TO: HONORABLE MAYOR FROM: Jacky Morales-Ferrand
AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: November 7, 2022
Approved Date
11/15/22
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING ON THE HOMELESS HOUSING, ASSISTANCE AND
PREVENTION PROGRAM APPLICATION
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct a public hearing on the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 4 grant application to the State of California’s Interagency Council on Homelessness.
OUTCOME
The public hearing provides an opportunity for the City Council and the public to comment on the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Round 4 (HHAP4) application. The public hearing is required by the state and feedback provided at the hearing will be reflected in the final application, which is due on November 29, 2022. Meeting the deadline enables the City of San José to receive the HHAP4 funding allocation, which has not yet been determined.
BACKGROUND
Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) is administered by the State of California’s Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal-ICH). Cal-ICH has implemented HHAP funding through several rounds of one-time block grants. HHAP provides jurisdictions with flexibility to use funds that advance regional coordination to prevent and end homelessness with a focus on evidence-based best practices and services specific to the needs of homeless youth.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 11/29/22
FILE: 22-1746
ITEM: 8.1
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 7, 2022
Subject: Public Hearing on the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Application
The table below summarizes the HHAP funding the City received:
Source City of San José
Allocation
Funds Received Expenditure
Deadline
HHAP Round 1 $23,832,511 June 3, 2020 June 30, 2025
HHAP Round 2 $11,266,278 August 12, 2021 June 30, 2026
HHAP Round 3 initial
disbursement
$5,823,799 May 5, 2022 June 30, 2026
HHAP Round 3 $23,295,194 Not yet received June 30, 2026 Total $64,217,782
On July 19, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1401 into law, establishing the third and fourth rounds of one-time HHAP funds. One billion dollars in HHAP4 funding has been made available to support a unified response to reduce homelessness across California. The jurisdictional allocations will be made public once the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development releases the results of the most recent homelessness point in time count.
On June 28, 20222, the City Council and the public were provided an opportunity to discuss the local homelessness action plan and outcome goals for the HHAP Round 3 application, as required by statute. The HHAP Round 3 application was submitted to Cal-ICH on June 30, 2022.
ANALYSIS
Per statutory requirements3, the HHAP4 application must be on the agenda at a regular meeting by the City Council and receive public comment before it is submitted to Cal-ICH. The City Council does not need to take action nor is a resolution required. This memorandum provides information on the HHAP4 priorities, timeline, and funding proposal.
HHAP4 Priorities
HHAP4 funds must be invested in programs and services that are Housing First compliant, low barrier, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive which are defined as:
• Housing First: Persons experiencing homelessness should be connected to a permanent home as quickly as possible. Participation in services is not a requirement to qualify or remain in housing. People are required to follow the lease like all tenants. • Low-Barrier: Programs with minimal barriers for participation that do not establish eligibility criteria, such as background checks, beyond what is mandated for health and safety regulations.
1 Assembly Bill No. 140
2 Public Hearing on HHAP3 June 28, 2022
3 AB 140 (Health & Safety Code 50218.6, et seq.)
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 7, 2022
Subject: Public Hearing on the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Application
• Trauma-Informed: An approach to service delivery that recognizes and responds to program participants’ previous trauma and provides participants with safety, respect, and choice.
• Culturally Responsive: Services are framed by an understanding of culture and include participants in the design, delivery, and evaluation of services.
HHAP4 grantees must establish a mechanism for people with lived experiences of homelessness to meaningfully inform and shape all levels of planning and implementation. HHAP4 grantees must also demonstrate a commitment to advancing racial and gender equity through identifying and implementing strategies to reduce disparities in the local homeless response system.
HHAP4 Application Submission Timeline
Date Activity
September 30, 2022 Cal-ICH released the HHAP4 application.
October 25, 2022 City and County began a series of discussions about coordinated HHAP4 expenditure plans.
November 29, 2022 Meeting on the HHAP4 application to the City Council for public comment.
November 29, 2022 Housing Department must submit a comprehensive HHAP4 application.
HHAP4 Allocation and Spending Timeline
The City has not received its allocation amount yet, but it is anticipated the amount will be similar to the HHAP Round 3 amount. The HHAP4 allocations will be announced after the 2022 homeless point in time counts are certified and released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The HHAP4 application requirements have been modified to accommodate this delayed timeline. Instead of providing a detailed budget with the HHAP4 application, the Housing Department will provide information regarding planned expenditure categories and strategic intent. Detailed budgets will be required prior to contracts for HHAP4 funds being executed.
