FISCAL IMPACT:
No General Fund impact. Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS funds are provided through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the City of Oakland, as administering agent. Consistent with HOPWA regulations, $35,810 is designated to cover staff costs associated with program administration.
CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA NUMBER):
Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS Program - 14.241
BACKGROUND:
The National Affordable Housing Act (Public Law 101-625, approved November 28, 1990) authorizes the Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS Program (HOPWA) to provide states and localities with resources to devise long-term comprehensive strategies for meeting the housing needs of persons 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. Approval of a funding agreement with the City will provide $511,585 in fiscal year 2015 funds to the County. These funds may be used for site acquisition, rehabilitation and new construction of affordable housing; supportive services; housing information services; rent and utility subsidies; and certain other housing related activities for low-income persons with HIV/AIDS in both incorporated and unincorporated areas of the County.
The Contra Costa Consortium (County staff and staff from the cities of Antioch, Concord, Pittsburg, Richmond, and Walnut Creek) makes funding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. County Conservation and Development (DCD) and Health Services (HSD) departments staff coordinate periodically to identify and address the housing and housing-related services needs of low-income persons with HIV/AIDS in Contra Costa County. Funding allocations are based on factors such as client needs and timely expenditure of HOPWA funds.
HSD HIV/AIDS program activities include housing advocacy and assistance 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. New for fiscal year 2015/16, HSD plans to pilot a Short Term Rental Mortgage and Utility Assistance Program (STRMU) as part of a homeless prevention strategy, intended to reduce the risks of homelessness and to improve access to health care and other needed support. STRMU will involve efforts to restore client self-sufficiency and future independence from housing support by the end of the program's term. This will be accomplished through the use of time-limited housing assistance payments for eligible individuals and by the creation of individual housing service plans that include an assessment of current resources and the establishment of long-term goals for recipient households.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the Board does not approve the fiscal year 2015 HOPWA funding agreement with the City of Oakland, the County would not receive and administer $511,585 in HOPWA funds, and low-income persons with HIV/AIDS in the County would lose vital housing and supportive services.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
N/A.