Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-06-2009 - 4hORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 6, 2009 Action Agenda Item No. ~~ SUBJECT: Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housin Pro ram Award DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) ~_~ ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Coston, 919-245-2800 Program Summary Contract (To be provided Under Separate Cover) PURPOSE: To accept a Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program award of $1 million, authorize the execution of the associated State Contract and asub-recipient contract with Housing for New Hope by the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners upon contract review and approval by the County Attorney's Office. BACKGROUND: In July 2009, the North Carolina Office of Economic Recovery and Investment (OERI) in partnership with the N.C. Department of Heath and Human Services and the N.C. Housing Finance Agency issued a Request for Applications for a new housing program created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act known as the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). The purpose of HPRP is to provide homelessness prevention assistance to households who would otherwise become homeless - many due to the economic crisis -and to provide assistance to rapidly re-house families who are currently homeless. The State of North Carolina received $18 million of HPRP funding to allocate as three (3) year grants on a competitive basis to successful applicants. In response to the Request for Applications, a broad partnership of organizations in Orange County worked together for several weeks to develop the County's HPRP application. Orange County was the applicant for a project team comprised of the Orange County Department of Social Services (OCDSS) and Housing for New Hope - a local non-profit organization. The HPRP application was submitted on August 7, 2009 for $1,012,161 to provide both homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing assistance in Orange County for three years. In mid-September, the County was notified of the award of $1 million for this program. A program summary is attached to this abstract. To receive this funding, the County originally had to enter into a Contract with the N.C. Office of Economic Recovery and Investment by September 30, 2009. The contract document has not been received by the County to date. When the document is received, the County Attorney's Office will review and approve the document prior to execution. Additionally, the County will need to enter into asub-recipient Contract with the Housing for New Hope who will provide the rapid re-housing services funded by the grant. The total of that contract should not exceed $483,000. The County Attorney's office will review and approve that document as well. FINANCIAL IMPACT: This grant award represents a $1 million investment in local efforts to prevent homelessness in the local community. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Interim Manager recommends: 1) Acceptance of a Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program award of $1 million from the State of North Carolina; and 2) Approval of the execution of the associated State Contract and aSub-recipient contract with Housing for New Hope by the Chair of the Board of Commissioners upon contract review and approval by the County Attorney's Office. Orange County Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program Program Summa September 21, 2009 Introduction The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) is a new HUD program that was created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The purpose of HPRP is to provide homelessness prevention assistance to households who would otherwise become homeless-many due to the economic crisis-and to provide assistance to rapidly re- house persons who are currently homeless. HPRP will provide temporary financial assistance and housing relocation and stabilization services to individuals and families who are homeless or would be homeless but for this assistance. Orange County has received $1 million of HPRP funding to implement this program for three years. Orange County's Program The Orange County HPRP Program will be administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS) who will also implement the homelessness prevention services of the grant. Specifically, DSS will use existing caseworkers to provide emergency financial assistance including utility deposits and payments, security deposits, rent payments, moving costs, and case management to clients that qualify for the program. This will be an extension of their current Emergency Assistance (EA) Program. It is estimated that this Prevention Program will serve at least 200 families/individuals during the life of the grant. Housing for New Hope will provide rapid re-housing services only (not homelessness prevention) in collaboration with social workers at DSS. The Rapid Re-Housing Case Manager will join with Housing for New Hope's existing Housing Support and PATH homeless outreach staff and will thereby increase our efforts to link the homeless population with permanent housing. Specifically, staff will work with clients to develop a housing plan that will focus on placement into permanent housing as rapidly as possible. Clients' needs and resources will be assessed and individualized, and sustainable service plans will be developed to help prevent them from becoming homeless and to maintain stable housing. Grant funds will be used to pay rental and utility deposits, temporary rental assistance, and housing application fees and it is anticipated that the program will serve a minimum of 30 families during the three-year grant implementation period. Thus, a total of 230 families could potentially by served by this grant. Grant Implementation The estimated grant implementation date is November 16, 2009 and will extend for three years thereafter or until 2012. Extensive outreach to the general public as well as other social services organizations is planned in conjunction with beginning the program