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Anaheim, CA 92805
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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT
DATE: MARCH 19, 2024
FROM: HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: HOMELESS HOUSING, ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION
PROGRAM (HHAP) ROUND 5 APPLICATION
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 03
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Motion, approve the final submission of the regional Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program grant application and attachments to the California Interagency Council on Homelessness; and authorize the Housing and Community Development Director, or her designee, to modify the application and attachments as needed, provided that any such modifications do not materially change the purpose or scope of the submission; and if awarded, increase the Housing and Community Development Department’s revenue and expenditures budget accordingly to commensurate with the grant award; and authorize the Housing and Community Development Director, or her designee, to accept the grant, execute required grant documents, and take all other actions necessary to implement grant activities.
DISCUSSION:
The California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) has released a fifth round of Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Program funding to pursue homelessness reduction activities throughout the State. HHAP funding is the result of continued advocacy efforts on the part of the Big Cities Mayor’s Coalition, a collaboration of the leaders from the State's 13 largest cities who work together to champion the most crucial issues Californians face. At this time, it is the understanding of staff that this round of HHAP funding is the last round of such funds mandated by State statue. No other future rounds of HHAP funding are scheduled to be released.
While HHAP 5 funding has been earmarked specifically for Anaheim, receipt of funding is contingent upon the submission of a regional application between the cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Irvine; the County of Orange; and the Orange County Continuum of Care. The mandated joint application outlines efforts that are being taken across the county to address homelessness with accountability measures for continued investment of HHAP-5 into new and existing homelessness efforts.
Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) Round 5 Application March 19, 2024
To help inform the development of the application, three focus groups, one staff-led outreach effort, and an electronic survey were conducted with persons who are currently or recently engaged with the Anaheim homeless system of care or who are involved with the system of care in some capacity. The locations of focus groups and outreach efforts are listed below:
Anaheim Emergency Shelter, a 325-bed shelter for single adults and couples Covenant House, a transition-aged youth emergency shelter Illumination Foundation, a rapid rehousing and family shelter provider La Palma Park and State Route 91 exits at Lemon Street, impacted area where unsheltered individuals reside
A total of 41 individuals with lived experience of homelessness participated in these conversations. Additionally, staff solicited additional input via an electronic survey open for the entire month of February 2024. 69 additional comments were received from organizations and individuals invested in homelessness work in the community.
Feedback received from community members include:
While the Anaheim system of care has various housing programs for families, there is a need for emergency interim housing options. Many households remain on a list for family shelter with matches to shelter beds taking up to a few weeks to be made. The most immediate, universal emergency housing resource available is a two-week motel voucher issued by the County of Orange Social Services Agency.
Persons living unsheltered would like to see more pet beds made available at area shelters and more substance use treatment options be offered to help with substance use detoxification and physical health while addressing long-term housing needs.
The community would like to see more prevention programs to help those at risk of homelessness including developing methods to help identify and target prevention programs towards households before they are issued eviction notices.
The City has increased focus on meeting the immediate needs of households by applying for and securing a CalOptima Health-funded street medicine program inclusive of health and interim housing opportunities. The City has also expanded efforts to apply for emergency housing opportunities by pursuing grants that would lead to an increase in transitional housing placements and continues to meet and work with the community on addressing barriers to the immediate and unique needs of all subpopulations experiencing homelessness.
Staff values all the input received from the community engagement process and has utilized this information to inform the completion of the HHAP-5 application.
State Requirements for the Application
Compared to previous HHAP funding rounds, HHAP-5 is distinguished by new Cal ICH directives requiring all funded entities in a specific region to submit one joint Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) Round 5 Application March 19, 2024
application. The collaborative entities for this application include the cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Irvine; the County of Orange; and the Orange County Continuum of Care. While entities may submit separate budgets for their specific funding allocations, all entities must work together to complete an application that reflects the landscape of existing homelessness efforts in the County of Orange. This includes outlining existing homelessness-related funding sources and investments; identification of system performance measures including strategies for achieving numerical goals and key actions to address racial disparities; and strategies for key areas Cal ICH has prioritized including institutional exits, aggressive plans to end homelessness, and connection to all available mainstream benefit and supportive services programs.
City staff worked collaboratively with all entitlement entities through a series of coordinated meetings to research and identify relevant information, compile and write narratives, and complete the application. The notice of funding availability states that three public meetings must be held to hear public comment on the direction of the application prior to submittal. Public meetings were held across the County on the following dates:
City of Anaheim Community Listening Session
Thursday, February 1, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Anaheim Downtown Community Center
Commission to End Homelessness Meeting
Wednesday, February 21, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the County Administration South (CAS) Building Conference Center.
City of Irvine City Council Meeting
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at Irvine City Hall Orange County Continuum of Care Meeting
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the County Administration South (CAS) Building Conference Center
City of Santa Ana Community Listening Session
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at the Delhi Center Following submission of the regional application, all collaborating entities will also produce a regional Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), per state directive, to ensure all parties coordinate homelessness response efforts and investments, whenever possible.
An MOU similar in nature currently exists but will be updated or replaced by a new MOU reflecting the elements mandated by HHAP-5. The draft of such MOU will be brought before City Council at a later date for review and ratification prior to being executed.
City of Anaheim Funding Allocation
Utilizing the verified 2023 Point-in-Time Count from the Housing and Urban Development Department and general population numbers, Cal ICH has allotted the city of Anaheim $5,878,393.38 in HHAP-5 funds. Based on existing contract obligations and community feedback, city staff has completed the attached proposed funding plan for the city of Anaheim. The proposed spending plan presented in the application is subject to adjustment based on needs identified during the planning and implementation period.
Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) Round 5 Application March 19, 2024
The full proposed regional application, in substantial form, is also attached for review.
Elements of the application are still being finalized, largely individual funding plans from each entitled entity, however, the application less these funding plans and the MOU is complete.
Additional public comment as well as direction from City Council will be used to modify the application and funding plan prior to submission to the State. The HHAP Round 5 application is due on March 27, 2024 with the Orange County Continuum of Care being the submitting entity for the region.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
If any grant funds are awarded, the Housing & Community Development Department’s revenue and expenditures budget will be increased commensurate with the grant funds received.
Respectfully submitted,
Grace Ruiz-Stepter
Housing & Community Development Director
Attachments:
1. Draft City of Anaheim Homeless Assistance and Prevention Program Round 5 Funding Plan
2. Draft Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Round 5 Application