HHAP4 will be released in two disbursements. Upon approval of the HHAP4 application, Cal- ICH will disburse 50% of the City of San José’s total allocation. The Housing Department must contractually obligate no less than 75%, and expend no less than 50%, of its first disbursement in order to receive the second disbursement. If the City successfully meets the state approved outcome goals for HHAP4 funded programs by June 30, 2025, the state will provide a bonus award. The total allocation must be fully expended by June 30, 2027. HHAP4 funds not expended by the June 2027 deadline must be returned to the state. A final report on HHAP4 must be submitted to Cal-ICH by October 1, 2027.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 7, 2022
Subject: Public Hearing on the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Application
HHAP4 Funding
This memorandum focuses on the City’s HHAP4 preliminary funding plans for public comment.
The Housing Department will identify activities, including homeless youth set-aside resources, in categories intended to be supported by HHAP4 funds. Since the exact amount allocated to the City has not been released, Cal-ICH is requesting approximate percentages of each eligible use categories. The table below lists the HHAP4 eligible uses:
HHAP4 Eligible Uses
• Rapid rehousing, rental subsidies,
incentives to landlords
• Operating subsidies or reserves in new
and existing sites
• Street outreach to assist persons
experiencing homelessness to access
permanent housing and services
• Services coordination needed to promote
housing stability in supportive housing
• Interim sheltering
• Systems support to create regional
partnerships and maintain a homeless
services and housing delivery system
• Prevention and shelter diversion to
permanent housing, including financial
assistance
• Delivery of permanent housing and
innovative housing solutions
• Improvements to existing emergency
shelters to lower barriers and increase
privacy
The table below summarizes the Housing Department’s proposed HHAP4 expenditure plan:
State eligible
use category
Approximate
% of HHAP4
allocation
Examples of
potential programs
and activities
Priorities and needs
Interim
Sheltering
60% Operations and
services for up to
seven emergency
interim housing
communities, and
temporary housing
in motels
City Initiatives Roadmap:
Emergency Interim Housing
As the portfolio of successful
temporary housing communities
grow, ongoing and sustainable
funding for services and operations
continues to be a need for the
Housing Department
Street
Outreach
16% Street outreach,
flexible funding for
direct client
assistance,
encampment
management,
City Initiatives Roadmap:
Encampment Services, Outreach,
Assistance, and Resources
Match the needs of unsheltered
residents by providing basic needs
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 7, 2022
Subject: Public Hearing on the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Application
CONCLUSION
This public hearing provides an opportunity for the City Council and the public to provide comments on the City’s HHAP4 application and specifically, how the funds may be spent. The feedback provided by the City Council and the public will inform the development of the application. The Housing Department will submit the HHAP4 application by the November 29, 2022 deadline. A more detailed expenditure plan will be submitted once the allocations are released.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
Updates on the programs funded by HHAP4 will be provided in the Housing Department’s annual report on homeless programs.
hygiene activities,
showers and laundry
services and direct referrals to
shelter and housing
Prevention and
Diversion
10% Financial assistance
for homeless youth
Must use at least 10% of HHAP4
allocation as a youth set aside
Per stakeholder feedback, direct
flexible financial assistance is a
national best practice to advance
educational, employment and
housing goals for youth
experiencing homelessness
Systems
Support
7% Partnerships with
local Youth
Advisory Board and
Lived Experience
Advisory Board,
centralized shelter
hotline support
Elevate the voices of individuals
with lived experience of
homelessness through intentional
involvement and compensation
Administration
(up to 7%)
7% Program and
contract
management by City
staff
The Homelessness Response and
Grants Teams provide daily support
to partners with program and
technical assistance, and contract
management
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 7, 2022
Subject: Public Hearing on the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program Application
CLIMATE SMART SAN JOSE
The recommendation in this memorandum has no effect on Climate Smart San José energy, water, or mobility goals.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This item has been posted on the City’s website as a public hearing at the City Council meeting on November 29, 2022.
COORDINATION
This memorandum has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and the City Manager’s Budget Office.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION/INPUT
No commission recommendation or input is associated with this action.
CEQA
Not a Project, File No. PP17-009, Staff Reports, Assessments, Annual Reports, and Informational Memos that involve no approvals of any City action.
/s/
JACKY MORALES-FERRAND
Director, Housing Department
The principal author of this memorandum is Kelly Hemphill, Homeless Solutions Division Manager. For questions, please contact [email protected].