Subject:
Title
Emergency Solutions Grant Program - Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing Subaward Subrecipient Agreement with Hope Villages of America, Inc. for emergency shelter operations.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of an Emergency Solutions Grant Program - Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (ESG-RUSH) Subaward Subrecipient Agreement (Agreement) with Hope Villages of America, Inc. (Hope Villages) for emergency shelter operations.
• The Agreement provides ESG-RUSH funding, not to exceed $20,276.00, for costs associated with emergency shelter operations including shelter utilities and transportation assistance to shelter participants.
• The ESG-RUSH funding will provide emergency shelter and support services for the benefit of approximately 200 survivors of domestic violence at Hope Villages’ Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter.
• The ESG-RUSH Agreement is effective for one (1) year, from February 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027.
• 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 $512,336.00 was recognized through a budget amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Budget. Funding for ESG-RUSH has also been included in the Fiscal Year 2026 (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.
• Funding is included in the FY26 Budget in the Community Development Grant Fund and an amendment will not be needed.
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 the First Substantial Amendment to the fiscal year 2024-2025 Action Plan, for the purpose of receiving ESG-RUSH funding and approving ESG-RUSH program component budgets.
One of the eligible activities that can be carried out under the approved ESG-RUSH Emergency Shelter program component, is funding of Hope Villages for operating expenses at its Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter. This Agreement will provide Federal funding for operating expenses including shelter utilities and transportation assistance to approximately 200 shelter participants needing support to reach or access HVA’s emergency shelter, medical and behavioral health services, court and legal appointments, employment interviews, benefits enrollment, and housing-related activities.
The ESG-RUSH Agreement is effective for one (1) year, from February 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027.
Background/Explanation:
As authorized by 42 U.S.C 11364a(c)(1), HUD’s 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 eligible program activities.
An ESG-RUSH Second Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was advertised in the Tampa Bay Times, posted on the Community Development website, and emailed to homeless nonprofit agency service providers.
Applications submitted through a competitive process were received and 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 $20,276.00 in ESG-RUSH funding during the term of the Agreement.
ESG-RUSH funding of $512,336.00 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
Bruce Bussey, Community Development Manager, Housing and Community Development
Partners:
Hope Villages of America, Inc.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Attachments:
Emergency Solutions Grant Program-Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing Subaward Subrecipient Agreement
ESG-RUSH Public Notice
Resolution No. 25-17