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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 12-03-2001-6aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 3, 2001 Action Agen a Item No. •a SUBJECT: Status ofEmeroancy Assistance Fonda for Low-Inmme Families DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC NEARING: (YIN) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Interim Report on Emergency Assistance Nancy CAStgn, e#. 2800 Programs TELEPHONE NUMBERB: Hillebomugh ]32A181 Chapel Hill 968-0501 Durbam 888-7331 Mebane 336-22]-2031 PURPOSE: To repodthe status and wnsider appropriating $30,000 in additional County funds to help address emergency nestle of low-inwme families. BACKGROUND: Social Services, [hrou9h its emergency assistance progrems, provitles a safety net forfamilies expedendnB Crises. Requests for assistance have been much higher this year (almost Iwlce as many plants were seen In October of this year compared to last) antl at the current rate of spentling the county funtls budgeletl for amergendes ($85,265) will be exheustetl tludng December or January. The informatbn fromthe nonprofit agencies that also provide emergency services shows increased demand mnsis[ent with the experience at SorJal Services. Stafr recommsntls[h~t the BOeM allocate an etldl8onal $30,000 to help address [his en[icipe[etl shortell. Of Mese funtls, $3,000 will be placetl in a speaal Pontl br securing utility deposits. The County would guarantee, rather man to pay a tleposit, and thus woultl inwr an expense only if the family fails to make their regular utility payments. The County Manager, Social Services staff and the Soclel Services Boem (which sets [he policies for the emergency programs), have all+aken ac[ionsbatltlress these needs. Some of these actions Intlude changing me agency's policy antl procetlures to insure that more of these wsls are coveretl whhin the existing Work First Black Grant, meeting wkh local milRy suppliers and nonprofas to identify opportunities b improve Ne community response to these needs, and data analysis to identify trentls antl issues that warrant ongoing changes in the agency s policy of provitling emergency assistance. An in[sdm report from this meeting is a6achetl and the full report will be available In December. Even wRh implementation of the proposed changes, there would be a need for additional footle for this year. The funtls being requested wouM maintain the e9ency'a response at the torten[ level antl does riot provide for any further increase in demantl. i The Boclal Services BoaN is exploring other changes for inclusion in next year's pidgrem that woultl inromorate fnancial counseling and consumer etlucation as a part of the emergency esslstence progrems. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The$30,000 woultl be County funtls antl woultl only be usetl far clients who met the local pcliry established by the Bociel Services Board. The County Nnds woultl only be used for situations not appropriate for Work First funtls or far fetle2l ene~9y funtls through the Crisis Interven0on Program. RECOMMENGATION(S(: The Manager recommentls that the BOaM approveafuntl balance appropde4on of $30,000 from the General Funtl for emergenry assistance, inclutling $3,000 to esfabllsh a funtl b guarantee deposits. Emergency Assistance Programs Interim Report to fhe Boertl of Commissioners November 2001 On November 14, 2001, the County Manager organized a meeting with representagves from the malor ufJity compen cial servirss and nonprofit agencies serving low-incomefamilies. The purpose of [he meeting was to: 1. Assess the cunent utility needs of families, 2. Identify the cunent efforts tc alleviate crises with the families, and 3. Develop strategies foratltlressing the increasing requests for assistance Akhough the full report from this work is not yet available, the following is a summery of some of the issues and recommendations. Current Sltuetlon The Orange County Department of Social Services addresses crises through three funding streams. 1. Tha Crisis Intervention Program(CIPI, which consists of federal funds, is utilized to address heating and waling needs of low-income families 2. The Emergency Assistance Program (EAI, funded through the Work Firs[ Block Grant is only available for low-income families with minor children; however h can address a variety of emergencies. 3. The current Geneml ASSlsiance (GAf Progmm, administered with county funds, is much like the Work Fint program except that it can serve all low-income individuals. 088 Program Spending Limits Pro rem Amount _ Crisis Interventicn Pro mm CIP $300/year _ _ Emer en Assistance EA 8150/ ear __, , Geneml Assistance GA $100/six months TOTAL Available Per Vear ' Famlllee wkh Chlltlren _ 8660 servetlb all three ro mms Families whhout Children $SOOSaerved by CIP end GA) DS$ Progrem spending Progrem ' Budget and Ex endihres as ofil/g Expentlihresin Fiscal Vear 2000-2001 Crisis Intervention Pro ram CIP $66000 $10,420' $2]0,620 Emergency (EA) $65p00 $58,625 $83,368 Generel ASSistence(GA) $85,265 $61,03] $116,126 'ClPfiuntls are mostly used far heating emergencies and ere usually spent tludng the winter months. • Although $130,000 is in the budget, only $86,000 has actually been obligated to Sccial Services by the state. Only after action by Congress will the foal allocation be made • The numberofrequests for emergency assistance has increased from 2831n October af200010 548 through October 2001. • The majority ofthe requests far emergency assistance are for housing and utility expenses and most are for families wkh minor children. Representatives from Orenge Congregations in Mission (OCIM) and Inter-Falih Council (IFC) repoded significant increases in requests for assistance with utilities and food. Both agencies are preparinga summary of their cunent demand for sernces for inclusicn in a ceunty status report.. Next Steps 1. Astacus report on the overell economic ehuation in iha county and the demand kr assistance will be compiled with input from the provider agencies. The report will be presented to the Board of County Commissionere in December 2001. 2 Each company or organization will ccmpileawriden document outlining current preMices for handling crisis requests and bode eveileble to address crises. This will includetlanationsihrough utility companies, 3. Soual Services will recearch options for 9uaranteeing utility tlepoaRa rether than the current practice of paying deposits in advance. 4. Reseurcesfor consumer etlucation antl financial counseling for familiea will be identified and strategies far increased activities in this area will be developed.