Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Raymond Hodges, Director, Department of Housing
Subject: Allocation of Measure K Funds, ARPA Funds and State HCD Permanent Local Housing Allocation Funds to Equity Innovation Service Programs
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution:
A) Approving Equity Innovation Fund commitments for (i) up to $1,269,770 in Measure K funds, or other funds as determined by the County Manager, for six Equity Innovation Service Programs, (ii) up to $250,000 in State of California Department of Housing and Community Development Permanent Local Housing Allocation funds for two Equity Innovation Service Programs, and (iii) up to $350,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, or other funds as determined by the County Manager, for two Equity Innovation Service Programs, as indicated in Attachment A to the Resolution; and
B) Authorizing the Director of the Department of Housing, or designee, in consultation with County Counsel, to negotiate and execute contracts and other documents necessary to provide said funding to the Equity Innovation Service Programs, as indicated in Attachment A to the Resolution. body
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BACKGROUND:
On February 13, 2018, the Board of Supervisors (the “Board”) adopted Ordinance No. 4794, a pilot Accessory Dwelling Unit (“ADU”) Amnesty Program supported with $500,000 in Measure K funds, and as of December 1, 2021, $475,353 remains unexpended.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) was signed into law in January 2021 and, among other things, it allocates money to States and local agencies that can be used to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and the negative public health and economic impacts caused or exacerbated by it.
On May 19, 2020, the Board, through Resolution No. 077442, authorized and directed the Department of Housing (“DOH”) to receive and manage the California Department of Housing and Community Development Permanent Local Housing Allocation (“PLHA”) grant.
Through the PHLA grant, approximately $7,257,300 is available over five years to support affordable housing, transitional housing, and homelessness assistance and prevention.
On September 14, 2021, the Board, through Resolution No. 078372 affirmed its commitment to efforts to increase racial equity through all County policies and programs.
On September 28, 2021, the Board, through Resolution No. 078427, authorized $450,883 in Measure K funds for HIP Housing’s Homesharing Program, Legal Aid Society’s Eviction Defense Program, and Project Sentinel’s Landlord Tenant Information System (collectively, “Ongoing Initiatives”) for FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23, respectively, and the Department of Housing is responsible for administering the Ongoing Initiatives and, in compliance with County competitive procurement standards, seeks to implement a competitive review process for the Ongoing Initiatives as well as new programs supporting equity and justice in housing and community development.
On October 14, 2021, the DOH released a Request for Proposals for the inaugural round of the Equity Innovation Fund (“EIF”), consisting of $422,343 in unexpended Measure K funds from FY 2019-20 previously approved by the Board of Supervisors for ADU Amnesty Program; $146,000 in Measure K funds from FY 2021-22 previously allocated for landlord/tenant legal services and home sharing programs; $450,883 in Measure K funds from FY 2022-23 anticipated to be allocated to landlord/tenant legal services and home sharing programs; $350,000 in ARPA funds; and $250,000 in PHLA funds.
DISCUSSION:
DOH received fourteen (14) EIF applications by the November 8, 2021 application deadline, which collectively requested a total of $2,226,735 for programs that create new opportunities for addressing community needs in innovative ways and integrate greater equity into services for the most vulnerable and diverse populations in the County.
DOH staff and the EIF review panel jointly recommend funding ten (10) of the proposed programs.
As shown in Attachment A to the Resolution, six (6) of the eight (10) projects recommended for funding would receive an allocation through the available Measure K funds. In addition, two (2) of the ten (10) projects recommended for funding would receive an allocation through the available PLHA funds and two (2) of the ten (10) projects recommended for funding would receive an allocation through ARPA funds.
The resolution has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form
FISCAL IMPACT:
The proposed competitive fund award process will be limited to the utilization of up to: $422,343 in unexpended Measure K funds from FY 2019-20 approved by the Board of Supervisors for ADU Amnesty Program; $146,000 in Measure K funds from FY 2021-22 allocated for landlord/tenant legal services and home sharing programs; $450,883 in Measure K funds from FY 2022-23 anticipated to be allocated to landlord/tenant legal services and home sharing programs; $350,000 in ARPA funds; and $250,000 in PLHA.