REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
THROUGH: PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: JILLIAN GAYTAN, Senior Management Analyst
Homeless Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to homeless services agreements provided under the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program:
1. ***RESOLUTION - Authorizing application to and acceptance of funding from the State of California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency’s (BCSH) California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) as an individual applicant for the fourth round of Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP) and authorizing the City Manager to sign all required implementing documents. (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
2. Approve the State of California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency’s (BCSH) California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) joint service plan and updated local homelessness action plan as an individual application for the fourth round of Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the resolution to submit an application as an individual applicant to Cal ICH in order to continue the receipt of HHAP funds and authorize the City Manager to sign all required implementing documents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno (City) is eligible for a fourth round of HHAP (HHAP-4) funding to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address homelessness in the City. BCSH requires all eligible applicants to submit an application and updated local homelessness action plan to Cal ICH for HHAP-4 funding no later than November 29, 2022. By submitting the application and updated local homelessness action plan, the City will receive an initial disbursement equal to 50% of its total allocation. For any applicant who does not submit an application and updated local homelessness action plan by the deadline, Cal ICH may choose to re-allocate the applicant’s allocation to an overlapping jurisdiction.
BACKGROUND
HHAP is authorized by Assembly Bill 101 (Committee on Budget, Chapter 159, Statues of 2019), which was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on July 31, 2019. HHAP-4 is a $1 billion block grant program designed to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address immediate homelessness challenges throughout the state. HHAP funding is divided into three categories for distribution: Continuums of Care, Cities (Large Cities with population over 300,000), and Counties.
In September 2022, a planning group consisting of representatives from the City, Fresno Madera Continuum of Care, and Counties of Madera and Fresno, began coordinating and completed the proposed local homelessness action plan and application template provided by the state. The local homelessness action plan of the region’s recipients will ensure a continuum of services across jurisdictions to strengthen the region’s crisis response network to address the homelessness crisis in Fresno and Madera Counties and the City. The state requires applicants to agendize, with time to receive public comment, the local homeless action plan which includes:
• A complete local landscape analysis providing the number of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness; identification of participants by project type; and an analysis of state, federal, and local funding used to provide homeless services.
• A description of the overlapping jurisdictions’ achievable outcome goals and actionable strategies.
• Complete narrative responses describing the demonstration of coordination with other jurisdictions; demonstration to increase partnerships; specific actions to ensure racial and gender equity in service delivery, housing placements, and housing retention; progress preventing exits from homelessness from institutional settings; system improvements for the delivery of housing and services; and evidence of connection with the local homeless Coordinated Entry System.
• Funding plans that describe specific activities the applicant intends to support.
The final total allocations per eligible jurisdiction will become available once HUD completes the review of the 2022 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count and will be based on the percentage of those experiencing homelessness residing in each respective jurisdiction. By submitting the application and local homelessness action plan, the City will receive an initial disbursement of no less than 50% of the HHAP-4 allocation. To receive the second disbursement of funds, the city must demonstrate that it remains on track to meet its outcome goals, no less than 75 percent of HHAP-4 funds are contractually obligated, and no less than 50 percent of HHAP-4 funds are expended by May 31, 2025. For any applicant who does not submit an application by the deadline of November 29, 2022, Cal ICH may choose to re-allocate the applicant’s allocation to an overlapping jurisdiction.
Also, similar to HHAP Round 3 - $180 million in bonus funds will be available to CoC, City, and County recipients who meet funding obligations and outcome goal requirements. Cal ICH will determine bonus award allocations based on the recipient’s proportionate share of the state’s homeless population as reported in the 2022 PIT count. Cal ICH will determine whether a recipient has met its funding obligation and outcome goals requirements through June 30, 2025 and will award bonus funding no later than October 31, 2025.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because of state funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The agreement will be funded through the City’s HHAP allocations.
Attachments:
Resolution
HHAP-4 Application