Agenda Item #13.8
For Council Meeting of: June 18, 2024
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MEGAN BASINGER, DIRECTOR
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF FY 2024/2025 GRANT AGREEMENTS FOR PUBLIC SERVICES, FAIR HOUSING, AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS (HOPWA) AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Housing and Community Services Department that the Council, by resolution: 1) approve the Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Grant Agreements for public service funds with the Living Room, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa (The Caritas Family Center and Caritas Drop-In Center), fair housing funds with Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds with Face to Face/The Sonoma County AIDS Network in the combined amount of $1,038,597; and 2) authorize the Director of Housing and Community Services or their designee to execute the Grant Agreements and any future amendments thereto for public services, fair housing, and HOPWA; 3) authorize the City Manager or their designee to execute any forms or documents required by HUD to implement the Grant Agreements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Annually the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides funding to the City through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs. Portions of these funds, set by federal regulations are awarded to non-profit organizations providing services to the community. CDBG Public Services awards are prioritized towards homeless service agencies in alignment with the City’s Homelessness Solutions Strategic Plan, the City’s HUD Consolidated Plan and the Annual Action Plan. HUD requires the City to provide a fair housing program, currently Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California provides services to the City and County.
For FY 2024/2025, the Department of Housing and Community Services recommends approval of grant agreements for 5 programs that are aimed at reducing homelessness and providing essential services to vulnerable populations.
BACKGROUND
Each year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides the City with funding that is allocated in the Annual Action Plan. Council approved the Annual Action Plan on April 16, 2024, but at that time the Action Plan included estimated funding amounts from HUD. HUD released the final allocations on May 7, 2024 and staff finalized award amounts for the public services organizations.
By Federal Regulation, up to 15% of CDBG funds may be used for public services activities; the Council has directed that these funds be used to provide focused, comprehensive homeless services. For Fiscal Year 2024/2025, the City will budget $204,989 in CDBG funds for public services, $506,727 in HOPWA funds, and $326,881 in local resources for federally mandated fair housing services and additional homeless services funding. Funds are allocated through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process from organizations aiming to deliver essential public services, HOPWA and Fair Housing services are also selected through this process. The RFP opened on February 6, 2024; 7 applications were received, further described in the analysis section.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On April 16, 2024, the City Council reviewed and approved the 2024– 2027 Consolidated Plan and authorized submission to HUD.
ANALYSIS
The funding strategy for Fiscal Year 2024/2025, as approved in the 2024/2025 Action Plan allocates 15% of CDBG funds, $204,989, for public services, 97% of HOPWA funds to an AIDS services provider, $506,727, and $326,881 of local/general funds for a total of $1,038,597 in grant awards.
A Request for Proposals (RFP) for public services, fair housing, and HOPWA funds was issued on February 6, 2024 and closed on February 27, 2024. HCS staff received seven applications: one from Sonoma Applied Villages Services SAVS, WeeCare (Upwards), The Living Room, and two from Catholic Charities, Fair Housing, and HOPWA. Of the seven applications received two were not selected for funding; WeeCare (Upwards) and Sonoma Applied Villages Services SAVS because compared to the other applications, they did not best align with the CDBG requirements for eligible uses of funds and were not the best aligned with the City Council’s direction to support homeless programs utilizing the County’s Coordinated Entry system.
Staff is recommending that Council approve five grant agreements that align with federal requirements, funding availability, the City’s Homelessness Strategic Plan, HUD Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan, and the Council’s direction to utilize Coordinated Entry. Those awards are:
Catholic Charities Caritas Drop-In Center, requesting $252,000, provide basic needs, support, and referrals to resources and housing. The Drop-In Center’s basic needs services include showers, telephone, mail service, information, laundry services and referrals for the most vulnerable homeless population. The Drop-In Center serves as the City and County’s primary referral point for Coordinated Entry for Permanent Supportive Housing, Rapid Re-Housing, short-term financial assistance, and is referral point for emergency shelters and other community resources.
Catholic Charites Caritas Family Center, requesting $196,000, provides focused, comprehensive homeless services that help reduce homelessness amongst families, moving these vulnerable households into housing as rapidly as possible. Provide short-term emergency shelter, food, clothing, and the basic resources, skills and services needed to overcome homelessness and sustain housing and self-sufficiency.
Face to Face of Sonoma County, requesting $506,727, provides complete services to support safe and stable housing and to decrease homelessness for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
The Living Room, Inc., requesting $38,870, to support comprehensive case management and emergency meal provision services in Santa Rosa, providing emergency stabilization in terms of sustenance and care coordination (case management), which prioritizes getting beneficiaries into permanent housing.
Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California, requesting $45,000 for fair housing counseling and testing in Santa Rosa pursuant to the goals identified in the 2024 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (Al), including fair housing enforcement and education services and expertise on HUD's AFFH rule.
FISCAL IMPACT
Of the $1,038,597 that is being granted to various public services organizations, all funds are included in the FY 2024/2025 budget; $506,727 is from HUD HOPWA funding, $204,989 is from HUD CDBG funding, and $326,881 is from the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Exhibit A – Grant Agreement for Public Service Providers Program Funds – The Living Room Exhibit B – Grant Agreement for Public Service Providers Program Funds – Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California Exhibit C – Grant Agreement for Public Service Providers Program Funds – Face to Face Exhibit D – Grant Agreement for Public Service Providers Program Funds – Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa (Drop-In Center) Exhibit E – Grant Agreement for Public Service Providers Program Funds – Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa (Family Support Center)
PRESENTER
Koy Stewart, Program Specialist I
APPROVAL OF FY 2024/2025 GRANT AGREEMENTS FOR PUBLIC SERVICES, FAIR HOUSING, AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS (HOPWA) PAGE 4 OF 7