DATE: JANUARY 9, 2024
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
FROM: LISA BRINTON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
THROUGH: ROD POWELL, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
BY: KAYSHLA LOPEZ, HOMELESS SERVICES MANAGER
JACQUELINE SMITH, HOMELESS SERVICE MANAGER
TITLE: CALIFORNIA INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION FUND PROGRAM GRANT AWARD ACCEPTANCE RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution authorizing:
the Interim City Manager or designee to accept a California Interagency Council on Homelessness Encampment Resolution Fund grant award in the amount of $8,081,101.25 and execute all required Agreements and related documents necessary to implement the grant program; and an additional appropriation of $8,081,101.25 to the ERF fund and the establishment of a corresponding ERF2 revenue budget.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Homelessness is a serious ongoing problem in the City of Salinas and throughout Monterey County. In response to this continuing crisis, the Community Development Department (CDD) continues to seek opportunities and propose innovative solutions to sustain and expand the City’s homeless services platform. On December 1, 2022, the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (CAL ICH) released a second Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Program announcing $237,301,738 to fund actionable, person-centered proposals from local jurisdictions to resolve the experience of unsheltered homelessness for people residing in encampments. In response, CDD staff formulated and submitted a comprehensive ERF grant application on June 30, 2023, and on September 12, 2023, received subsequent notice of an $8,081,101.25 award. The proposed resolution will authorize the City’s acceptance and allocation of newly awarded ERF grant funds.
BACKGROUND:
On December 1, 2022, the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (CAL ICH) released a second Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) seeking proposals from local jurisdictions to fund projects that provide services to address the immediate crisis of experiencing unsheltered homelessness in encampments. Total funding available for award through the competitive ERF NOFA was $237,031,738.
In response to the NOFA, CDD staff built upon lessons learned from its prior CAL ICH ERF award, to formulate another comprehensive proposal by engaging additional collaborative agencies and also proposing an expansion of its existing homeless services. The submitted proposal included a new strategy to expand the Salinas Outreach and Response Team (SORT) and the addition of a broader direct services component within the City’s homelessness platform. Planned services include the direct provision of emergency shelter, case management, housing navigation, and rapid rehousing services. The proposal is inclusive of $4,230,225 million in leveraged funds focused on the Upper Carr Lake encampment.
On June 30, 2023, CDD staff submitted its proposal in accordance with the planned NOFA timeline. On September 12, 2023, the City received formal notice from Cal ICH advising its intent to award full funding of the City’s application.
Acceptance of this Cal ICH ERF award will allow the City to expand and fund services from the following collaborative agencies:
Coalition of Homeless Services Providers ($117,451)
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of the Monterey Peninsula ($908,745) Valley Health Associates ($530,633)
City of Salinas Emergency Motel Program and SORT ($1,923,616) DEPARMENT COORDINATION:
The City’s Cal ICH ERF grant programs are administered by the City’s CDD – Housing & Community Development Division. CDD has and will continue to coordinate with the City’s Finance and Legal Departments to ensure full regulatory compliance and the efficient, full disbursement of funds.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378).
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
Acceptance of this Cal ICH ERF grant program award will assist the City in serving unhoused residents living in the Upper Carr Lake encampment move towards immediate and permanent housing options and supports the City of Salinas Strategic Plan 2022-2025 Goal and Strategy of Housing/Affordable Housing.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
There are no costs associated with accepting and appropriating the grant funds.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Cal ICH Notice of Intent to Fund
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