Agenda

Return

C. 95

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	July 27, 2021

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Allocation of Fiscal Year 2019/20 Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) Funds

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 07/27/2021

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:

Kristin Sherk (925) 655-2889

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: July 27, 2021
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE the allocation of $299,010 from Fiscal Year 2019/20 Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) funds to the County Health Services HIV/AIDS program for HOPWA eligible supportive services.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No General Fund impact. 100% Federal Funds. HOPWA funds are provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the City of Oakland, as the HOPWA Grantee. CFDA No.: 14.241.

BACKGROUND:

The National Affordable Housing Act (Public Law 101-625, approved November 28, 1990) authorizes the HOPWA Program to provide states and localities with resources to devise long-term comprehensive strategies for meeting the housing needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS and related diseases. The City of Oakland (City) is the HOPWA grant recipient for Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The City allocates HOPWA funds between the counties based on the number of HIV/AIDS cases. These funds may be used for site acquisition, rehabilitation and new construction of affordable housing, supportive services, housing information services, rent, mortgage and utility subsidies, and certain other housing related activities for

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS in both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the County. HOPWA eligible supportive services include medical case management, meals/nutritional services, mental health services, and transportation.

The County Health Services Department (CCHS) HIV/AIDS program has worked with the HOPWA program since its inception in the mid 1990s. Activities include housing advocacy and housing information services, including client intake, housing needs assessment, assistance with locating affordable housing, assistance with housing-related benefit applications, development and implementation of client housing plans, emergency assistance funds, follow-up to ensure receipt of benefits and housing, and referral to other services.

At Contra Costa County, the Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) and CCHS jointly coordinate periodically to identify and address the housing-related service needs of low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS in Contra Costa County. Funding allocations for both housing development and services are based on factors such as client needs and timely expenditure of HOPWA funds. Per the executed funding agreement dated July 1, 2019 with the City and the County, FY 2019/20 HOPWA funds are eligible to be used for HOPWA eligible activities through June 30, 2022, and funds remain unallocated from 2019/20. Beginning July 1, 2021, CCHS is proposing to use $299,010 in HOPWA funds for HOPWA supportive services, including medical case management, mental health services, food, and transportation vouchers. The purpose of this board order is to allocate HOPWA funds accordingly and to inform the City, as HOPWA Grantee, the County's approval of use of such HOPWA funding and to allow the City to complete its Substantial Amendment process to the City's FY 2019/20 Annual Action Plan, if applicable. The HOPWA-eligible services to be augmented by this funding include:

Medical Case Manager (MCM): The MCM would work with low-income, HOPWA-eligible clients enrolled in Ryan White Services (a distinct federal funding source to support services for persons with HIV/AIDS), to connect them to medical care, assist with addressing barriers to care, and connecting clients to available services. Services currently provided directly by CCHS or through subcontractors include housing advocacy and short-term rental assistance, medical transportation, food boxes/home-delivered meals, medical nutrition therapy, ambulatory/outpatient care for individuals without health insurance, health insurance enrollment, dental care, and psychosocial support services.
Mental Health Clinical Specialist (MHCS): The MHCS would provide individual and group counseling options for clients experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. This is a service category that has seen consistent demand from clients and MCMs, but there has not been sufficient Ryan White funding to meet the need.
Food Vouchers and Transportation Vouchers: To supplement existing food and transportation gift card purchases for clients facing food and/or transportation insecurity.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the Board does not approve the allocation of HOPWA funds to CCHS, funding for additional HOPWA supportive services would not be available and low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS in the County would lose vital housing and supportive services.