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August 8, 2023
ITEM TITLE
Homeless Activities: Accept Additional Funds from the County Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Program, Approv e an Associated Amendment to the Agreement, Appropriate Funds, and Exten d the Declaration of the Shelter Crisis
Report Number: 23-0201
Location: Homeless Bridge Shelter at 205 27th Street, Chula Vista Department: Housing and Homeless Services
Environmental Notice : The Project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) State Guidelines Section 15301 Class 1 (Existing Facilities), Section 15303 Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), Sectio n 15304 Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land), and Section 15061(b)(3). Under NEPA, pursuant to Title 24, Part 58.40, the Environmental Assessment has been prepared, and a Findings of No Significant Impact has been made pursuant to Title 24, Part 58.43(a) of the Code of Federal Regulations and pursuant to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Environmental Guidelines. Furthermore, California Government Code section 8698.4(a)(4) provides that CEQA shall not apply to actions taken by a city to encumber, or facilitate the encumbrance of, land owned by the city for, or to provide financial assistance to, a homeless shelter constructed or allowed by that section. Thus, no further environmental review is required.
Recommended Action
Adopt resolutions: A) Authorizing the acceptance of a $ 154,703.53 Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Program grant from the County of San Diego to implement the Chula Vista Homeless Bridge Shelter Capital Project, approving an agreement with the County to implement said project, and appropriating funds for these purposes; (4/5 Vote Required) and B) Extending the declaration of the Shelter Crisis.
SUMMARY
On October 11, 2022, the City submitted a proposal to the County of San Diego’s Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Program to fund costs associated with the construction of the new emergency bridge shelter.
In December of 2022, the City received an official notice of award for the grant funds in the amount of P a g e | 2
$1,845,296.47. After the award, the City received notification that an additional $154,703.53 was allocated, bringing the total grant award to $2,000,000, the City’s original request.
Furthermore, the Homeless Shelter Crisis Declaration (“Declaration”) previously approved has expired. The Declaration provides flexibility to cities in producing housing opportunities to the unsheltered by removing development barriers. To be eligible for grant funds designated for emergency shelter services, the City must have an approved Declaration by the City Council at the time of any grant award, which expired on June 30, 2023.
This item seeks to formally accept the additional grant funds, authorize execution of the corresponding agreements, appropriate the funds, and extend the existing Declaration of Homeless Shelter Crisis.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed project exempt from CEQA pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) State Guidelines Sect ion 15301 Class 1 (categorical exemption for existing facilities), Section 15303 Class 3 (categorical exemption for new construction or conversion of small structures), Section 15304 Class 4 would not result in a significant effect on the environment, crea te a cumulative impact, damage a scenic highway, be located on a site pursuant to Section 65962.5, or cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Thus, no further environmental review is required.
Under NEPA, pursuant t o Title 24, Part 58.40, the Environmental Assessment has been prepared, and a Findings of No Significant Impact has been made pursuant to Title 24, Part 58.43(a) of the Code of Federal Regulations and pursuant to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban De velopment Environmental Guidelines. Thus, no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO CAPITAL EMERGENCY HOUSING SOLUTIONS GRANT On May 22, 2022, the Board of Supervisors (“Board”) of the County of San Diego (“County”) voted to create the Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Program (“Program”) as part of the Board’s ongoing efforts to address the problem of homelessness throughout San Diego County. The Program made up to $10 million available to the County’s 18 incorporated cities to spur the creation of shelters, safe parking lots, and other urgently needed housing solutions.
Program funds are one -time opportunities and can only be used for property acquisition and facilities development and may not be used for ongoing shelter operating expenses or indirect costs. On October 11, 2022, the City submitted a formal bid for Program funds in the amount of $2,000,000, and officially received a notice of award on December 7, 2022 for $1,845,296.47 in funds, which was accepted and appropriated on January 24, 2023 by Council Resolution No. 23 -005. After the original award, the City was notified that an additional $154,703.53 was allocated, bringing the total grant award to $2,000,000, as originally requested.
The City’s first homeless bridge shelter, Chula Vista Village at Otay (“The Village”) officially opened its doors on May 15, 2023. Phase I of The Village was funded through Department of Housing and Urban Development, State of California, and the Regional Task Force on the Homeless funds. The Village consists of 65 individuals P a g e | 3
housing units along with wrap around services and amenities including laundry, bathroom/shower facilities, and daily meals. Funds awarded from the County will be used to fund Phase II of The Village which includes the expansion of housing opportunities. Staff will return to Council for approval once a plan has been identified.
