Subject:
Title
Funding recommendations for Emergency Solutions Grants program - Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing funding.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of funding recommendations for Emergency Solutions Grants program - Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (ESG-RUSH) funding and authorize the County Administrator to sign agreements.
• Pinellas County issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for $512,336.00 of ESG-RUSH funding on February 10, 2025, and received four applications in response.
• Two applications, Metropolitan Ministries Family Shelter Operations and St. Vincent de Paul CARES - Care Center Operations totaling $216,724.00 are recommended for funding.
• The application by Directions for Living is not recommended due to the high amount of administrative cost per household. The application by Homeless Emergency Project for roof replacement is not recommended due to incomplete application information.
• A second NOFA will be issued for the remaining ESG-RUSH funds in addition to the annual ESG entitlement funding for homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing activities.
• On February 11, 2025, the Board approved a Substantial Amendment to the 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan which included the application for ESG-RUSH funds.
• ESG-RUSH funding is not included in the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget for Housing and Community Development in the Community Development Grant Fund and will generate unanticipated revenue when received. A budget amendment to recognize this new grant funding of $512,366.00 will be proposed for Board consideration.
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health
2.2 Enhance community safety
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.1 Increase the availability of attainable housing
Summary:
Summary
Two (2) activities are recommended for ESG-RUSH funding. The recommended activities are eligible emergency shelter activities. The total recommended ESG-RUSH funding is within the identified amount of ESG-RUSH funds available for emergency shelter activities. A funding recommendation summary, including activity descriptions, is attached. Funding awards will be for a one-year (1) period.
ESG-RUSH funds can be used to fund activities that include emergency shelter (congregate and non-congregate), rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention, rental assistance, relocation and stabilization services, financial assistance for move-in costs, supportive services, street outreach services, and Homeless Management Information System.
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Background Information:
On February 11, 2025, the Board executed Resolution 25-17, approving a Substantial Amendment to the 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan application for Federal CDBG, HOME and ESG to include ESG-RUSH funding. The County issued a NOFA for ESG-RUSH funding on February 10, 2025. The competitive application process began February 10, 2025, with applications being due February 21, 2025. Four (4) applications totaling $700,635.00 in funding requests were received. Applications were reviewed for funding eligibility and scored by County staff. Funding recommendations are based on staff ranking of eligible activities, eligible expenses, and amount of funding requested in comparison to identified proposed ESG-RUSH funding by activity type.
On January 23, 2025, the County posted a public notice detailing the proposed use of ESG-RUSH funds, as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) ESG-RUSH Notice. In collaboration with the Pinellas Continuum of Care, the County identified the following proposed ESG-RUSH activities and proposed funding amounts: Emergency Shelter $237,000.00, Homelessness Prevention $107,000.00, Rapid Re-housing $107,000.00, Homeless Management Information System $22,910.80 and Administration $38,425.20.
On January 10, 2025, HUD notified the County of the award of a special allocation of ESG-RUSH 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. On February 4, 2025, HUD transmitted the ESG-RUSH Funding Approval/Agreement to be executed by the County.
Fiscal Impact:
$216,724.00 in ESG-RUSH funds.
ESG-RUSH funding is not included in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Operating Budget for HCD in the Community Development Grant Fund and will generate unanticipated revenue when received. A budget amendment to recognize this new grant funding of $512,366 will be proposed for approval.
Staff Member Responsible:
Glenn Bailey, Interim Director, Housing and Community Development
Partners:
Metropolitan Ministries, Inc.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul South Pinellas, Inc. d/b/a St. Vincent de Paul CARES
Attachments:
ESG-RUSH Funding Recommendations
ESG-RUSH Application - Metropolitan Ministries
ESG-RUSH Application - St. Vincent de Paul CARES
ESG-RUSH Application - Directions for Living
ESG-RUSH Application - Homeless Emergency Project