For City Council Meeting [April 23, 2019]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Sean Grayson, Interim City Administrator
FROM: Perry Brents, Director of Community Services
Title
Request City Council to Adopt Budget Resolution No. 7502 1) Accepting the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) Grant Award for $600,759, 2) Appropriating $600,759 to specified revenue and expenditure accounts, and (3) Authorizing a two-year Contract with the County of San Bernardino for the Homeless Management Information System.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND:
City Council Resolution No. 7415 (Exhibit A) adopted on September 25, 2018 declared the existence of a shelter crisis in recognizing the urgent and immediate need for funding to address homelessness in the City of Rialto. On December 6, 2018, the City submitted a grant request to the County requesting HEAP funding for the Homeless Emergency Services Program (Exhibit B). On February 20, 2019, the County of San Bernardino Community Development and Housing Agency Office of Homeless Services formally notified the City of Rialto (Exhibit C) that it would receive funding of $600,759 over the next 2 years under the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP). The County provided a Memorandum of Understanding (Exhibit D) to implement the program.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
The Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) Grant is specific to servicing populations to those experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness. A significant number of persons within the City of Rialto’s jurisdiction are without the ability to obtain shelter, and as a result creating a threat to the health and safety of those persons. As lead agency of the HEAP Grant, the City of Rialto will be responsible for ongoing communication and coordination with all partner agencies, monitoring of program activities, and maintenance of program data and oversight of all partner agencies to ensure grant compliance.
The grant period is inclusive of May 1, 2019 and ends May 30, 2021. The program is year round, focusing on providing support services that advance individuals and families from homelessness to homes, jobs, health services and other resources. As specified, every community partner and subcontractor involved with the grant will be required to formally agree to the specific requirements outlined in the grant RFP and any/all stipulations provided by the City of Rialto.
The proposed Rialto Homeless Emergency Services Program will consist of one project, with seven emergency services utilizing a holistic approach within a wrap-around model:
1. Navigation Services - connecting target population with essential resources.
2. Prevention Services - providing resources and services tailored to unique needs.
3. Case Management - identify barriers that impede access to housing.
4. Operating Support for Short -Term and Comprehensive Homeless Services.
5. Housing Vouchers - provide emergency shelter vouchers for temporary housing.
6. Rapid Re-Housing Programs - using the Housing First Model, provide speedy solutions and supportive services for families and individuals to exit homelessness in addition, return to permanent housing.
7. Health and Safety Education-prevention/intervention for youth and adults, focused on providing mental health counseling and education.
The component parts of the project, service providers, and collaborative efforts identified in the grant proposal address the target population with service-oriented solutions with an eye on long-term solutions. Long Term results would see the City of Rialto create formal pathways to providing City programming and options for the effected target populations. In particular, the creation of public and private collaborative efforts sustained over time. The primary methods for producing the long-term results are the services offered. We propose to address the immediate needs of our target population, while preparing for permanent solutions addressed through the implementation of the project.
Planning - the City of Rialto and its service partners are preparing for immediate implementation to be on track for project readiness to have the project initiated by May 1, 2019, facilitating 50% of funding obligated by 12/31/2019 and 100% of funding spent by 5/30/2021.
Implementation - the project includes working through outreach, temporary housing/hotel-motel vouchers, food, clothing, individual/group/family counseling, health education, case management, childcare support rapid re-employment and referrals for those in need of emergency transitional housing and/or crisis intervention services - leading to long term solutions, and sustainable results across program components.
The City of Rialto Homeless Emergency Services Program (HESP) will serve approximately 100-150 at-risk and/or high-risk participants each year that are either homeless/on the verge of becoming homeless. The City will sustain a 24-hour outreach hotline service and crisis intervention (including drop-in counseling services) as well. In the long term, the City HESP program will become established and well positioned to serve as a provider that integrates a continuum of services that are well suited to meet the needs of those seeking emergency bridge housing or related services.
The Rialto HESP implementation creates offerings where there were previously none formally addressed by the City. In the long term, results through the implementation of the project will provide for permanent supportive housing for individuals and families with children - inclusive of sheltered housing, homeless services, and more sustainable efforts in addressing permanent solutions via programming. The implementation of the City of Rialto project creates real-time options dealing with Homelessness and those services proven effective at addressing the related issues. Reporting will include the preparation of the final project evaluation and outcome reports (covering two years) that is due at the conclusion of the two-year grant period.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The proposed action does not meet the definition of a project as defined by Section 15378 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and excludes the following:
1. Continuing administrative or maintenance activities, such as purchases for supplies, personnel-related actions, general policy and procedure making organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
This action is consistent with Guiding Principle 3A in the General Plan:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved this staff report, Agreement and Resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The County of San Bernardino has selected the City of Rialto to receive a grant for $600,759 over two years. An increase in estimated revenues of $600,759 to Fund Account No. 248-400-8812-7560 and an appropriation of $600,759 to the following expenditure accounts:
Account No. 248-500-8812-1001 for $ 11,165
Account No. 248-500-8812-1020 for $ 21,000
Account No. 248-500-8812-1010 for $ 10,000
Account No. 248-500-8812-2011 for $500,000
Account No. 248-500-8812-3050 for $ 58,594
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council:
• Adopt Budget Resolution 1) Accepting the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) Grant Award for $600,759, 2) Appropriating $600,759 to specified revenue and expenditure accounts, and (3) Authorizing a two-year Contract with the County of San Bernardino (Exhibit E).
• Authorize the issuance of annual purchase orders over 2 years, in amounts that are in excess of $15,000 for services associated with the HEAP Grant without exceeding grant annual budget as stated in grant agreement.
• Authorize the Mayor to execute each HEAP Grant agreement and any amendments she may deem advisable.
• Authorize the City Administrator to be responsible for the administration of the grant.