title
Adopt a resolution to receive a noncompetitive allocation award of $37,780 under the Housing Navigators Program (HNP) to assist eligible Child Welfare Services clients aged 18 to 21 years with housing navigator services for securing and maintaining permanent housing; Approve an Appropriations Transfer Request (ATR) to recognize the unanticipated revenue (4/5 vote required); and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the allocation award documents with the California Department of Housing and Community Development and other related documents necessary to accept the award
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services recommends that the Board:
1) Adopt a resolution to receive a noncompetitive allocation award of $37,780 under the Housing Navigators Program (HNP) to assist eligible Child Welfare Services clients aged 18 to 21 years with housing navigator services for securing and maintaining permanent housing;
2) Approve an Appropriations Transfer Request (ATR) to recognize the unanticipated revenue (4/5 vote required); and
3) Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the allocation award documents with the California Department of Housing and Community Development and other related documents necessary to accept the award
SUMMARY:
The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) recently allocated $5 million in funding to counties for the support of housing navigators to help young adults aged 18 years and up to 21 years secure and maintain housing, with priority given to young adults in the foster care system. HCD has allocated these funds flexibly, allowing Counties to provide housing navigation services directly or through a contract with other housing assistance programs in the county. Pursuant to statute, HCD consulted with the Department of Social Services, the Department of Finance, and the County Welfare Directors Association to establish the formula allocation for distributing these funds to counties. The formula allocation is based on each county's percentage of the total statewide number of young adults aged 18 through 21 years old in foster care. From that formula, Solano County is eligible for a noncompetitive allocation of $37,780, and by statute, Child Welfare Services is the only eligible applicant for the funding.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This grant has provided an allocation of funding to provide housing navigator services to eligible youth age 18 to 21 who are aging out of foster care and who can benefit from assistance with securing and maintaining permanent housing.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Health and Social Services Department (H&SS) partners closely with First Place for Youth (FPFY), a local non-profit organization that serves young adults age 18 to 24, to implement the Transitional Housing Program for eligible Child Welfare Services clients. Through a component of the program, FPFY provides housing navigation services for non-minor dependents aging out of foster care, supporting them to locate housing as well as through temporary rental assistance. As non-minor dependents age 18 to 21 are the target population for the Housing Navigators Program, H&SS is seeking the Board’s support in accepting this grant award. If accepted, H&SS will amend its existing contract with FPFY to add $37,780 to their current contract with FPFY, enhancing housing navigation services for this eligible population in Solano County.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to accept the noncompetitive grant award. This is not recommended because Solano County would not gain $37,780 to support housing navigation services for eligible youth aged 18 to 21 in need of housing support.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Department of Health and Social Services will work closely with local providers to implement services associated with the Housing Navigators Program.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION