STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Human and Social Needs
AGENDA DATE: September 9, 2020
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Office of Homeless Solutions
EXECUTIVE: Nadia Chandler-Hardy
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
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Authorize an Interlocal Agreement with Dallas County on behalf of Dallas County Health and Human Services in the amount of $2,216,515.00 to provide scattered site housing assistance for persons with HIV/AIDS for the period October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021 - Not to exceed $2,216,515.00 - Financing:2019-20 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Grant Funds ($269,012.00), 2020-21 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Grant Funds ($1,759,488.00), and 2020 Cares Act Relief Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS #1 Fund ($188,015.00)
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BACKGROUND
On April 22, 2020, City Council adopted the FY 2020-21 HUD Consolidated Plan Budget for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) Grant Funds by Resolution No. 20-0655. The FY 2020-21 Consolidated Plan Budget includes the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (“HOPWA”) Grant Funds, which are available beginning October 1, 2020, contingent upon HUD’s approval of the City’s FY 2020-21 Action Plan (which is based on the approved Consolidated Plan Budget and submitted on August 15, 2020), and execution of grant agreements with HUD.
Because HOPWA Grant Funds may be expended for eligible purposes within three years of HUD’s award, remaining funds FY 2019-20 may be included in this year’s Interlocal Agreement (“ILA”) with Dallas County/Dallas County Health and Human Services (“County”).
The City of Dallas has applied for and received HOPWA funds since 1993 to support eligible activities within the Dallas Eligible Metropolitan Statistical Area (“Dallas EMSA”) which includes the counties of Dallas, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, and Rockwall.
Since approximately 1993, through ILA’s with the City, the County has provided HOPWA scattered site housing assistance, comprised of Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (“TBRA”), Short-Term Rent/Mortgage/Utility (“STRMU”) Emergency Assistance, supportive services, and administrative costs, to eligible persons primarily residing in Dallas County.
The TBRA Program includes long-term rental assistance (with a utility allowance) that an eligible person may use at a housing unit of his or her choice. This assistance is portable, and moves with the client, similar to the Housing Choice Voucher program, within the Dallas EMSA. STRMU Emergency assistance is designed to prevent homelessness, and includes short-term rent, mortgage, and utility payments for up to 21 weeks in any 52-week period. HOPWA clients receiving scattered site housing assistance also receive housing support services through case managers, who ensure that clients have access to other services, such as medical care, transportation, legal services, and food pantry.
The County has the organizational capacity, including one full-time HOPWA manager, three full-time HOPWA caseworkers, and a full-time HOPWA clerk, in place to continue providing scattered site housing assistance to eligible persons without disruption. In addition, the County is the administrative agency for other local area organizations eligible for HIV/AIDS grant funding and, as such, has collaborative relationships with HIV/AIDS service providers across the Dallas EMSA. For these reasons, the County is recommended for funding to continue providing scattered site housing assistance services to eligible persons residing primarily in Dallas County. To ensure eligible persons across the Dallas EMSA have access to the full continuum of HOPWA eligible activities, the City intends to enter into additional project sponsor agreements with entities that provide additional eligible activities (e.g. facility-based housing, housing information services, housing placement, and support services) or that provide scattered site housing assistance to eligible individuals more distant from Dallas County.
All HOPWA projects use the local Homeless Management Information System (“HMIS”) to collect client-level data for service coordination and reporting/evaluation purposes. County staff must input client-level data into the local HMIS with applicable written consent. The County must also submit monthly financial reports (including supporting documentation) and performance reports (including demographic data, outputs, and outcomes), as well as an overview of accomplishments at year end, to the City. These reports are compiled at year end into the City’s annual report to HUD.
Further in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act included HOPWA funds to maintain operations and for rental assistance, supportive services, and other necessary actions, in order to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. On April 22, 2020, City Council authorized acceptance of HOPWA CARES Act funds in the amount of $1,088,138.00 as a one-time funding increase for the Dallas EMSA. A portion of that amount has been made available to agencies under contract to provide HOPWA-funded scattered site and facility-based housing as a small one-time contract increase in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Dallas County’s allocation of HOPWA CARES Act funds is $188,015.00 to be used to continue providing scattered site housing assistance for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Performance Measures
Number of Persons Assisted
2020-21 Goal
Emergency - unduplicated clients served 91
Tenant-based - unduplicated clients served 157
Total - unduplicated clients served 248
OUTCOME MEASURES
Housing Stability
2020-21 Goal
Emergency - percent in stable housing 97%
Tenant-based - percent in stable housing 95%
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On June 12, 2019, City Council adopted the FY 2019-20 HUD Consolidated Plan Budget for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Grant Funds by Resolution No. 19-0886.
On August 28, 2019, City Council authorized an interlocal agreement with Dallas County/Dallas County Health and Human Services to provide scattered site housing assistance for persons with HIV/AIDS for the period October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020 in an amount not to exceed $1,975,000.00.
On April 22, 2020, City Council adopted the FY 2020-21 HUD Consolidated Plan Budget; the CARES Act Relief Funds Budget, No. 1 from HUD; and the FY 2019-20 Reprogramming Budget, and an amendment to the City’s Citizen Participation Plan by Resolution No. 20-0655.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
Future Years |
|
2019-20 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Grant Funds |
$ 269,012.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
|
2020-21 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Grant Funds |
$1,759,488.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
|
2020 Cares Act Relief Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS #1 Fund |
$ 188,015.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
|
Total |
$2,216,515.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |