Special Notice / Hearing: None
Vote Required: 4/5ths
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Measure K: Appropriation Transfer Request in the amount of $1,500,000 for the Expansion of Homeless Prevention and Emergency Financial Assistance Programs
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) in the amount of $1,500,000 from the County Executive’s Office Special Projects and Grants Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Addiction Program (Homelessness) to the Human Services Agency for the expansion of homeless prevention and emergency financial assistance programs.
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BACKGROUND:
Over the last few years, the County has been trying to better understand the needs of the County’s most vulnerable residents and have found that there is a greater need for rental assistance. The Human Services Agency’s Homeless Prevention and Financial Assistance Program provides one-time financial assistance to eligible San Mateo County residents to help those experiencing homelessness return to housing, and those at imminent risk of becoming homeless stay housed through an agreement with the Samaritan House. The Human Services Agency operates this program through an agreement with Samaritan House. Samaritan House works with the Core Services Agencies to provide financial assistance tailored to meet the needs of eligible applicants, to the extent feasible within the available resources.
DISCUSSION:
Due to financial constraints, the County Executive’s Office is proposing to transfer Measure K funding that was set aside for the (AOD) Addiction Program (Homelessness), which begins in January, to homeless prevention services.
The proposed transfer of Measure K funding will assist the Human Services Agency in responding to the large increase in residents applying for rental assistance as a result of inflation, job market instability, the end of state and federal COVID-related rental assistance programs, and other challenges with housing costs. This Measure K funding will allow more applicants who are experiencing housing instability to receive emergency financial assistance specifically applied to rental assistance.
The Human Services Agency will roll over any unspent funds from this ATR for these services into the FY 2024-25 budget, as needed.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
Target |
|
Additional households that will receive rental assistance |
438 |
EQUITY IMPACT:
Residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness due to economic disparities in the County may avoid experience homelessness with this one-time rental assistance provided by the Human Services Agency. Improving outcomes and housing options and getting to a functional zero of homelessness in the County is a priority of the Board of Supervisors. The goal of this additional Measure K funding is to assist vulnerable County residents by filling a financial gap for rental costs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Measure K funding in the amount of $1.5 million that is currently included in the County Executive’s Office Special Projects and Grants Adopted FY 2023-24 Budget for alcohol and drug addiction services will be transferred to the Human Services Agency for homeless prevention and emergency financial assistance services. There is no effect to the Net County Cost as a result of approval of this ATR.