Title
Adoption of Resolution Declaring a Shelter Crisis Pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 850 Chapter 48, Statutes of 2018 and Government Code §8698.2 in Order to Apply for Homeless Emergency Aid Program Funding when it Becomes Available. (Community Development 267)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: David L. Rudat, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Senate Bill (SB) 850, signed into law in June 2018, established the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP), a $500 million block grant aimed at providing immediate emergency assistance to people experiencing homelessness. Continuums of Care (COC) and large cities with over 330,000 people are eligible to apply directly to the State for funding. Smaller, incorporated cities are eligible to apply for HEAP funds through their COCs by adopting a resolution declaring a “shelter crisis.” Staff is recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution declaring a shelter crisis in the City of Alameda in order to apply for HEAP funding when Alameda County’s COC announces funding availability and releases the application.
BACKGROUND
In August 2018, the State of California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC) issued an announcement of funding availability for the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP). HEAP is a $500 million block grant program designed to provide direct assistance to cities and counties to address the homelessness crisis throughout California. HEAP was authorized by Senate Bill 850 and signed into law by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. in June 2018.
COCs and large cities with over 330,000 people are eligible to apply directly for HEAP funds, which are intended to provide immediate emergency assistance to people experiencing homelessness. COCs are regional or local planning organizations designed to promote a community-wide commitment to end homelessness by providing: 1) funding for efforts by nonprofit and public agencies to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families; 2) access to and increasing utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and 3) optimizing self-sufficiency among those experiencing homelessness. EveryOne Home is the COC in Alameda County. The COC will act as the Administrative Entity for HEAP, and is the eligible applicant for the program funding. All cities and counties within a COC that wish to receive HEAP funds are required to declare a shelter crisis, pursuant to Chapter 7.8 (commencing with Section 8698) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The declaration is a resolution that must be adopted by the governing body of a jurisdiction.
HEAP provides broad latitude in the use of funds to allow communities to exercise flexibility and creativity in developing local solutions to meet the specific needs of the homeless population in their jurisdictions. Eligible uses of the funds may include, but are not limited to the following:
a. Homelessness prevention activities;
b. Criminal justice diversion programs for homeless individuals with mental health needs;
c. Establishing or expanding services to meet the needs of homeless youth or youth at risk of homelessness; and
d. Emergency aid.
DISCUSSION
In 2017, the City of Alameda participated in the Point-In-Time count, an inventory of the homeless in a specific area at a particular day. The count revealed that Alameda had 204 homeless people, with 94 sheltered and 110 unsheltered. In addition, the Alameda Unified School District estimates that more than 60 children and youth are currently homeless, a number not reflected in the count because these children and their families are usually not visible and do not readily self-identify as homeless. They are often staying with relatives, living in cars, or couch surfing. Therefore, these children and their families are outside of the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development criteria and methodology for accounting for the homeless for the Point-In-Time count.
In addition to participating in the Point-In-Time count, the Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) conducted a community needs assessment at the end of 2017. Survey results indicate that residents found homeless shelters/homeless services as the second most pressing social services need in the City of Alameda, behind transportation. In March 2018, the City Council accepted a Report on Homelessness Programs and Policies (Homelessness Report <https://alamedaca.gov/sites/default/files/document-files/files-inserted/alameda_homelessness_report.pdf>) and allocated funds to implement key initiatives recommended in the report. This report was prepared in response to a City Council referral regarding identifying best practices for addressing the homelessness crisis in the City and the region. The availability of HEAP funds provides the City of Alameda with additional opportunities to develop creative solutions to address its homeless population’s most critical needs.
The County is the Administrative Entity for EveryOne Home, the COC, and as such will be the eligible applicant for HEAP funding. Over $16 million has been allocated for Alameda County to distribute within its region through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. In order be eligible for HEAP funding, the City of Alameda must declare a shelter crisis within its jurisdiction. Declaring a shelter emergency was a recommendation in the Homelessness Report. The County has requested that all jurisdictions interested in accessing HEAP funds adopt a resolution declaring a shelter crisis by October 5, 2018. The County will be required to submit a single funding application on behalf of all jurisdictions. If the City has not declared a shelter crisis in time for inclusion in the County-wide funding application it will miss its opportunity to receive funding to address critical needs of its homeless population.
Staff is recommending that City Council adopt a Resolution declaring a Shelter Crisis in the City of Alameda in order to apply for funding when Alameda County announces funding availability and releases the solicitation for proposals. Selection of projects/programs will be based on the amount of funds available from the County and the recommendations outlined in the Homelessness Report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is a positive financial impact from approving a resolution declaring a shelter crisis in Alameda as it is a requirement to access grant funds to provide emergency assistance to people experiencing homelessness. Alameda County is estimated to receive approximately $16,192,000 in HEAP funding. The City of Alameda’s allocation of HEAP funds will be determined by the Alameda County COC and is unknown at this time. With the Shelter Crisis declaration, the City of Alameda will be prepared to apply for HEAP funding as it becomes available through the COC.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the SSHRB Charter and Ordinance authority “to improve social services in the community” (Alameda Municipal Code Section 2-11.5) and the Report on Homelessness Policies and Programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15601(b)(3).
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution declaring a Shelter Crisis Pursuant to SB 850 Chapter 48, Statutes of 2018 and Government Code §8698.2 in order to apply for Homeless Emergency Aid Program funding when it becomes available.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Potter, Community Development Director
By,
Ana Bagtas, Management Analyst
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director