Subject:
First Amendment to the Specific Performance Agreement with Homeless Emergency Project, Inc., dba Homeless Empowerment Program for Emergency Solutions grant funded homelessness prevention services.
Recommended Action:
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the First Amendment to the Specific Performance Agreement (Agreement) with Homeless Emergency Project, Inc., dba Homeless Empowerment Program for homelessness prevention services.
• This Agreement provides an additional $2,214.78 in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds, increasing the total available pool of funding to $120,369.58 for assistance to eligible Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) participants.
• CHAP provides rental housing financial assistance to approximately 40 individuals and households at risk of homelessness.
• The additional funds are being transferred from FY18 ESG funds reserved for staff costs for using the Pinellas Homeless Management Information System (PHMIS) that will not be expended before the end of the year.
• FY18 ESG funds must be 100% expended by October 19, 2019.
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need
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
Summary:
The Agreement will provide an additional $2,214.78 in ESG funding, increasing the total pool of funds for the CHAP Program to $120,369.58. The Homeless Empowerment Program (HEP), along with one additional service provider, access the pool of funds to provide homelessness prevention assistance to individuals and households at risk of becoming homeless.
Each fiscal year a portion of the funds are budgeted for staff salaries for data entry into PHMIS. The additional $2,214.78 are FY18 ESG funds budgeted for PHMIS that will not be expended before the end of the fiscal year.
ESG regulations require FY18 ESG funds be 100% expended by October 19, 2019. In order to meet the 100% expenditure deadline, the funds need to be moved to the CHAP Program.
Background/Explanation:
On June 20, 2017, the Board executed Resolution 17-37, which approved the 2017-2018 Action Plan. One of the projects to be carried out under the County’s Annual Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY17/18) is the funding of the Homeless and Homelessness Prevention Services Program through the ESG. HEP and Catholic Charities were selected to administer the program through a competitive request for proposal process. The program prevents homelessness for at-risk families and individuals by providing housing relocation and stabilization services and funding for short-term rental assistance and housing expenses.
On February 4, 2018, the County Administrator executed Specific Performance Agreement ESG17HEP, effective for a two-period, retroactively, from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2019.
HEP has successfully implemented the ESG funded CHAP Program for the past seven years.
Fiscal Impact:
This amendment provides an additional $2,214.78 of ESG funding to the CHAP Program. The total amount of funding now available is $120,369.58 during the term of the Agreement. Funding for this Agreement is included in the FY19 Adopted Budget for ESG funds within the Community Development Grant Fund.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a) (1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Renea Vincent, Director, Planning
Partners:
Homeless Empowerment Program
Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg, Inc.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Attachments:
First Amendment to the Specific Performance Agreement
Specific Performance Agreement, February 4, 2018
Resolution 17-37