Agenda Item D.2
CPMS DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEM
Meeting Date: February 15, 2022
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
FROM: Jaime A. Valdez, Neighborhood Services Director
CONTACT: Shanna Dawson, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Santa Barbara County Request for $75,000 in Funding to Provide Supportive Services to Persons Receiving Emergency Housing Vouchers
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Approve an appropriation of $75,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act fund to the Neighborhood Services program budget, to fund Santa Barbara County’s request for funding support of the Emergency Housing Voucher Program.
B. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Santa Barbara County for funding of Emergency Housing Vouchers Supportive Services for FY 22/23 in an amount not-to-exceed $75,000 in a form approved by the City Attorney.
BACKGROUND:
As a result of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV s) to public housing agencies throughout the United States. Within Santa Barbara County the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara and the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara both received EHV awards. The County Housing Authority received 126 vouchers and the City of Santa Barbara Housing Authority received 89 vouchers for a total of 215 vouchers countywide.
The EHVs are special Housing Choice Vouchers that provide rental assistan ce to landlords based on a tenant’s income. One -third of the tenant’s income is used for rent, and the remainder of the rent payment is covered by the voucher. In the case of EHV s, the vouchers will go to homeless people who are matched through the Coordinated Entry System, administered by the County of Santa Barbara’s Housing and Community Development Division (County HCD). This process ensures that the most vulnerable homeless people receive the most assistance.
1 Meeting Date: February 15, 2022
In addition, the EHVs are for permanent supportive housing. As part of the housing first approach to ending homelessness, permanent supportive housing provides both rental assistance and wrap-around supportive services based on each tenant’s specific needs.
To support the 215 new households, the County of Santa Barbara’s Community Services Department, Housing and Community Development Division issued a Request for Proposals/Qualifications on July 7, 2021, to find a suitable contractor to oversee the administration of supportive services to the voucher holders. Good Samaritan Shelter was the only respondent to the RFP. They submitted a complete proposal and have now been contracted to support persons receiving EHVs. Good Samaritan will have a large team working countywide including mental health and substance abuse professionals. The funding for these services will be secured through federal and state sources.
At the Elected Leaders Forum to Address Homelessness on July 9, 2021, Santa Barbara County Community Services presented the need for the Santa Maria/Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care and local cities to contribute to the Emergency Housing Voucher Program. Santa Barbara County staff presented to Goleta’s Homelessness Issues Standing Committee on September 9, 2021, requesting consideration of funding the County’s proposal with $75,000 from ARPA funds (or other funding).
The County sent a letter on October 14, 2021 (Attachment 1) explaining the funding request. They are ask ing for a commitment as soon as possible since the County w ill need to receive the funding by the start of FY 22/23.
DISCUSSION:
The availability of 215 new EHV represents a significant opportunity to permanently house people currently experiencing homel essness in Santa Barbara County. Experience suggests that providing supportive services to residents increases their success in remaining housed over the long term. Supportive services to be provided by Good Samaritan Shelter include case management, life skills training, benefits advocacy, job search, mental health care and substance abuse counseling. Good Samaritan will also provide a 24/7 access line for tenants and landlords.
The County has funded the first year (FY 21/22) of services countywide ($1,333,619) and is currently seeking funding for the two unfunded years of services (FY 22 /23 and FY 23/24). The County is requesting that the Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care and cities consider providing funding that would pay for supportive servi ces to continue in years two and three.
County staff have indicated that the City of Goleta’s cost share would be $ 75,000, and that the cost would be a qualified ARPA expenditure. The $ 75,000 allocation represents the City's pro rata share of projected su pportive services cost s for the 215 voucher holders. The pro rata allocation is based on each local government's percentage share of eligible persons on the Coordinated Entry System (CES) list. If the Council approves the recommended $75,000 appropriation, City staff would work with County staff to formalize an MOU for funding of Emergency Housing Vouchers Supportive Services for FY 22/23 2 Meeting Date: February 15, 2022
in an amount not-to-exceed $75,000 in a form approved by the City Attorney . The MOU would ensure appropriate reporting requirements the City requires for the funding (ARPA) source and memorializing the use of the funds for the County’s contract with Good Samaritan to support EHV participants
It is unclear whether any of the vouchers will directly benefit Goleta residents, given that the CES does not favor any city for selection of participants. Thus, the $75,000 contribution that the County is requesting is not a guarantee of services for either Goleta residents, or that any of the scattered -site housing will be in Goleta. However, staff is recommending approval of this contribution given that homelessness is a regional problem. Staff can report back at the end of this fiscal year on the number of individuals assisted from the Goleta area.
GOLETA’S HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIC PLAN:
Santa Barbara County’s funding request could help in the advancement of some of the goals in Goleta’s Homelessness Strategic Plan, adopted by Council on April 20, 2021.
