REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
October 24, 2019
FROM: CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS
(Councilmembers Luis Chavez, Miguel Arias and Garry Bredefeld)
and
LEE BRAND, Mayor
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
BY: H. SPEES, Director, Strategic Initiatives
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Authorizing coordination on the development of strategies to reduce homelessness through Street2Home Fresno County and, where possible the alignment of spending plans that support a continuum of services to reduced homelessness (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
1. Review and approve the founding Street2Home Fresno County structure (See Attachment A) which will serve as the countywide collective impact initiative maintaining focus on the adopted Homelessness Priorities; and, if a structure is approved,
2. Adopt Resolution (See Attachment B) agreeing to:
a. Coordinate with the designated incorporated Fresno County city representatives, the County of Fresno, the Fresno-Madera Continuum of Care, and the Fresno Housing Authority on the development of homelessness reduction strategies that include prevention, housing, and diversion services through Street2Home Fresno County; and,
b. Where possible, coordinate with the County of Fresno, the Fresno-Madera Continuum of Care, and the Fresno Housing Authority to develop aligned spending plans that support a continuum of services.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of the first recommended action will provide the Council’s approval to establish the structure of the Street2Home Fresno County (S2H) as a collective impact initiative. S2H will review and address the causes of homelessness and spearhead the development of affordable housing strategies. The Fresno County Board of Supervisors, Fresno Housing Authority (FHA), and Fresno Madera-Continuum of Care (FMCoC) will similarly place an item on their respective agendas to review and approve the structure; once the four entities approve, S2H will be established. Representatives from rural incorporated cities reviewed the proposed structure.
Coordination between the City of Fresno, County of Fresno, FMCoC, and FHA is integral to the development of prevention strategies, maintaining the most effective continuum of services for individuals experiencing homelessness, and to be well-positioned to receive additional public funding and attract additional private funding.
Approval of the second recommended action will commit the City to coordinate with the County of Fresno, FMCoC, and FHA to align, where possible, spending plans that support a continuum of services. Coordinated spending plans and their related applications would be presented to the Council (Fresno County Board of Supervisors, FMCoC, and/or the FHA), when the City is the submitting agency, for review and approval. Additionally, the City would agree to develop prevention, housing, and diversion strategies through S2H utilizing the adopted Homelessness Priorities as the basis to address homelessness countywide. These strategies would be reviewed and approved by each coordinating entity.
BACKGROUND
In November 2017, the Mayor requested that the Fresno-Madera Continuum of Care, the Fresno Housing Authority, the County of Fresno and the City of Fresno join together with other stakeholders to develop strategies to reduce homelessness. Periodic updates have been made to your Council as a community-wide process has resulted in a comprehensive framework to address homelessness. That framework recommended a more thorough collaboration between the City, the County of Fresno and all other stakeholders.
On December 6, 2018, the Council adopted a resolution declaring a shelter crisis in the City of Fresno and further resolved to apply for $3,105,519 in State HEAP Funding for Homeless Services
as required by the California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council for the Homeless Emergency Aid Program grant funding. The acceptance and use of these funds also required the coordination of efforts between the City, County, the Fresno/Madera Continuum of Care and other local stakeholders.
On May 15, 2019, your Council Subcommittee on Homelessness and the Mayor met with members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors and the County Administrative Officer to establish a set of priorities that, jointly adopted, form the basis for a community-wide collaborative spearheaded by both the City and County to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to address homelessness. This set of priorities was formally adopted by the Fresno City Council on June 20, 2019. (See Attachment C)
Linking and Aligning Resources
Resources to address homelessness in our greater Fresno County community come from a wide variety of sources through a number of different agencies.
The City of Fresno receives allocations for the Emergency Solutions Grants, HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS Program. In FY 2018-19, the City of Fresno received a funding allocation for the Homeless Emergency Aid Program.
