TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jennifer Yasumoto, Director Health and Human Services Agency
REPORT BY: Summer Isham, Contracts Supervisor
SUBJECT: Actions regarding Funding Agreements with the California Department of Housing and Community Development
RECOMMENDATION
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Director of Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) requests the following with respect to grant allocations for Fiscal Year 2022-2023from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD):
1. Authorization for the Director of HHSA to sign the following documents:
a. Transitional Housing Program (THP) Allocation Acceptance Form for Round 4 funding in the amount of $129,519; and
b. Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP) Allocation Acceptance Form for Round 1 funding in the amount of $35,373.
2. Adoption of a resolution authorizing joint application for and acceptance of the County Allocation Awards under the THP Round 4 and HNMP Round 1.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The deadline to sign and submit the THP Round 4 Allocation Acceptance Letter and HNMP Round 1 Allocation Acceptance Letter was December 1. The forms were made available to staff on November 1. Per approval from the County Executive Office, the forms were signed by the Director of HHSA in order to meet the December 1 deadline. Therefore, staff is requesting retroactive authorization for the Director of HHSA to sign those documents.
The Transitional Housing Program (THP) allocation award in the amount of $129,519 for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, provides funds to help youth ages 18-25 to secure and maintain housing.
The Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP) funds county navigators for county child welfare agencies. This grant allocation in the amount of $35,373 for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, will be used to provide funding for housing navigators to help youth ages 18-21 secure and maintain housing with priority given to those in foster care.
The signed resolution will enable the County to apply for funding for both programs.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Health and Human Services, Child Welfare Services Division |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
There is no mandate to accept these funds, however, without them, HHSA will not be able to acquire the allocated funds to provide services that help youth, currently and formerly, in foster care and probation systems locate housing opportunities. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Appropriations have been included in the approved Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If this action is not approved, Napa County will not receive this additional funding to provide housing services to youth in the community. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Healthy, Safe, and Welcoming Place to Live, Work, and Visit |
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Pursuant to item 2240-103-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2022 (Chapter 43 of the Statutes of 2022) and Chapter 11.8 (commencing with Section 50811) and item 2240-102-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2022 (Chapter 249 of the Statutes of 2022) and Chapter 11.7 (commencing with Section 50807)of Part 2 of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code (HSC), HCD shall allocate funding to counties for the support of housing navigators and housing stability to help young adults 18 years and up to 24 years of age, inclusive, secure and maintain housing, with priority given to young adults currently or formerly in the foster care or probation systems.
Pursuant to Section 50811 and Section 50807(b) of the HSC, HCD consulted with the Department of Social Services, the Department of Finance, and the County Welfare Directors Association to establish the formula allocation for the purpose of distributing these funds to counties.
For the Transitional Housing Program (THP), the allocation ($129,519) is based on each county's percentage of the total statewide number of young adults 18 through 20 years of age in foster care and homeless unaccompanied young adults (ages 18 through 24). Funds shall be used to: Identify and assist housing services for this population in your community, assist this population to secure and maintain housing, improve coordination of services and linkages to community resources within the Child Welfare System and the Homeless Continuum of Care and Provide engagement in outreach and targeting to serve those with the most severe needs.
For the Housing Navigator Maintenance Program (HNMP), the formula allocation is based on each county's percentage of the total statewide number of young adults 17 through 21 years of age in the foster care and probation system. The Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program for a county that accepts an allocation of money pursuant to this section ($35,373) shall provide training to its child welfare agency social workers and probation officers who serve nonminority dependents. The training shall address an overview of the housing resources available through the local coordinated entry system, homeless continuum of care, and county public agencies, including, but not limited to, housing navigation, permanent affordable housing, THP-Plus, and housing choice vouchers. The training shall also address how to access and receive a referral to existing housing resources, the social worker’s and probation officer’s role in identifying unstable housing situations for youth and referring youth to housing assistance programs.
These allocations focus on foster youth ages 18-24 inclusive, also known as transitional aged youth (TAY), one to facilitate housing stability (THP: $129,519) and the other to provide housing navigators (HNMP: $35,373). In HHSA’s Child Welfare Services division, these funds will enable us to continue to work with our community partners to locate, procure, and maintain housing for youth in or formerly in foster care or the probation system. This is especially important for this age group as they transition to independent living arrangements. The housing needs of youth in foster care are great and these funds would provide needed support to our efforts to move these youth toward the best possible outcomes.