Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Claire Cunningham, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Acceptance of funds from the California Department of Community Services and Development and Agreement with a Qualified Vendor
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing:
A) The acceptance of annual Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Funds and CSBG Discretionary Funds from the State Department of Community and Services Development (CSD) to provide emergency assistance to low-income families and individuals in a total not to exceed $2,000,000; and
B) The Human Services Agency (HSA) Director, or designee, to execute agreements with CSD and any amendments to those agreements required for acceptance of annual CSBG Funds and CSBG Discretionary Funds in a total amount not to exceed $2,000,000 received from January 1, 2025 through May 31, 2028; and
C) The HSA Director, or designee, to execute agreements with qualified contractor(s) and any amendments to those agreements to administer CSBG Funds and CSBG Discretionary Funds in a total amount not to exceed funds allocated.
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BACKGROUND:
The California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) awards annual amounts of Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds to Counties and partner agencies (known as Community Action Agencies) to provide services to low-income individuals throughout the State of California to reduce poverty. CSD awards CSBG funds based on a calendar year cycle; when CSD has additional funds, it often also issues discretionary funds to fund the provision of additional services for low-income communities.
The Human Services Agency (HSA) utilizes these funding resources to contract with a qualified vendor to provide emergency financial assistance to families and individuals in San Mateo County to help them maintain stable housing.
DISCUSSION:
HSA has been receiving grants for CSBG funds from CSD to support programs that reduce poverty and revitalize low-income communities since 2012. The State anticipates allocating $473,796 to HSA for the calendar year 2025, but the amount could ultimately be more or less than this estimated amount depending on CSD’s final budget for 2025.
CSD has requested a signed copy of the 2025 funding agreement to be returned no later than February 1, 2025. Accordingly, CSD is requesting that its funding awardees ensure that they have a process in place to be able to review and return grant agreements quickly in order to have a streamlined process in place to execute grants including additional funding that may become available during the year.
In order to be able to quickly execute grant agreements and amendments with CSD, HSA is requesting that the Board authorize the HSA Director or her designee to execute agreements with CSD for CSBG and CSBG Discretionary funds and execute agreements and amendments with a qualified vendor for services funded with CSBG and CSBG Discretionary funds up to $2,000,000 and for the term of January 1, 2025, through May 31, 2028. This will allow HSA to streamline grant and amendment execution processes to provide critical services to the community in a timely manner.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
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2025-2027 Projection |
Number of participants projected to receive Emergency Financial Assistance |
600 individuals |
Percent of participants receiving rental or emergency assistance who remain housed 6 months after receiving assistance |
65% |
EQUITY STATEMENT:
The acceptance and use of CSBG funds positively impacts the community. CSBG funds help San Mateo County residents who live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level pay overdue rent and/or other unexpected life costs that places them in danger of losing their housing. These funds are also used to assist unhoused residents move into permanent housing. The CSBG program advances equity in the county, as it provides support to a vulnerable community which includes racial/ethnic minority groups that are overrepresented as compared to the general population of the county.
FISCAL IMPACT:
It is anticipated that CSD will issue $473,796 in regular CSBG funds for calendar year 2025 and a similar amount for the calendar years 2026 and 2027; however, the specific amounts are not yet known. In addition, CSD may also release additional discretionary grant funds for each year’s funding. These funds will be contracted to a qualified, County-procured vendor to administer the funds in collaboration with Core Service Agency Network. There is no impact to Net County Cost.