Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Two-Year Contract with the County of Alameda to Implement Alameda’s Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) Plan; and
Adoption of Resolution Amending the General Fund Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20 by Increasing Estimated Revenue and Appropriations by $756,524. (Community Development 267)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff is recommending that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with the County of Alameda (County) to implement the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) projects and services plan to support the homeless population in the City of Alameda (City). Staff is also recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution to amend the City’s operating budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20 to acknowledge receipt of $756,524 in HEAP grant funds and to appropriate the funding. Approval of the agreement with the County will allocate the grant funds for the programs and services identified in the work scope.
BACKGROUND
Senate Bill (SB) 850 established HEAP in 2018, a $500 million block grant to provide immediate emergency assistance to counties and cities experiencing homelessness in California. Funds are allocated by formula to counties and cities with populations over 330,000. The City has been allocated $756,524 in HEAP funds, which must be fully spent by June 30, 2021. As part of its administration of the HEAP funds, the County is requiring a 30% funding match ($226,957). Up to 2.5% of the funds ($18,913) can be used for program administration. The composition of the match requirement is being developed by the County as of the writing of this report. However, staff anticipates that funding for homeless services already included in the City’s FY 2019-20 and FY 2020-21 budget will qualify for the required match.
On January 15, 2019, the City Council authorized staff to work with the Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) to finalize the HEAP allocation plan and oversee implementation of projects. SSHRB established the HEAP Ad Hoc Committee for this purpose at its March 28, 2019 meeting. After a series of planning meetings that included investigation of best practices in other communities, the HEAP Ad Hoc Committee developed a final list of projects and spending plan.
The County has developed a standard contract template for all of the cities participating in the HEAP program. The draft contract, including the City’s work scope and funding plan, is attached as Exhibit 1. Staff is requesting that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute the HEAP funding agreement with the County. Staff is further requesting that the City Council adopt a resolution amending the City’s FY 2019-20 budget to increase revenue by $756,524 to reflect receipt of the HEAP grant and increase appropriations by the same amount to allow spending against the grant funding. Approval of the agreement with the County will allocate the grant funds for the programs and services identified in the work scope.
DISCUSSION
The HEAP Ad Hoc Committee developed the final list of projects and funding allocation plan for the Alameda’s HEAP. After a thorough deliberation process, which included reviewing projects proposed by various stakeholders through a series of public meetings, attending presentations and visiting programs to gather best practices in other cities, and discussing the feasibility of the proposed projects, the HEAP Ad Hoc Committee developed the following list of projects and funding allocations, which has been submitted to the County for inclusion in the City’s scope of work and contract with the County for HEAP. A draft list of the projects was presented to the SSHRB on April 25, 2019.
Table 1: HEAP Projects and Funding Allocation
|
|
Services |
Rental Assistance |
Capital |
Admin |
Total |
|
Homeless Prevention Subsidies (for households undergoing financial crisis & imminent homelessness) |
|
$11,611 |
|
|
$11,611 |
|
Outreach & Engagement Support (Ambassador/Services) |
$8,657 |
|
|
|
$8,657 |
|
Flex spending account |
|
$12,985 |
|
|
$12,985 |
|
Homeless hotline |
$17,313 |
|
|
|
$17,313 |
|
Dine and Connect |
$8,657 |
|
|
|
$8,657 |
|
Safe Parking |
$138,507 |
|
|
|
$138,507 |
|
Warming Shelter |
$103,881 |
|
|
|
$103,881 |
|
Rental Assistance |
|
$29,000 |
|
|
$29,000 |
|
Emergency Motel Vouchers |
$7,000 |
|
|
$7,000 |
|
Day Center |
|
|
$380,000 |
|
$380,000 |
|
Showers (2) built at Warming Center |
|
|
$20,000 |
|
$20,000 |
|
Grant Administration |
|
|
|
$18,913 |
$18,913 |
|
TOTAL |
$277,015 |
$60,596 |
$400,000 |
$18,913 |
$756,524 |
Staff has been working on identifying locations for the proposed day center and safe parking, as well as reaching out to prospective providers for the services identified on the project list. The HEAP Ad Hoc Committee will meet throughout the duration of the HEAP grant, which concludes in June 30, 2021, to ensure successful implementation of projects. The City’s Homeless Outreach Team, which has been renamed the Coalition Advancing Resources, Efforts, and Supports for Alameda’s Homeless (CARES), will also receive updates on HEAP at its regular meetings and will assume the oversight function of the HEAP Ad Hoc committee at the conclusion of the HEAP grant in 2021, for any remaining projects.
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with the County for the HEAP grant based on the list of recommended projects and funding allocations and adopt a resolution to amend the City’s operating budget for FY 2019-20 to acknowledge acceptance of HEAP funds.
ALTERNATIVES
• City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with the County for the HEAP grant based on the list of recommended projects and funding allocations and adopt a resolution to amend the City’s operating budget for FY 2019-20 to acknowledge acceptance of HEAP funds. Staff is recommending approval of the proposed projects and funding allocations as presented based on the extensive process undertaken by SSHRB, CARES and the HEAP Ad Hoc committee to identify and develop programs that will have an immediate impact on the lives of homeless individuals in Alameda.
• City Council amends the proposed projects and funding allocations and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with the County for the HEAP grant as amended.
• The City Council declines accepting the award of HEAP funds. FINANCIAL IMPACT
Acceptance of the award of HEAP funds will have a positive impact on the City’s General Fund as it will allow the City to leverage funding that has already been committed to addressing homelessness in the City. While receipt of the HEAP funds requires a 30% match, those funds will come from both General Fund and Community Development Block Grant-funded projects and programs that have been previously budgeted. In addition, staffing costs of up to $18,913 can be recouped under the grant.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the 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).
CLIMATE IMPACTS
The Social Vulnerability Assessment section of the draft Climate Action and Resiliency Plan states:
“adaptation strategies should consider how [the homeless] will receive emergency communications and how they will be sheltered. Proper, safe housing for all is an adaptation and resilience strategy. Planning strategies should always consider these vulnerable populations in adaptation efforts.”
The HEAP funding will help some of the most vulnerable in our community with the consequences of climate change. The warming center offers emergency shelter during inclement weather. Similarly, emergency motel vouchers may offer shelter from extreme heatwaves or hazardous air quality caused by catastrophic wildfires.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute a two-year contract with the County of Alameda to implement the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) and to adopt a Resolution amending the operating budget for FY 2019-20 by increasing estimated revenue and appropriations by $756,524.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager requests authorization to execute a contract with the County of Alameda to implement HEAP.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Potter, Community Development Director
By:
Ana Bagtas, Community Development Analyst
Financial impact section reviewed,
By: Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Draft Contract
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager