Title
Recommendation to Provide Direction on the City’s Proposal for the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) and Authorize the Interim City Manager to Work with the Social Service Human Relations Board to Finalize and Implement the City’s HEAP Programs and Services. (Economic Development 001)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: David L. Rudat, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Senate Bill (SB) 850, established the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) in 2018, a $500 million block grant aimed at providing immediate emergency assistance to people experiencing homelessness in California. HEAP funds will be provided to counties and cities with populations over 330,000. The County of Alameda will receive $16.2 million in HEAP funds. On November 20, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved a $756,524 allocation for the City of Alameda, and adopted regulations that allow 2.5% of the funds awarded ($19,000) to be used for administrative costs and require a 30% local match. The Board of Supervisors also approved the City’s broad funding request as required by the County’s process. That funding request stated that 20% of the funds received would be used for direct services, 10% would be used for rent subsidies/assistance, and 70% would be used for capital improvements. The County submitted a single application (County unincorporated areas and 14 cities) to the State prior to the December 31, 2018 deadline. Funds will be received in March 2019.
The Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) approved the City’s HEAP proposal at its November 29, 2018 meeting and recommended its adoption by the City Council. Staff requests that the City Council provide direction on the City’s HEAP program and direct the Interim City Manager to work with the SSHRB to oversee implementation of programs and services funded by HEAP.
BACKGROUND
In June 2018, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 850 into law, which authorized 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. This funding is one-time, and statues require that 50% of the awarded funds be contractually obligated by January 1, 2020, and all funds must be expended by June 30, 2021. Unexpended funds must be returned to the State. Alameda County has been allocated $16.2 million in HEAP funds.
Continuums of Care (COC) and large cities with over 330,000 people are eligible to apply directly to the State for funding, while cities below the population threshold may qualify by adopting a resolution declaring a “shelter crisis” in their jurisdiction and submitting an application to their COC. On October 2, 2018, the Alameda City Council adopted a resolution declaring a shelter crisis in the city.
On November 20, 2018, the Board of Supervisors, the policy board for the Alameda County COC, approved a $756,524 allocation for the City of Alameda, and adopted regulations that allow 2.5% of the funds awarded ($19,000) to be used for administrative costs and require a 30% local match. The Board of Supervisors also approved the City’s broad funding request as required by the County’s process. That funding request stated that 20% of the funds received would be used for direct services, 10% would be used for rent subsidies/assistance, and 70% would be used for capital improvements. County staff submitted a consolidated HEAP application on behalf of 14 cities and the unincorporated areas to the State prior to December 31, 2018.
While the Board of Supervisors mandated a local match, the constitution of the required match has yet to be determined by the County. In addition, although the funding allocation plan has been approved, moving funds between categories is allowable to give communities the flexibility and creativity in developing local solutions to meet the specific needs of the homeless population in the jurisdictions. The availability of HEAP funds will greatly enhance the City’s efforts to support approximately 204 unhoused individuals in Alameda.
DISCUSSION
The City of Alameda has demonstrated an on-going commitment to addressing homelessness on the island through its active participation in the Point-In-Time homeless count, investment in programs and services to support the homeless, adoption of the 2018 Alameda Homelessness Report, and implementation of the recommendations identified in the Report.
The creation of a Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) was a key recommendation in the Alameda Homelessness Report. Alameda launched its HOT in early 2018, to improve coordination of service delivery by bringing together a cross-section of organizations and staff working with homeless individuals. Alameda’s HOT has expanded its scope since its inception and has evolved into a coalition that leads systems-level efforts to address homelessness in Alameda. To reflect its current work, HOT has been renamed the Coalition Advancing Resources, Efforts, and Supports for Alameda’s Homeless (CARES).
Members include:
• Business associations (DABA and WABA)
• Community-based social service providers
• Faith-based coalition
• Alameda Housing Authority
• City-contracted outreach organizations (Operation Dignity, Building Futures)
• City departments (Community Paramedics Program, Homeless Liaison Police Officers Team, Base Reuse and Community Development Department, Recreation and Parks, and Public Works)
CARES has launched a number of initiatives including the homeless case conferencing panel, weekly joint outreach with the Alameda Police Department’s Homeless Liaison Officers, Dine and Connect, a monthly dinner and service engagement at a local church, and Alameda’s first Warming Center.
