Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Cole, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Amendment with Samaritan House for Emergency Financial Assistance Funded with Community Services Block Grant Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Funds
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to the Agreement with Samaritan House to administer and provide Emergency Financial Assistance funded with Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funds, adding $39,159 in CSBG discretionary funds for a revised total Agreement amount not to exceed $673,121.
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BACKGROUND:
The Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) awards Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds to local Community Action Agencies to provide services to low-income individuals to reduce poverty. In San Mateo County, the Human Services Agency (HSA) is the Community Action Agency.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is economic stimulus legislation enacted in March of 2020 in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. CSBG CARES was developed by CSD to help address community needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges and needs within the community.
The Emergency Financial Assistance Program provides financial assistance on behalf of eligible low-income residents who are experiencing challenges with maintaining their housing. The Core Service Agencies utilize funding from a variety of sources to fund the Emergency Financial Assistance Program, including CSBG funds.
The Emergency Financial Assistance Program is administered by Samaritan House in close collaboration with all of the Core Service Agencies, and residents can apply for assistance at any of the Core Service Agencies located throughout the County.
On December 8, 2020, this Board authorized an agreement between the County of San Mateo and Samaritan House to provide and administer the Emergency Financial Assistance Program with CARES Act Funds in a total amount not to exceed $633,962 for the term of December 8, 2020 through May 31, 2022.
DISCUSSION:
This amendment adds an additional $39,159 in CSBG discretionary funds recently awarded to the County of San Mateo through CSD.
Samaritan House will use these funds to continue to collaborate with the Core Service Agencies, evaluate referrals received from the Core Service Agencies to ensure compliance, act as the fiscal agent for financial assistance provided, and issue the financial assistance as set forth in the original agreement.
It is estimated that 112 households will receive emergency financial assistance from Samaritan House through this Agreement.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
Target |
|
Number of households who receive financial assistance |
112 |
|
Percent of clients that remained housed after 6 months of receiving assistance |
65% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total amount of this amended agreement is $673,121. The term of the Agreement remains from December 8, 2020 through May 31, 2022. Budgetary appropriation for this Agreement and for the CSBG CARES Act funding that supports it is included in the FY 2020-21 Revised Budget. There is no Net County Cost.