This proposed action approves the additional County Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant funds of $154,703.55, authorizes and directs the City Manager or designee to execute the agreement amendment necessary to obtain grant funds, including approval of the agreement with the County as provided in Attachment No. 1, and appropriates grant funds for these purposes.
SHELTER CRISIS DECLARATION
California Government Code §8698 , allows the governing body of a city to declare a shelter crisis when a significant number of persons are without the ability to obtain shelter, resulting in a threat to their health and safety. In addition, Code §8698.1 provides that, upon a declaration of a shelter crisis, the pr ovisions of any state or local regulatory statute, regulation or resolution prescribing standards of housing, health, or safety, as applied to public facilities, shall be suspended to the extent that strict compliance would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of the shelter crisis in creating housing opportunities for the unsheltered including the development of:
A Homeless Shelter, defined as a facility with overnight sleeping accommodations, which primary purpose is to provi de temporary, transitional and/or bridge shelter for the homeless that is not in existence after the declared shelter crisis. A homeless shelter may include a parking lot owned or leased by the city specifically identified as one allowed for safe parking b y homeless and unstably housed individuals.
Permanent Supportive Housing, which provides housing for people who are homeless, with no limit on length of stay, and that is linked to onsite or offsite services that assist the supportive housing resident in retaining the housing, improving the person’s health status, and maximizing the person’s ability to live and, when possible, work in the community.
Additionally, having an adopted Declaration in place allows the City or any other unsheltered service provider operating within Chula Vista (e.g., SBCS Corporation) to be eligible for future state funding designated to address the shelter crisis.
On September 28, 201 8, the Chula Vista City Council unanimously approved Resolution No. 2018 -199, declaring Shelter Crisis in Chula Vista, which expired on June 30, 2021. The declaration was subsequently extended on August 24, 2021 with the approval of Resolution 2021-164 and has since expired.
Since the Resolution was first approved almost five years ago, the City secured funding to continue outreach efforts through its mobile case management and housing navigation services, provided temporary shelter through hotel/motel vouchers, provided tenant-based rental subsidies and most notably, development of the first homeless bridge shelter. Despite these efforts, a significant number of persons in the City are unable to obtain shelter, resulting in a threat to the health and safety of those persons. To keep the City’s efforts on the path to successfully serve our unsheltered and maximize the effectiveness of our resources, it is requested that the expiration date of the Homeless Shelter Crisis be extended an additional two years.
Once the City has declared a shelter crisis, the City must report, by January 1 of each year, all of the following to the Senate Committee on Housing and the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development:
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(A) The total number of residents in homeless shelters within the City; (B) The total number of residents who have moved from a homeless shelter into permanent supportive housing within the city;
(C) The estimated number of permanent supportive housing units; (D) The number of residents who have exited the system and are no longer in need of a homeless shelter or permanent supportive housing within the City;
(E) The number and bed capacity of new homeless shelters built pursuant to this section within the City; The information regarding the bed capacity shall be inclu ded in reports due by January 1, 202 4, and by January 1 of each year thereafter. Bed capacity shall not include the parking vehicle capacity of a homeless shelter on a parking lot owned or leased by the City, specifically identified as one allowed for safe parking by homeless and unstably housed individuals.
(F) New actions the City is taking under the declared shelter crisis to better serve the homeless population and to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness.
The City will continue to comply with these reporting requirements if the declaration is extended.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council members and has found no property holdings within 1,000 feet of the boundaries of the property which is the subject of this action. Consequently, this item does not present a disqualifying real property -related financial conflict of interest under California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(7) or (8), for purposes of the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no current year fiscal impact to the General Fund as a result of this action. Approval of this resolution accepts and appropriates additional County Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Program funds in the amount of $154,703.53 in the fiscal year 2023-24 budget to fund shelter development. All project costs will be offset by the grant funding and previously approved grant funding.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact to the General Fund as a result of this act ion. All costs associated with the administration of the Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Agreement and funded activities will be covered by the grant.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Amendment to Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Agreement Staff Contact: Angelica Davis, Homeless Solutions Manager