REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  July  18, 2017
CATEGORY:  Consent - Health and Human Services-9.

SUBJECT:

Revenue Agreements with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Continuum of Care Funding.

Supervisorial District No. :  ALL

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Richard Kuhns, Psy.D, Director of Housing/Community Action Programs 530-225-5160

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Richard Kuhns, Psy.D, Director of Housing/Community Action Programs

RECOMMENDATION

Approve and authorize the County Executive Officer to sign two revenue agreements with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): (1) In the amount of $30,000 for support of the Homeless Management Information System for the period from date of execution by HUD through the end of the project performance period to be set by HUD; and (2) in the amount of $29,358 for development of a coordinated entry system for the homeless continuum of care for the period from date of execution by HUD though the end of the project performance period to be set by HUD.

SUMMARY

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the County of Shasta two federal homeless Continuum of Care Program grants.  The first grant will provide funds to expand use of the software system that collects data on homeless individuals and families; the second grant will provide funds to develop a coordinated entry system for homeless individuals and families.  Receipt of future state and federal homeless funding is contingent upon both systems meeting federal standards. 

DISCUSSION

The Redding/Shasta County Homeless Continuum of Care (COC) is an organization consisting of government agencies, non-profits, faith-based groups, and individuals who have an interest in homeless issues.  Communities must operate a continuum of care to establish eligibility with HUD for continuum of care funding.  In September 2016, an application for funding to support both the homeless management information system (HMIS) and the coordinated entry system (CES) was submitted to HUD through the COC funding process.  The application was successful.  As a result, both revenue agreements are recommended for approval.

Revenue from the $30,000 HMIS agreement will be expended on county staff salaries and benefits to administer the software system.  The $29,358 CES grant will fund salaries and benefits of county staff, travel costs, and an outside contractor, to be procured, to develop policies and procedures for the COC service area.  The service area includes Shasta, Siskiyou, Lassen, Plumas, Del Norte, Modoc, and Sierra counties.

On June 22, 2010, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness released a comprehensive strategy to address homelessness titled “Opening Doors”.  This strategy was in response to the 2009 Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act.  Consequently, state and federal agencies have linked eligibility for homeless grant funds to community participation in a homeless management information system.  HMIS is an information technology system used for the collection of data on homeless individuals and families who use residential or other homeless services.

HUD has released several notices since July of 2014 encouraging each COC to establish and operate a coordinated entry system that provides an initial comprehensive assessment of the needs of chronically homeless individuals and families.  Coordinated entry systems are intended to help communities prioritize people who are most in need of assistance.  On January 24, 2017, HUD set a deadline for COCs to have a coordinated entry system in place no later than January 23, 2018.  To comply, policies and procedures must be written by that date.  CES will be implemented through a phased process.

Upon approval of the recommendation, the two agreements will be submitted to HUD for final execution.  It is anticipated that the effective date for both agreements will be within 30 days of Board approval, and the term of the agreement will expire within 12 months.

ALTERNATIVES

The Board of Supervisors could decline to approve the recommendation.  This alternative is not recommended as both revenue agreements will fund COC activities that are required by HUD.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

County Counsel has approved the agreements as to form.  Risk Management has approved the agreements.  This recommendation has been reviewed by the Health and Human Services Agency and by the County Administrative Office.

FINANCING

Shasta County’s Health & Human Services Agency is providing the required 25% match for both of these agreements by utilizing the Whole Person Care grant.  Anticipated revenue and appropriations will be included in a requested budget amendment to the FY 2017/2018 Adopted Budget for the Community Action Agency.  It is anticipated that all funds will be expended during FY 2017/18.  There is no additional General Fund impact with approval of this recommendation.