Subject:
Title
Emergency Solutions Grant Program - Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing Subaward Subrecipient Agreement with Metropolitan Ministries, Inc. for operating expenses of the Pinellas Family Shelter Program.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of an Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG) - Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) Subaward Subrecipient Agreement (Agreement) with Metropolitan Ministries, Inc. for operating expenses of the Pinellas Family Shelter Program.
• The ESG-RUSH Agreement provides ESG-RUSH funding, not to exceed $149,624.00, for costs associated with providing emergency housing and support services to homeless persons.
• ESG-RUSH funds will be used for operating expenses including program delivery salaries and fringe benefits for the Pinellas Family Shelter Program, located at 814 North 4th Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, providing emergency shelter and support services for the benefit of approximately 20 households.
• The ESG-RUSH Agreement is effective for just over one (1) year, from September 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.
• The County received $512,336.00 in a special allocation of federal ESG-RUSH funds to address the needs of homeless individuals or families or individuals or families at risk of homelessness in areas affected by a major disaster whose needs are not otherwise served or fully met by existing Federal disaster relief programs.
• ESG-RUSH funding of $512,336 was recognized through a budget amendment to the FY25 Budget. Funding for ESG-RUSH has also been included in the FY26 Budget. This agreement is fully supported by the FY25 special allocation of ESG-RUSH federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a) (1) and Resolution No. 25-17.
Body
Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health.
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.1 Increase the availability of attainable housing.
Smart Service Delivery
4.2 Achieve and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
4.4 Pursue continuous improvement.
Summary:
At the June 17, 2025, Board of County Commissioners (Board) meeting, the Board approved agenda item #25 (Granicus #25-0666A), approving ESG-RUSH funding for Metropolitan Ministries’ Family Shelter Program.
One (1) of the projects to be carried out under the County’s Substantial Amendment to the FY24-25 Annual Action Plan application for Federal funding is funding of Metropolitan Ministries’ Pinellas Family Shelter Program for operating expenses. This Agreement will provide Federal funding for operating expenses including program delivery salaries and fringe benefits for two (2) full-time and two (2) part-time staff for the Pinellas Family Shelter Program providing emergency shelter and support services for the benefit of approximately 20 households.
The ESG-RUSH Agreement is effective for just over one (1) year, from September 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.
Background/Explanation:
As authorized by 42 U.S.C 11364a(c)(1), Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) made a special allocation of ESG funding to the County in the amount of $512,336.00, to address the needs of homeless individuals or families or individuals or families at risk of homelessness in areas affected by a major disaster declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). The ESG funds shall benefit people whose needs are not otherwise served or fully met by existing Federal disaster relief programs, including the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program under such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b).
On January 10, 2025, HUD notified the County of the award of a special allocation of ESG funding to address the needs of homeless individuals or families or individuals or families at risk of homelessness in areas affected by a major disaster.
Public notice of the proposed amendment was posted on the County’s website on January 23, 2025.
On February 4, 2025, HUD transmitted the ESG-RUSH Funding Approval/Agreement to be executed by the County.
At the February 11, 2025, Board meeting, the Board approved agenda item #17 (Granicus #25-0115A), Resolution No. 25-17, approving a Substantial Amendment to the FY25 Annual Action Plan application for Federal funding.
At the June 17, 2025, Board meeting, the Board approved agenda item #25 (Granicus #25-0666A), approving ESG-RUSH funding for Metropolitan Ministries’ Family Shelter Program.
The ESG-RUSH Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was posted on the Community Development website, and emailed to nonprofit agencies and local municipalities.
The competitive application process began on January 13, 2025, with applications being due February 21, 2025. Applications were reviewed for funding eligibility and scored by Community Development Division staff. Funding recommendations are based on staff ranking of eligible activities and eligible expenses.
Fiscal Impact:
The total amount of funding for this Agreement is not to exceed $149,624.00 in ESG-RUSH funding during the term of the Agreement.
ESG-RUSH funding of $512,336 was recognized through a budget amendment to the FY25 Budget. Funding for ESG-RUSH has also been included in the FY26 Budget. This agreement is fully supported by the FY25 special allocation of ESG-RUSH federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1) or Resolution No. 25-17.
Staff Member Responsible:
Gregg Mims, Director, Housing and Community Development
Partners:
Metropolitan Ministries, Inc.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Attachments:
Emergency Solutions Grant Program- Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing Subaward Subrecipient Agreement
Project Location Map
ESG-RUSH Funding Recommendations
Resolution No. 25-17