Specifically, “Increase Access to Critical Services for the Homeless ” and “ Increase the Supply of Transitional Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing & Emergency Housing.”.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The total ARPA allocation for the City of Goleta is $5,933,990. Half of that amount, $2,966,995, was received in July, 2021, and the second half will be received around July, 2022. On January 5, 2022 the City held its ARPA Spending Plan workshop. At the workshop City Council approved the recommendation to accept the $5.9 million as revenue loss, and gave staff direction to allocate the funding into three primary categories as shown in the table below:
The County’s one-time request of $75,000 for the Emergency Housing Voucher Program for FY 22/23 was part of the initial recommended $700,000 of ARPA funds allocated for Support to Other Government Agencies for Regional Projects . At the workshop the City Council also recommended $600,000 from the Support to Other Government Agencies for Regional Projects category be committed as support to the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara’s application for the State of California’s Homekey 2.0 Program.
When considering both the $75,000 and $600,000 committ ed, this leaves a balance of $25,000 available in that category.
ARPA Category Total
Revenue Loss $ 5,933,990
Priority Capital Improvement Projects $ 4,933,990 Other Organization/Non-Profit Grant Support $ 300,000 Support to Other Government Agencies for Regional Projects $ 700,000 Total $ 5,933,990
ARPA Funding Recommendations (as of January 5, 2022)
Recommended Uses after Revenue Loss Claim
3 Meeting Date: February 15, 2022
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize an appropriation of the $75,000 from the ARPA allocation as it is determined to be a good use of these funds due to the expenditure being on e-time, regional, and with no other dedicated grants available to cover the County’s request. The recommended appropriation will be accounted for in the Neighborhood Services Support to Other Agencies – Grants account (423 -60-6100- 54012).
ALTERNATIVES:
Council could choose to not support Santa Barbara County’s $75,000 request to provide supportive services to persons receiving Emergency Housing Vouchers. Council could also choose to support the $75,000 through other funding sources that may be available, such as the General Fund unassigned fund balance.
Reviewed By: Legal Review By: Approved By:
___________________ ___________________ _________________ Kristine Schmidt Megan Garibaldi Michelle Greene
Assistant City Manager City Attorney City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Santa Barbara County’s Goleta Emergency Housing Voucher Supportive Services Request
4 ATTACHMENT 1
Santa Barbara County’s Goleta Emergency Housing Voucher Supportive Services Request
5 TO: Jaime Valdez, Interim Neighborhood Services and Public Safety Director, City of Goleta
FROM: Kimberlee Albers, Homeless Assistance Program
Manager, County of Santa Barbara
SUBJECT:
Request for at least $75,000 contribution to County of Santa Barbara Housing Sustainability Fund that will assist in funding 3 years of Supportive Services to persons receiving Emergency Housing Vouchers.
At the Elected Leaders Forum to address homelessness on July 9, 2021, Community Services presented the need for the Santa Maria/Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care and local cities to contribute to the Emergency Housing Voucher Program. Direction provided was for County staff to work directly with cities and the CoC to facilitate contributions to fund the critical supportive services.
As a result of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) to public housing agencies throughout the United States. Santa Barbara County received EHV awards to the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara and the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara. The County Housing Authority received 126 vouchers and the City of Santa Barbara Housing Authority received 89 vouchers for a total of 215 vouchers countywide.
The Emergency Housing Vouchers are special vouchers that provide rental assistance to landlords based on a tenant’s income. 30% of the tenant’s income is used for rent, and the remainder of the rent payment is covered by the voucher. In the case of EHV, the vouchers will go to persons experiencing homelessness who are matched through the Coordinated Entry System, administered by the County of Santa Barbara’s Housing and Community Development Division (County HCD). This process ensures that the vulnerable persons receive the most assistance.
To support the 215 new households, the County of Santa Barbara’s Community Services Department, Housing and Community Development Division issued a Request for Proposals/Qualifications on July 7, 2021 to find a suitable contractor to oversee the administration of supportive services to the voucher holders. Good Samaritan Shelter was the only respondent to the RFP. They submitted a complete proposal and have now been contracted to support persons receiving Emergency Housing Vouchers.
Good Sam will have a large team working countywide including mental health and substance abuse professionals. The County has funded the first year of services countywide.
The availability of 215 new Emergency Housing Vouchers represents a significant opportunity to permanently house people currently experiencing homelessness in Santa Barbara County. Experience suggests that providing supportive services to residents increases their success in remaining housed over the long term. Supportive services to be provided by Good Samaritan Shelter include case management, life skills training, benefits advocacy, job search, mental health care and substance abuse 6 counseling. Good Samaritan will also provide a 24/7 access line for tenants and landlords. The County has funded the first year of services countywide ($1,333,619), and is currently seeking funding for the two unfunded years of services (FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24). The City of Goleta’s cost share would be $75,000. The pro rata allocation is based on each local government’s percentage share of eligible persons on the Coordinated Entry System list.
The County’s Coordinated Entry System does not favor any city for selection of participants; thus, the $75,000 contribution that the County is requesting is not a guarantee of services for either Goleta residents, or that any of the scattered-site housing will be in Goleta. To date, 26 households from Goleta have been referred and completed the pre-application to end their homelessness with EHV.
County staff can provide updates on the number of individuals assisted from Goleta.
Please let me know if you have any questions and any other information needed.
Kimberlee Albers
Homeless Assistance Program Manager
County of Santa Barbara – Housing and Community Development Division Community Services Department
123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
T 805.695.6333 | F 805.568.1091|M 661.213.7697 | E [email protected]
7