Agenda

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C.59

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Catherine Kutsuris, Conservation & Development Director
Date:	May 12, 2009

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Authorization to Apply for Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program Funds

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/12/2009

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Bob Calkins, 335-7220
cc:	Danielle Kelly County Administrator - V. Mejia Conservation & Development - J. Kennedy Health Services - C. Belon

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 12, 2009
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or her desginee, to apply for and accept from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development a Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program grant in the amount of $1,421,551, as recommended by the Family and Human Services Committee.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No General Fund impact. Funds are provided to the County on a formula basis through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. CFDA# 14.257 (Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program)

BACKGROUND:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed by the President on February 17, 2009, provides $1.5 billion to help families and individuals who are either at risk of becoming homeless or homeless to pay rent, make security deposits, pay utility bills and cover other housing expenses. It also provides funds to help these households receive appropriate services related to housing search and retention. Through the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP), Contra Costa County is eligible to receive $1,421,551. It is expected that this is a one-time funding allocation and funding won’t be renewed in future years, therefore ongoing programmatic funding will not be possible. An overview of the HPRP and proposed timeline are attached as Exhibits A and A-1.

Staff from the Department of Conservation and Development, and Health Services Homeless Program sponsored a stakeholders meeting on April 2, 2009 to gather input on the needs in the community and ideas on possible program design elements. Over 30 people, representing 17 nonprofit and County agencies, attended the meeting and provided specific comments and ideas on the overall design of program including how the HPRP funds should be split between homeless prevention activities and rapid re-housing activities. The general consensus was that the HPRP funds should be split 2/3 for homeless prevention activities and 1/3 for rapid re-housing activities. Several persons commented that partnerships and collaboration between service providers should be strongly encouraged so that the limited funding can be used as effectively and efficiently as possible.

On April 20, 2009, the Family and Human Services Committee met to review the HPRP program elements, indicated that the HPRP is consistent with the County's Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness, and voted to recommend to the full Board that it approve the submittal of the HPRP application (Substantial Amendment to the County's FY 2008/09 CDBG Action Plan) to HUD by the May 18, 2009 deadline. HUD is expected to approve the County’s application by July 2, 2009. Staff will return to the Board of Supervisors with the full program design and recommended funding allocations in early September 2009, with HPRP services expected to begin shortly thereafter.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the Board does not approve the request to submit the HPRP application to HUD, then the County will not receive funds to assist families and individuals who are either at risk of becoming homeless or are homeless to pay rent, make security deposits, pay utility bill and cover other housing expenses.