Fremont City Council Meeting: 05/02/23 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Human Services Department Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 4863) DOC ID: 4863
Updated: 4/28/2023 8:09 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 1 HHAP AMENDMENT FOR HOMELESS SERVICES - Authorize the City Manager to Enter into an Amendment with Alameda County for Homeless Housing And Prevention Funds to Support the Housing Navigation Center and Other Services and Make Findings of CEQA Exemption
Contact Persons:
Name: Arquimides Caldera Suzanne Shenfil
Title: Deputy Director of Human Services Director
Div/Dept: Human Services Department Human Services Department Phone: 510-574-2056 510-574-2051
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: In February 2020, the City of Fremont applied for, and was awarded State Housing Homeless and Prevention (HHAP) program Round 1 and Round 2 funds, administered through Alameda County’s Office of Homeless Care and Coordination (OHCC).
The County has awarded the City HHAP Round 3 and Round 4 funding in the amount of $1,314,714. Eligible uses include: 1) Interim housing, including ongoing operations of the Housing Navigation Center, 2) Permanent housing, and 3) Operating subsidies for new and existing affordable or supportive housing units.
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment with Alameda County, in an amount not to exceed $1,314,714, through June 30, 2024, and authorize the City Manager to further amend this agreement in anticipation of an extension of the term through June 30, 2025, and additional Round 4 funding being released by the State in the future.
BACKGROUND: The 2019-2020 California State Legislature passed AB 101, which established the HHAP program and allocated one-time funding to counties and continuums of care, for homeless services. HHAP funds were allocated based on the biennial homeless point-in-time count of sheltered and unsheltered persons.
Eligible uses for HHAP funds are broad and include rental assistance and rapid rehousing, operating subsidies for housing, landlord incentives, outreach and coordination, systems support, permanent supportive housing solutions, prevention, and new navigation centers and emergency shelters. Eligible applicants administer funds separately; however, jurisdictions were expected to demonstrate regional coordination.
Grantees may not use HHAP funding to supplant existing local funds for housing, assistance, or prevention. Up to 7% of a program allocation may be used for a jurisdiction’s administrative costs, which do not include staff costs or other costs directly related to implementing or carrying out activities. Programs utilizing HHAP funds must follow Housing First practices mandated by HUD and Section 8255 of CA Welfare Institutions Code.
In February 2020, the City of Fremont applied for, and was awarded $817,818 in HHAP Round 1 and Round 2 funds.
Council Staff Report (ID # 4863) Meeting of May 2, 2023 Updated: 4/28/2023 8:09 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 2 DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: To receive HHAP funding, the City of Fremont successfully applied for Alameda County’s Housing Solutions for Health Vendor Pool. The Health Vendor Pool established additional conditions for HHAP awards including effectively meeting the needs of groups most impacted by racial and ethnic disparities in the homeless popu lation.
Any project receiving HHAP funds must also utilize the Coordinated Entry System to accept referrals. Eligible uses for HHAP Round 3 and 4 Funding include:
1) Interim housing, including ongoing operations of the Housing Navigation Center, 2) Permanent housing, including hotel/motel conversions, and 3) Operating subsidies for new and existing affordable or supportive housing units.
FISCAL IMPACT: The HHAP Round 3 & 4 agreement amount for $1,314,714 will support ongoing operations of the Housing Navigation Center and services targeted for those experiencing homelessness. Program costs associated with this funding will be included in the FY 2023/24 adopted budget. A second allocation of Round 4 funding in the amount of $483,791, may also be awarded by OHCC at a future date, pending State appropriation of funds.
HHAP Round 3 & 4 Funding
1st Allocation 2nd Allocation* Total
Round 3 830,923 - 830,923 Round 4 483,791 483,791 967,582 Total: 1,314,714 483,791 1,798,505 * 2nd allocation is pending State Allocation
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Approval of the agreement with Alameda County is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to without limitation, CEQA Guideline Section 15378, as it is an administrative or fiscal activity governmental activity that will not result in direct or indirect change in the environment ; and/or 15061(b)(3). Each of the foregoing provides a separate and independent basis for exemption.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to 1) enter into an amendment for HHAP funding with Alameda County, in an amount not to exceed $1,314,714, for eligible services, including interim housing such as the Housing Navigation Center, permanent housing, and affordable or supportive housing operating subsidies, from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024; 2) further amend this agreement to extend the term through June 30, 2025, and include additional Round 4 funding released by the State; 3) and make findings of CEQA exemption as specified in this Report.