Agenda

Return

C. 61

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	February 27, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Allocation of Funds from Livable Communities Trust to Health Services to Fund the Contra Costa Housing Security Fund

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 02/27/2018

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

ABSENT:

Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Kristin Sherk, 925-674-7887
cc:	kara douglas

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: February 27, 2018
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ALLOCATE $10,000 from the Livable Communities Trust (District II portion) to the Health Services Department and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director to execute, on behalf of the County, a contract in an amount not to exceed $10,000 with Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation, a non-profit corporation, for the Contra Costa Housing Security Fund program for the period February 27, 2018 through February 26, 2019, as recommended by Supervisor Andersen.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No General Fund Impact. Funds in the amount of $10,000 are from the District II allocation of deposits into the Livable Communities Trust. On December 3, 2013, the Board of Supervisors determined that revenue from the Fund should be spent equally among supervisorial districts. At build-out of the development projects contributing revenue to the Fund, deposits will total $8,448,000. As of January 2, 2018, the fund balance was $7,710,185. The account has earned approximately $425,000 in interest to date. There have been $443,347 in expenditures. The approved expenditures to date are shown in Attachment A.

BACKGROUND:

The Livable Communities Trust Fund (Fund) is a Special Revenue Mitigation Fund established by the Board of Supervisors on November 15, 2005, following the approval of the Camino Tassajara Combined General Plan Amendment Project, also known as the Alamo Creek and Intervening Property residential projects, to implement a condition of approval. The Fund was established to implement the County's Smart Growth Action Plan. The residential developers pay an $8,000 per unit fee (excluding affordable housing portions of the projects) into the Fund. The Department of Conservation and Development administers the Fund.

The Contra Costa Housing Security Fund, hosted by the Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation, has been developed as a flexible funding pool to not only benefit homeless households with barriers to accessing and maintaining housing, but also to incentivize landlords to commit to renting to individuals and families experiencing a housing crisis. It supports goal two of the Smart Growth Action Plan to enable communities to meet affordable and regional "fair share" housing goals through construction, development, and renovation of affordable and senior housing. The Health Services Director, or designee, will execute on behalf of the County, a contract with the Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation to fund the Foundation $10,000 to assist the Contra Costa Housing Security Fund for the period of February 27, 2018 through February 26, 2019.

Bay Area rents have been rapidly increasing over the past few years. In Contra Costa County, renters need to earn 4.2 times the state minimum wage to afford the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rent of $2,173 for a two-bedroom apartment in Contra Costa County. When individuals and families can no longer make ends meet, the result is often homelessness. For homeless households trying to regain housing, there are two additional barriers to securing housing in the County: 1) landlord perception that low-income renters are too high a financial risk and 2) the financial burden of security and utility deposits for homeless families trying to get back on their feet. These barriers, if not overcome, result in longer stays in shelter, transitional housing, or on the streets.

The Contra Costa Housing Security Fund would increase access to needed housing in District II by covering typical expenses that can be huge obstacles for homeless, low-income renters such as:

Background and Credit Checks;
Rental Application fees;
Utility deposits;
Utility arrears;
Short-Term Rental Assistance; and/or
Security Deposit.

Financial incentives offered to potential landlords can help mitigate the real and perceived risks associated with renting to homeless individuals and families, and increase the availability of affordable housing stock in this tight housing market. Financial resources to landlords include:

Damages to units;
Rent arrears (eviction prevention); and/or
Increased security deposit.

Direct assistance to help homeless individuals secure housing, coupled with financial strategies targeted to landlords, are bold and practical strategies to overcome housing attainment barriers for households who have become homeless. The Contra Costa Housing Security Fund is one tool that can support the vision to make the experience of homelessness short-lived and non-recurring in the County. For these reasons, Supervisor Andersen recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve the financing of the Contra Costa Housing Security Fund for the period of February 27, 2018 through February 26, 2019, and allocating an award of $10,000 to assist homeless individuals and families in District II.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation would not receive the subject funds, and the ability to implement the Contra Costa Housing Security Fund would be compromised.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

The Contra Costa Housing Security Fund supports outcome 3: Families are Economically Self Sufficient, and outcome 4: Families are Safe, Stable, and Nurturing.