Community Development Agency
www.santa-ana.org/community-development
Item # 12
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
March 19, 2024
TOPIC: Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Round 5 Application
AGENDA TITLE
Approve the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Round 5 Application
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Approve the submission of the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Program Round 5 Application to receive funding from the State of California’s Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC) to address homelessness.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
On September 29, 2023, the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC), now called the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH), announced the availability of Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Program Round 5 grant funding. This $1 billion flexible block grant program is available to large cities, counties, and continuums of care to address homelessness challenges in ways that best meet their local needs. HHAP Round 5 is established for the purpose of organizing and deploying the full array of homelessness programs and resources comprehensively and effectively, and to maintain existing federal, state, and local investments towards long-term sustainability of housing and supportive services. To accomplish these goals, HHAP Round 5 requires applicants to create and implement Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plans and to apply together. The completed Region Homelessness Action Plan incorporates each large city, county, and Continuum of Care’s (CoC) performance measurements, key actions, and plans but allows each entity to receive the allocation directly by submitting its own budget.
While the eligible uses for HHAP-5 remain largely unchanged from previous rounds, the HHAP-5 statute reorganizes eligible uses into three main buckets: (1) costs that support permanent housing; (2) costs that support interim housing; and (3) costs that support service provision and systems support. This change represents a strategic alignment aimed at amplifying the focus on regional coordination, permanent housing, sustainability, and person-centered services. The overarching objective of HHAP funds
Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Round 5 Application March 19, 2024
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remains unwavering – to effectively address and end people’s experiences of homelessness.
As part of the development of the Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan, applicants were required to collaborate and engage in a public stakeholder process to ensure that key stakeholders had the opportunity to contribute valuable insights and experiences to the plan. The Orange County public stakeholder process included public meetings in each of the three awarded Cities as well as presentations made to the Commission to End Homelessness and the Orange County Continuum of Care. In addition to these meetings, the cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana created surveys to gather information from those unable to attend an in-person meeting. Meeting outcomes and surveys received indicated a continued interest in homeless prevention as well as temporary and permanent housing. In addition, stakeholders addressed the need for increased assistance for families, college students at risk of homelessness or living in vehicles, and those affected by domestic violence. Other comments indicated a need for additional case managers at the Navigation Center, affordable housing, eviction prevention, and mental health services.
Santa Ana’s planned investments of HHAP Round 5 are similar to previous rounds of HHAP funding. The majority share of the funds are used for the operation and maintenance of the Navigation Center, followed by street outreach and engagement services. Consistent with Rounds 3 and 4, HHAP-5 grantees must use at least 10% of the allocation for services for homeless youth and only 7% of the funds for administration. Santa Ana intends to use the homeless youth funds for the continuation of independent life skills training for former Foster Youth holding a Housing Voucher.
Cal ICH provided the required application templates and baseline data to standardize data for Continuum of Care’s (CoC) regarding racial equity disparities as they apply to underserved populations and populations disproportionately impacted by homelessness, and for the six following required outcome goals:
•Reducing the number of persons who become homeless for the first time; •Increasing the number of people exiting homelessness into permanent housing; •Reducing the length of time persons remain homeless;
•Reducing the number of persons who return to homelessness after exiting homelessness to permanent housing;
•Reducing the number of persons experiencing homelessness; and •Increasing successful placements from street outreach.
As a condition to receive funding through the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Program, the Regional application must be submitted by March 27, 2024.
Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Round 5 Application March 19, 2024
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FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. However, staff will return to the City Council once the application is approved and funding amounts are available to appropriate.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Round 5 Application Submitted By: Michael L. Garcia, Executive Director of Community Development Approved By: Tom Hatch, Interim City Manager