Subject:
Title
Funding Agreement with the Pinellas County Homeless Leadership Board, Inc. for Operational Costs and Direct Services
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Funding Agreement with the Pinellas County Homeless Leadership Board, Inc. (HLB) for operational costs and direct services to support the HLB as the Continuum of Care (COC) Lead Agency and the newly designated Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Lead Agency.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
2.4 Support programs that seek to prevent and remedy the causes of homelessness and move individuals and families from homelessness to permanent housing
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support
Summary:
This Agreement provides operational funding for the HLB, including partial support of executive and support staff, and direct service costs associated with serving as the COC Lead Agency. Additionally, this Agreement provides funding for one full-time HMIS staff person to assist with governance, analysis, and management of the HMIS system to fulfill the HLB’s obligations as the HMIS Lead Agency, and one full-time Coordinated Entry System Youth Navigator to develop and implement a coordinated entry process for unaccompanied youth. This Agreement is effective October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2020, with two (2) one-year options of renewal.
Background/Explanation:
The HLB is a non-profit organization which coordinates services for homeless individuals, educates and trains organizations and citizens about homelessness, and acts as the COC Lead Agency for federal funding to homeless providers within the County. All COCs receiving federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are required to collect information in an HMIS system. The HLB was recently designated the HMIS Lead Agency and expects to transition into this role in October 2017.
In addition to the use of HMIS, HUD requires COCs to commit to Housing First, a best practice which "prioritizes rapid placement and stabilization in permanent housing and does not have service participation requirements or preconditions such as sobriety or a minimum income threshold" and includes the minimum components: 1) removing barriers to entry; 2) establishing a coordinated entry system; 3) practicing client-centered service delivery; 4) prioritizing households most in need; and 5) ensuring inclusive decision-making. The goal of Housing First is to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.
The HLB adopted its Housing First Resolution on April 1, 2016. On August 9, 2016, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners unanimously passed a Resolution to Endorse Housing First and the Coordinated Entry System.
Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) has been a year of transition and movement for the HLB. The HLB was awarded $4,037,891.00 in HUD funding in partnership with local homeless and housing service providers. Work groups and committees have been redefined to meet Housing First and Coordinated Entry goals in conjunction with the HLB’s Homeless Response System Redesign Plan. A comprehensive work plan has been established to review and improve the HMIS system, and a team of stakeholders has convened to assist with the transition of the HMIS Lead Agency role to the HLB.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding in an amount not to exceed $238,330.00 per fiscal year has been budgeted in the Human Services General Fund appropriation request for FY18.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Lourdes Benedict, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Homeless Leadership Board, Inc.
Attachments:
Funding Agreement
Data Sharing Attachment
Insurance Requirements