REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  September  18, 2018
CATEGORY:  Consent - Health and Human Services-8.

SUBJECT:

California Emergency Solutions and Housing Program application in the amount of $857,130 to provide emergency housing program funds in the Continuum of Care Region.

Supervisorial District No. :  ALL

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Laura Burch, Director (530) 225-5160

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Laura Burch, Director

RECOMMENDATION

Adopt a resolution which: (1) Authorizes the Housing and Community Action Programs department to submit an application to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for California Emergency Solutions and Housing Program (CESH) funds in an amount not to exceed $857,130 for rental assistance, homeless prevention, street outreach services, and systems support activities for the period January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2023;  (2)  approves and authorizes the Director of Housing and Community Action Programs to sign and submit the application, and other application documents, including retroactive; (3) states funds will be expended in compliance with applicable state, federal, and other relevant statutes regarding the CESH program; and (4) approves and authorizes the Chairman or Vice Chairman to sign the grant agreement and subsequent amendments, and other documents related to the CESH award.

SUMMARY

Upon approval of the recommendation, a grant application will be submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) requesting California Emergency Solutions and Housing Program (CESH) funding to receive $857,130 for Rental Assistance, Homeless Prevention Program, Street Outreach services, and Systems Support of the Continuum of Care including, but not limited to, Coordinated Entry, Homeless Management Information System and homeless planning activities.

DISCUSSION

In 2016, Senate Bill 850 was enacted to provide a funding source for multiple housing programs.  In 2018, Senate Bill 850 was amended to include additional homeless programs.  The Building Homes and Jobs Act established a trust fund which was designed to be allocated by HCD to assist persons experiencing or at risk of homelessness.  The Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund allocation was designed to fund two homeless centers in California and the remainder was to be split between the California Emergency Solutions and Housing Program and the Housing for a Healthy California Program.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development announced the availability of $53 million in funding in the first of two rounds of application.  The CESH Program is funded from a portion of the first and second quarters of revenue deposited in the Building Homes and Jobs Act Trust Fund (Fund) and approximately $25 million in unallocated California Emergency Solutions Grant funds.  A second application, which will include revenue from the third and fourth quarters of the Fund, will be released early in 2019.  Any funds not allocated in the first round of funding, will be reallocated among all Continuum of Care (CoC) service area.

Through HCD’s formula process, our CoC Region which includes the counties of Del Norte, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra and Siskiyou, was allocated $857,130.  Through a small application process within the CoC service area, four requests were received.  Rental assistance was requested in the amount of $372,000, street outreach was requested in the amount of $150,000, and the remainder was requested for System supports including Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and Coordinated Entry System (CES) support.  On August 22, 2018, the Continuum of Care Executive Board appointed Shasta County Department of Housing and Community Action Programs, through the Community Action Agency, to act as the Administrative Entity to apply for the CESH funds on behalf of the CoC Region.

The grant application is due to HCD on September 27, 2018.  HCD intends to award funds in November 2018.  This is not a competitive grant application process.

ALTERNATIVES

The Board of Supervisors could decline to approve the resolution.  This alternative is not recommended as these funds could leverage future funds. 

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

County Counsel has approved the resolution as to form. This recommendation has been reviewed by the County Administrative Office.  This recommendation has been supported by the Continuum of Care Executive Board and the General Membership.

FINANCING

CESH is funding allocated by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.  An allocation of a minimum of $857,130 will be awarded upon a complete application to HCD. 

Once the grant application is approved by HCD, a budget amendment will be requested.  Grant revenue not expended during one fiscal year will roll forward to the next fiscal year.  There is a no match requirement for this grant application. There is no additional General Fund impact associated with approval of the recommendation.