CARES has been developing and implementing its initiatives over the last eight months. This work allowed staff to move quickly when the HEAP funding was announced and tight deadlines were established by the County to submit local funding proposals. The funding proposal below reflects on-going issues/concerns identified by CARES and conversations with other mid-sized cities interested in collaborating on shared solutions.
After setting aside the 2.5% allowable for administration ($19,000), the remaining $737,524 has been distributed to the three HEAP-eligible categories as follows:
|
HEAP-Eligible Category |
Funding Allocation |
Percentage |
Possible Projects to be Funded |
|
Service |
$147,505 |
20% |
Develop a regional partnership with the Cities of Fremont, Hayward, San Leandro, and Union City to purchase a shared mobile hygiene unit and establish sanctioned car and RV parking areas |
|
Rental Assistance/ Rental Subsidy |
$ 73,752 |
10% |
Provide housing assistance and emergency motel vouchers |
|
Capital Improvement |
$516,267 |
70% |
Build public restrooms in the two main street areas in the city |
This proposal was discussed with CARES and SSHRB at their November 26 and November 29, 2018 meetings respectively.
The following input was provided:
CARES
• The funding allocation breakdown is consistent with other cities
• Align Alameda’s plan with the EveryOne Home Strategic Plan to End Homelessness in Alameda County
• Expand the Dine and Connect dinners
• Set aside funds to purchase shelter beds
• Establish sanctioned parking, but ongoing funding is needed
• Support the Alameda Wellness Center with capital funds
• Use HEAP to seed a larger infrastructure project
• Invest in ongoing warming center
• Provide support to the Housing Resource Center, especially around disaster planning and purchase of supplies in case of disasters
• Create an Ambassador program to improve outreach and engagement
• Establish a daytime drop-in center
• Establish a family reunification and housing problem-solving program
• Provide rental subsidies to those at-risk of homelessness
• Create a campaign to increase Section 8 rentals
Public input at SSHRB meeting
• Consider aligning the City’s use of the funds with EveryOne Home’s Strategic Plan for the Homeless
• Building public restrooms in downtown areas is not good use of HEAP. While it is needed, the City should use other funds to pay for this project.
• More investment in outreach and engagement and prevention strategies is needed
• Support for the Alameda Wellness Center is needed
SSHRB approved the HEAP funding proposal and requested that staff agendize a discussion of HEAP at its January or February meeting to allow members to review the potential projects and provide feedback on the use of the funds. At the request of the business associations, a meeting will also be scheduled in January to give them an update on the City’s initiatives to serve the City’s homeless residents and get their input on possible programs to ameliorate the impact of unsheltered residents on Alameda’s businesses. SSHRB recommended the City’s HEAP proposal for adoption by the City Council.
Staff anticipates HEAP funding being available as early as March 2019. All funds must be expended by June 30, 2021. Given these tight timelines for developing specific programs and services, engaging partners to assist in implementing those programs and services, and completing these one-time projects within two years, staff is recommending that City Council provide direction on the City’s HEAP proposal by authorizing the Interim City Manager to work with the SSHRB to finalize and oversee the implementation of programs and services funded through HEAP.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
An award of $756,524 in HEAP funds has a positive financial impact on the City’s budget as it is a significant amount of funding that will provide an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in responding to homelessness in Alameda. The County is requiring a 30% match (approximately $225,000), and while the constitution of the allowable match is yet to be determined, staff believes that the City’s on-going commitment to funding services such as legal aid for low-income tenants, homeless outreach services, operating support of the Midway Shelter (through the Community Development Block Grant program), etc. will satisfy the match requirement and not require any new funding.
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 2-9.1) and the 2018 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
Provide direction on the City’s proposal for the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) and authorize the Interim City Manager to work with the Social Service Human Relations Board to finalize and implement the City’s HEAP programs and services.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Potter, Community Development Director
By:
Ana Bagtas, Community Development Analyst
Financial impact section reviewed,
By: Elena Adair, Finance Director