: |
| Funding required to support the Agreements is currently budgeted in Fund 110/Other Grants (ESG), Cost Center 370293. No County general fund revenue is required for this program. |
| LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF: |
| The ESG Agreements are subject to final review and legal sign-off by the County Attorney's office. |
| PERSONNEL: |
| N/A |
| POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION: |
| The Agreement with Catholic Charities and Opening Doors must be approved by the Board in order to meet HUD obligation and expenditure deadlines. |
| IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION: |
| Grant implementation and oversight will be provided by Neighborhood Enterprise Division (NED). Implementation will be monitored by NED in cooperation with each agency to properly complete the activities cited in the Agreements. All parties are aware of the approval schedule for this recommendation. |
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