Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Cole, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Acceptance of Round 3 Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program Funding from the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of the Human Services Agency or designee, to designate the County of San Mateo as the Administrative Entity of Round 3 Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program funding and execute any agreements, amendments to agreements or other documents with the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency to apply for and accept Round 3 Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program funding for a total amount of up to $4,375,128.66, plus future Round 3 funding, on behalf of the County of San Mateo and the CA-512 Daly City/San Mateo County Continuum of Care.
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BACKGROUND:
After obtaining Board approval on February 11, 2020, by Resolution No. 077226, the County applied for and accepted funding, on behalf of the County and the CA-512 Daly City/San Mateo County Continuum of Care (CoC), from the California Business Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BSCH) for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) grant. HHAP was established as a one-time grant to provide local jurisdictions with funds to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address their immediate homelessness challenges.
After obtaining Board approval on January 12, 2021, by Resolution No. 077954, the County applied for an accepted HHAP round 2 funding (HHAP-2) from BSCH. HHAP-2 was established to provide support to local jurisdictions to continue to build on regional collaboration developed through previous rounds funding and to develop a unified regional response to homelessness.
In July 2021, the BSCH announced a third round of HHAP (HHAP-3) funding will be released late 2021. HHAP-3 is flexible funding that may be used through June 2026 for a variety of homeless services which includes diversion, outreach, rapid re-housing, permanent housing, and other homeless services, and will include a new accountability and performance framework. HHAP-3 funds will be made available/released to eligible applicants, including Counties and Continuum of Care in 3 phases.
Phase 1 is the “Agreement to Apply” due by October 15, 2021, which makes available disbursement of up to 20% per entity, or 25% of the base allocation funds when applicants jointly apply. Phase 2 is the full application due by June 30, 2022. The remainder of HHAP-3 base allocation funds will be disbursed upon acceptance of the full application. Finally, Phase 3 will allocate any available additional HHAP-3 funds to grantees that meet performance goals and spending requirements to be disbursed no later than November 30, 2024.
BCSH permits jurisdictions to apply jointly for HHAP-3 program funds allocations. The County of San Mateo Human Services Agency (HSA) serves as the Lead Agency for the CA-512 Daly City/San Mateo CoC.
DISCUSSION:
HSA, as the lead CoC agency, is planning to complete Phase 1 and submit an “Agreement to Apply” on behalf of the CoC and an “Agreement to Apply” on behalf of the County of San Mateo by October 15, 2021. At the time of submission, HSA will designate the County as the Administrative Entity and will indicate its intent to apply jointly for HHAP-3 funding on behalf of both the CoC and the County. Upon submission of the two “Agreements to Apply”, the County will receive an initial allocation of up to 25% ($1,093,782.17) of the total HHAP-3 allocation amount (up to $4,375,128.66).
Once the remaining HHAP-3 funds are released, HSA will complete Phase 2 and will submit the full application to BSCH by June 30, 2022. The remaining allocation of funding will be disbursed to the County upon approval of the application by BCSH. Additionally, HSA will complete Phase 3 when/if future HHAP-3 funds become available to eligible applicants. Funding allocation and disbursement will be based on BCSH’s new performance and accountability framework, which BCSH is currently developing.
In order to expedite the administration of funding, HSA is requesting that the Board of Supervisors authorize the HSA Director, or designee, to submit application materials, including the “Agreement to Apply”, and execute any agreements, amendments to agreements or other documents with BSCH to apply for and accept HHAP-3 funding, including future HHAP-3 funds, through FY 2025-26. It is in the best interest of the County to designate the County as the Administrative Entity of HHAP-3 funds and apply jointly to receive one grant rather than having to apply for and manage two separate HHAP-3 grants/allocations.
Given that HHAP-3 is a one-time funding source, and that the State is also planning to issue another one-time HHAP grant (Round 4) starting in FY2022-23, HSA will strategically plan for how to utilize this funding source most effectively within the homeless crisis response system to maximize the impact and most strategically utilize this one-time funding source towards meeting local needs.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total HHAP-3 allocation amount is for a total amount of up to $4,375,128.66. An initial allocation of up to 25% of the total allocation will be made available FY 2021-22. The remaining funds are anticipated to be received within Fiscal Year 2022-23. HHAP-3 funding is available for use through FY 2025-26. These funds will be held in trust by the County until they are utilized. Budgetary appropriation to authorize the use of these funds will be included in the budget years that will be affected. There is no Net County Cost.