Various County departments manage homeless services funding including California Department of Social Services Home Safe Program and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, CalWORKs Housing Support Program, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness, Emergency Solutions Grants, and HOME Investment Partnerships Program. In FY 2018-19, the County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution allowing the Department of Social Services to serve as the Administrative Entity for the FMCoC’s Homeless Emergency Aid Program and California Department of Housing and Community Development’s California Emergency Solutions and Housing awards. In FY 2018-19, the Department of Behavioral Health was awarded California Department of Health Care Services Homeless Mentally Ill Outreach and Treatment Program funding for local activities involving individuals living with a serious mental illness who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
The FMCoC applies for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development CoC funding each year drawing down approximately $10 million for services that include Permanent Supportive Housing; Rapid Re-Housing; Transitional Housing/Rapid Re-Housing Hybrid; Coordinated Entry; and projects focused on serving survivors of Domestic Violence.
It is anticipated that other public and private resources will be coming to our community through the City and other major stakeholders. These actions allow for the wise coordination and stewardship of these resources to achieve the greatest possible collective impact in making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.
Street2Home (S2H)
The S2H Planning Committee was formed following the receipt of the report entitled “A Framework for Action” authored by Barbara Poppe and Associates in which she recommends proven strategies to reduce homelessness that includes the launch of a new collective impact initiative. The Committee included City of Fresno representatives, the County Administrative Officer, Supervisor Magsig, Department of Behavioral Health Director, Department of Social Services Director, FHA Executive Director, and FMCoC Chair. The Committee proposed that Street2Home (See Attachment A) serve as the countywide collective impact initiative focusing on the adopted countywide homelessness priorities.
S2H would spearhead the development of affordable housing and homelessness prevention strategies, while coordinating the separately adopted but aligned spending plans, marketing, fund development, and communications. In addition, S2H would review issues impacting communities as a result of increased homelessness (community safety, encampment clean-up, disease prevention, sanitation, trash, etc.) and impacting people experiencing homelessness (connection to services, service provider availability, housing, supportive housing, substance abuse services, access to health care, etc.). S2H will establish subcommittees as appropriate.
The founding structure of S2H would include representation as noted below with the understanding that these representatives not only represent but are also the voice of their originating agency(s):
1. Fresno County Board of Supervisors member;
2. Mayor of the City of Fresno;
3. Fresno City Council member;
4. Madera County Board of Supervisors member;
5. Fresno County Superintendent of Schools or designee;
6. Fresno Madera Continuum of Care Chair;
7. Fresno Housing Authority Executive Director; and,
8. Fresno County rural city representative (other than the Cities of Fresno and Clovis) designated by Fresno Council of Governments.
In addition, the following would be selected by the foregoing:
9. A representative of philanthropy;
10. A representative of corporate/business/developer; and,
11. A representative of the hospital system.
S2H will initially be supported by City of Fresno and County of Fresno administrative staff and will have a data/community engagement component. In addition, an honorary committee including elected local, State, and Federal representatives, a community service organization committee, and an education committee may serve in advisory capacities.
As the City Council reviews and approves the structure, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, FHA, and FMCoC will similarly place an item on their respective agendas to review and approve the structure; once the four entities approve, S2H will be established.
Coordination
The proposed resolution will commit the City to coordinate with the County of Fresno, FMCoC, and FHA to align, where possible, to develop aligned spending plans that support a continuum of services, rather than a siloed approach. The coordination would include the development of pre-homelessness strategies that include homelessness prevention, housing and diversion services through S2H utilizing the adopted Homelessness Priorities as the basis to address homelessness countywide; resulting strategies would be reviewed and approved by each coordinating entity. The main goal is to address homelessness related issues in solidarity rather than by jurisdiction, with prevention strategies at the center.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Any CEQA findings or other regulatory requirements will be included with specific project agreements brought to your Council.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no additional Net City Cost associated with the recommended actions. Staff from the Mayor’s Office and the County Administrative Office would initially provide support to the S2H Council as part of their assignments to homelessness initiatives. Coordinated spending plans (which may include one-time state funding opportunities, grant funding or allocations, and private grants) and their related applications would be brought before Council, when the City is the submitting agency, for review and approval. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are budgeted for staff time in the City’s Adopted 2019 Budget.
Attachments:
Attachment A - Street2Home Fresno County (S2H) as a Collective Impact Strategy
Attachment B - A Resolution of the Council of the City of Fresno, CA, Authorizing Coordination on the Development of Strategies to Reduce through Street2Home Fresno County and, where possible, the Alignment of Spending Plans that Support a Continuum of Services Reducing Homelessness
Attachment C - A Resolution of the Council of the City of Fresno, CA, to adopt priorities addressing homelessness.