Agenda

Return

C. 63

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	November 17, 2020

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Acceptance of $5 Million in State Emergency Solutions Grant-Coronavirus Round 2 Funds

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 11/17/2020

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Gabriel Lemus, 925-674-7882

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: November 17, 2020
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Resolution No. 2020/297 authorizing the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to apply for and execute a contract/contract amendment to accept State of California (State) Emergency Solutions Grant-Coronavirus Round 2 (ESG-CV2) funds in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 for eligible activities to assist homeless individuals and families with services and to address impacts related to COVID-19, as approved by the State in accordance with all State ESG-CV2 Program requirements and other applicable rules and laws.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No General Fund impact. All funds are provided to the County on a formula basis through the State of California. The State ESG-CV2 funds are allocated to the State by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and then distributed to eligible local Administrative Entities. Contra Costa County is an eligible Administrative Entity. The estimated State ESG-CV2 formula allocation to the County is $5 million. A portion of the funds determined by the State ($161,300) is reserved for program administration in the County's Department of Conservation and Development.

BACKGROUND:

The State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) allocates State Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds to Continuum of Care (CoC) geographic areas. The CoC is a program through which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development strives to end homelessness. The County’s Health, Housing and Homeless Services (H3) division manages the CoC for Contra Costa. The County Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) is the approved Administrative Entity for the State ESG funds and is required to collaborate with the CoC to allocate the funding. DCD and H3 have a long history of working together to develop and implement funding recommendations that meet the ESG Program activity requirements. Key tasks performed with ESG funds are: (1) engage homeless individuals and families who are living on the street, (2) improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families, (3) help operate shelters, (4) provide essential services to shelter residents, (5) rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families, (6) prevent families/individuals from becoming homeless, and (7) reporting and management of client-level data and data on the provision of housing and services to homeless individuals and families and persons at-risk of homelessness.

As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) that was passed by Congress and signed by the President on March 27, 2020, HCD received an additional amount of ESG-Coronavirus (ESG-CV) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to allocate to the various Administrative Entities to distribute in their respective CoC geographic areas. In addition to the range of regular ESG eligible activities, the ESG-CV funds must also prevent, prepare for, and/or respond to the coronavirus and its impacts.

On June 1, 2020 HCD announced the availability of State ESG-CV Round 1 funds (ESG-CV1) to Administrative Entities and, on July 14, 2020, the County Board of Supervisors approved Resolution 2020/193 to authorize the DCD Director, or designee, to apply for and execute a contract to accept the State ESG-CV1 funds. HCD provided DCD the contract for the State ESG-CV1 funds on October 27, 2020. DCD will provide the recommended allocations for State ESG-CV1 funds for the Board's consideration at a future Board of Supervisors meeting.

On October 2, 2020, HCD announced the availability of the State ESG-CV Round 2 (ESG-CV2) funds for Administrative Entities to submit formal applications to receive these funds. HCD’s deadline for Administrative Entities to submit applications was October 28, 2020 and DCD staff submitted the application by the deadline. Given the short timeframe to submit applications, the selection of service providers to carry out activities with the ESG-CV2 funds is not required at this time but Administrative Entities were required to submit the application by the October 28, 2020 deadline. The selection of and allocations to service providers will take place at a later time and the Board of Supervisors will consider approval at a future meeting.

To apply for the allocation of State ESG-CV2 funds, the County Board of Supervisors must approve a resolution (attached) authorizing and affirming the following: 1) that the funds will be used in a manner consistent with all applicable laws, regulations, and contracts regarding the State ESG-CV2 Program; 2) that the County will receive State ESG-CV2 grant funds in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000; 3) that the State ESG-CV2 funds will be used for eligible activities; and 4) that the DCD Director or Assistant Deputy Director are authorized to execute a Standard Agreement or amendment for State ESG-CV2 funds and related documents. Given the short timeframe, HCD has allowed Administrative Entities to have their respective authorizing resolution approved after the submittal of the application.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The County will not be able to receive State ESG-CV2 funds to support CoC geographic areas.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Programs and activities funded with State ESG-CV2 support one or more of the following children's outcomes:

(1) Children Ready for and Succeeding in School;
(2) Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood;
(3) Families that are Economically Self Sufficient;
(4) Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing; and
(5) Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families