REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: ERIKA LOPEZ, Senior Management Analyst
Community Development Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to supplemental Emergency Solutions Grant funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development Office of Community Planning and Development (HUD CPD) to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the Coronavirus:
1. Approve an Amendment to the Emergency Solutions Grant - Coronavirus Agreement with Elevate Community Services to increase the funding by $132,539.21 for a total award of $385,805.42 for emergency shelter within the City of Fresno.
2. Approve the seventh revision of the Emergency Solutions Grant - Coronavirus Activity Allocations to reallocate $132,539.21 to fund emergency shelter operations
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve an amendment to the agreement between the City of Fresno and Elevate Community Services, approve the seventh revision of the Emergency Solutions Grant - Coronavirus (ESG-CV) Activity Allocations, and authorize the City Manager or designee to sign all necessary implementing agreements as approved to form by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno (City) is proposing an amendment to the ESG-CV agreement with Elevate Community Services (Elevate) to add direct services to occupants at Travel Inn and aid in the full expenditure of ESG-CV funds by the September 30, 2023, expenditure deadline.
BACKGROUND
The Travel Inn consists of 60 rooms and 150 beds and has operated at full capacity since opening in September 2021. Travel Inn operates as a triage emergency shelter which requires extensive supportive services and case management as it includes provisions for occupants that would not be allowed in traditional emergency shelters such as pets, partners, and possessions. Travel Inn provides 24-hour staffing, on-site wrap-around services, and welcomes individuals with present mental health or addiction issues.
On June 16, 2022, City Council approved a Community Development Block Grant- Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) agreement between the City and Elevate for emergency shelter operations and supportive services at Travel Inn through December 31, 2023.
On August 18, 2022, City Council approved revisions to the ESG-CV Activities, which would reprogram funds for street outreach services, mobile shower operations, and add additional funding for the operations at Travel Inn.
On November 17, 2022, City Council approved an ESG-CV agreement between the City and Elevate through September 30, 2023, to add three case managers to the operations of Travel Inn thereby improving the ratio of case managers to occupants. Since the approval and execution of the ESG-CV agreement between the City and Elevate to increase case managers, 179 individuals have been served with emergency shelter and supportive services of which a total of 28 individuals have experienced permanent safe exits and an additional 34 have experienced temporary safe exits into programs.
The proposed amendment to the agreement would provide an additional $132,539.21 in ESG-CV funds made available from other ESG-CV projects’ savings to increase the direct services to occupants. The amendment would not increase the term of the agreement which will expire September 30, 2023. The proposed additional ESG-CV funds will be used to cover the costs of client expenses for which Elevate has in part relied on donations. Costs include those for clothing, document readiness, shelter furniture, food, incentives, and hygiene products.
Travel Inn is typically the first shelter people utilize when coming off of the streets. As the City’s only congregate shelter, people enter this shelter the least prepared for housing. As those remaining on our streets increasingly exhibit the most acute needs, Travel Inn has seen an increase in occupants who are new to the Coordinated Entry System (CES). Individuals who are new to the triage emergency shelter and to CES require additional direct services expenses. Elevate has worked to optimize the free resources available in the community, but some of the items needed for occupants cannot be received through donations. In recent months there has been a greater need for items that cannot be donated such as undergarments and socks for men and women staying at the triage emergency shelter. A budget was created by Elevate to cover these expenses and the funds were quickly exhausted.
Additionally, Elevate has seen an increase in property damage when providing shelter to new tenants with more acute needs resulting in the need for furniture to be replaced because it is no longer operable and poses a safety hazard to the current or incoming occupants. The influx of individuals who have not been previously sheltered also need assistance obtaining identity documentation (i.e. birth certificate, California ID/driver’s license, social security card, etc.) which is necessary for individuals to apply for housing, jobs, federal and state benefits, or enroll in school.
Furthermore, Elevate has experienced an increase in the need for birth certificates from cities outside of the City of Fresno. Currently Elevate is working with a local nonprofit to assist with the cost of obtaining the documentation. However, securing funding through the nonprofit is a lengthy process that can take 90-120 days and ultimately extends the occupants’ stay at Travel Inn.
The reprogramming of the $132,539.21 in ESG-CV funds to increase funding available for Travel Inn will assist in covering these direct services expenses and will also aid in the City’s ability to meet the September 30, 2023, expenditure deadline.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a project for purposes of CEQA pursuant to CEQA guidelines Section 15378. These plans, strategies and studies are Categorically Excluded Not Subject to Section 58.5 Pursuant to 24 CFR Part 58.34(a) and 58.35(b) under HUD NEPA Requirements (24 CFR 58.35 (b) (2) (3)).
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because of the use of federal funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The agreement will be funded through the City’s ESG-CV allocations.
Attachments:
1st Amendment - Travel Inn ESG-CV
ESG-CV Activities