AGENDA
ITEM
2 O CALENCO AGENDA
CALEXICO California ITEM
WHERE CALIFORNIA AND MEXICO MEET
2 CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: January 24, 2024
TO: Mayor and City Council
APPROVED BY: Esperanza Colio Warren, City Manage
REVIEWED BY:
PREPARED BY: Esperanza Colio Warren, City Manager
SUBJECT: Adoption of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)-CV1 Public Services - Subsistence Payments Program Updated Guidelines.
====£============
Recommendation:
Adoption of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)-CV1 Public Services - Subsistence Payments Program Updated Guidelines.
Background:
On February 1, 2023, the City Council approved the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)-CV1 Public Services - Subsistence Payments Program Guidelines. The original guidelines only allow assistance to eligible applicants for up to three months of services with a maximum amount of assistance per client/participant of up to $1,100.00. However, due to families continuing to be impacted by the pandemic and the funding used for this program is part of the CDBG-CARES Act, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is allowing up to three utility payments, in which the first payment may include more than two months of delinquent utility payments. This change will automatically increase the amount of assistance to eligible participants. Therefore, the original guidelines must be modified.
Discussion and Analysis:
In order to implement the program, the city must adopt guidelines to operate the CDBG Public Services - Subsistence Payments Program Updated Guidelines. This program will assist low-income eligible residents of the city of Calexico with utilities assistance for up to three payments. Utilities include electricity, gas, water, sewer, and trash (the last three activities are covered in one bill). Additionally, the program will assist individuals, located within the city limits, at risk of becoming homeless. Assistance includes, hotel vouchers, transportation services, meals, and clothing.
It is recommended that the City Council of the City of Calexico approve the attached CDBG - CV1 Subsistence Payments Program Updated Guidelines.
Coordinated With:
City Manager's Office
Attachments):
1. City of Calexico CDBG - CV1 Subsistence Payments Program Updated Guidelines 2 City of Calexico
Subsistence Payments
Program
COVID-19
Guidelines
Funded by
California Department of Housing and Community Development Community Development Block Grant
January 24, 2024
Page | 1
CITY OF CALEXICO
CDBG - CV-1 SUBSISTENCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM GUIDELINES
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the CDBG-CV Public Services Program (Subsistence Payments) is to provide short-term emergency assistance to individuals who lost their jobs, work hours were reduced, and continue being impacted by the Coronavirus Pandemic. This program also includes services to individuals located within the city limits of Calexico at risk of becoming homeless.
The activities listed in these guidelines must meet at least one of the three national objectives of the CDBG program. The three national objectives are:
1. Benefit to low-income and moderate-income (LMI) persons;
2. Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight; and
3. Meet a need having a particular urgency (referred to as urgent need).
These activities are described more completely in the Code of Federal Regulations at 24 CFR 570.201: Public Services.
This program is funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development through its Community Development Block Grant - Corona Virus Program (CDBG - CV).
ELIGIBILITY:
To be eligible for this program, participants must be low-income residents of the City of Calexico termination of employment or reduced working hours due to the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID- transportation services, meals, and clothing.
DEFINITIONS:
Household
A household is defined as all persons (related or unrelated) who occupy a housing unit.
INCOME RESTRICTIONS:
To receive assistance under this program, participants must have an annual household income that does not exceed the income limits established for Imperial County as noted below. The following are the State CDBG's income limits for the program:
Page | 2
City of Calexico 1/24/24
CITY OF CALEXICO
CDBG - CV-1 SUBSISTENCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM GUIDELINES
Effective 06/15/23
Number of Persons in 1 2 3 4 5 6 8
Household:
Extremely Low 17350 19800 24860 30000 35140 40280 45420| 50560 Project
Eligible Very Low Income 28900 33000 37150 41250 44550 47850 51150 54450 income Low Income 46200 52800 59400 65950 71250 76550 81800 87100 HCD Official State Income Limits
Annual Income shall be determined by projecting the income of the household over a twelve- month period, in accordance with the 24 CFR Part 5 (Section 8), which reads: "The Part 5 definition of annual income is the gross amount of income of all adult household members anticipated to be received during the coming 12-month period." However, all applicants to the Subsistence Payments Program will be required to complete a "Public Service Self-Certification of Income" form.
DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED
All adult household members will need to complete the "Public Service Program SELF- CERTIFICATION of Income" form and provide the following documentation:
• Acceptable Identification (ID)
• Past due bill and or notice of termination of services from the utility company. • Proof of lost job or reduced work hours due to California's Governor's Stay at Home Order in light of the Coronavirus Pandemic.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE
• Utility Assistance
Transportation
• Hotel Voucher
Meals
• Clothing
UTILITY ASSISTANCE:
Utilities assistance will be provided to low-income individuals and households who have delinquent accounts (past due bills, service interruptions notices), due to COVID-19, in order to avoid disconnection of services. Utility bill must be dated post the national emergency declaration date of March 13, 2020 by the United States government.
Page | 3
City of Calexico 1/24/24
CITY OF CALEXICO
CDBG - CV-1 SUBSISTENCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM GUIDELINES
Utility assistance will be provided in the form of short-term payments to the corresponding utility entity. Participant must provide original/copy, or electronic copy of bill from the utility company.
No cash or checks are to be given directly to participants.
Limited assistance will be provided for up to three payments (first payment may include more than 2 months of assistance) to eligible participants who meet the program eligibility criteria, and the HUD income limits for the program.
In order to receive assistance, the utility bill in question must be under the applicant's name and address on bill be client's primary place of residence.
Utility Assistance Types and Limits
The program will pay the following types of utilities, for up to three payments (first payment may include more than 2 months of utility services). • Electricity - up to three payments of service,
• Water, Sewer & Trash - up to three payments of service, • Natural Gas - up to three payments of service
There is no maximum amount of assistance per client/family. Cable, cell phone, internet services utilities are not eligible for this program.
HOTEL VOUCHERS:
Hotel vouchers will be available for individuals at risk of becoming homeless. All participants must be low-income residents of the city of Calexico or homeless within the city limits of Calexico. This assistance will be available for up to 90 days/3 months of service, with a limit of $1,100 for the three months. The city will have a list of eligible hotels located in the city of Calexico on file. If local hotels are not available in the city of Calexico, the city may opt to temporarily relocate families to other hotels located in Imperial County.
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES:
Transportation services will be available for eligible individuals in need of this service to reach a family member to end homelessness.
MEALS SERVICES:
The city will provide meals to individuals at risk of becoming homeless through a non-profit Page | 4
City of Calexico 1/24/24
CITY OF CALEXICO
CDBG - CV-1 SUBSISTENCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM GUIDELINES
organization. However, in case of emergency (earthquake, fire, flood, and similar incidents), the city may opt to purchase meals at local food vendors.
CLOTHING SERVICES:
Clothing will be available to individuals at risk of becoming homeless through a non-profit organization. However, in case of emergency (earthquake, fire, flood, and similar incidents), the city may opt to purchase clothes at local vendors.
Special Note:
All participants must complete the attached CDBG - CV Duplication of Benefits Certification
Page | 5
City of Calexico 1/24/24