TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ryan J. Alsop, County Executive Officer
REPORT BY: Jennifer Palmer, Director of Housing & Homeless Services
SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolutions for 2023 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
RECOMMENDATION
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Director of Housing & Homeless Services requests the adoption of two Resolutions authorizing application and acceptance of the 2023 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Competitive (ESG-C) and Non-Competitive (ESG-NC) funding in an amount not to exceed $520,000:
1. A Non-Competitive Balance of State application in an amount not to exceed $120,000; and
2. A Competitive Balance of State application in an amount not to exceed $400,000.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) administers the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program with funding received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Each year the State makes the allocations available for applications through non-competitive allocation and competitive allocations. A Resolution, in the form supplied by HCD, is required by HCD for each application.
The Director of Housing & Homeless Services requests the adoption of two Resolutions authorizing application and acceptance of the 2023 ESG-C and ESG-NC funds not to exceed $520,000. The Resolutions authorize the County Executive Officer, or designee, to apply for the grants and to execute all documents and amendments related to the application.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Where is it budgeted? |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
There is no mandate to apply for funds to continue Napa County’s Emergency Solutions Grant funded services. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Program funds, if awarded, will be available for use in FY 2024-2025. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
The Department would not have available grant funds for certain specific housing focused homeless services. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Healthy, Safe, and Welcoming Place to Live, Work, and Visit |
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
The State of California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD) administers the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). This program provides funding for the following purposes:
1. A maximum of 10% of funds provided under this program may be used for Street Outreach, Homeless Prevention and/or Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) activities;
2. Engage homeless individuals and families living on the street;
3. Improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families;
4. Provide essential services to shelter residents;
5. Rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families; and
6. Prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless.
On July 28, 2023, HCD released a Notice of Funding Availability for the state-administered Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program, Balance of State (BoS) Allocation. The ESG BoS NOFA sets forth the process and requirements for submitting applications for ESG funds, with all applications and required documentation due to HCD no later than Monday, October 16, 2023.
The County of Napa has applied for and received ESG funding from HCD annually since 2016. The ESG program assists individuals and families with quickly regaining stability in permanent housing to resolve the experience if homelessness using the Coordinated Entry System (CES). HCD provides ESG funds by formula to states, metropolitan cities, urban Counties and U.S. territories to support homelessness prevention, emergency shelter and related services.
HCD guidelines require separate resolutions for the non-competitive Balance of State allocation and the competitive Balance of State allocation. HCD provides form resolutions and requires that applicants follow the HCD form exactly, which differ in format and order from the County’s standard format for resolutions.
Today’s action requests adoption of two Resolutions authorizing application and acceptance of the 2023 ESG-C and ESG-NC Balance of State allocations in an amount not to exceed $520,000 combined. The Resolutions authorize the County Executive Officer, or designee, to apply for the grants and to execute all documents and amendments related to the application.