REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 15, 2020
FROM
GILBERT RAMOS, Director, Transitional Assistance Department
SUBJECT
Title v
Application to the State of California Health and Human Services Agency Department of Social Services for the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program Allocation
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of a grant application to the State of California Health and Human Services Agency Department of Social Services, in the amount of $802,475 for the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program allocation to provide housing and disability benefits application assistance to people with a disability, for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
2. Designate the Assistant Executive Officer of Human Services, as the County Welfare Director, to sign and submit the application documents, including any non-substantive amendments to the application documents for the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program allocation for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, as required by State of California Health and Human Services Agency Department of Social Services, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Assistant Executive Officer of Human Services, as the County Welfare Director, to transmit all grant application documents in relation to the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program allocation to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
4. Authorize the Assistant Executive Officer of Human Services, as the County Welfare Director, to accept the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program allocation from the State of California Health and Human Services Agency Department of Social Services, in the amount of $802,475, for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, on behalf of the County.
(Presenter: Gilbert Ramos, Director, 388-0245)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The allocation application in the amount of $802,475 to the State of California Health and Human Services Agency Department of Social Services (CDSS) for the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) allocation requires a dollar-for-dollar match. The match of $802,475 will be met as an in-kind match provided through Transitional Assistance Department’s (TAD) existing General Relief Administrative funding. Approval of the necessary budget adjustments to the Human Services (HS) Administrative Claim 2020-21 budget is not requested at this time, but will be included on a future quarterly countywide budget report presented to the Board of Supervisors for approval.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
HDAP is a county administered program that provides housing and disability benefits application assistance to homeless individuals with a disability. A total of $25 million in State General funds are available to counties based on the Budget Act of 2020 for the HDAP. Program funds must be used for outreach, case management, disability benefits advocacy, and housing assistance, with priority given to chronically homeless individuals or individuals who are homeless and rely most heavily on government funding. TAD received funding from CDSS during HDAP’s pilot phase for the period of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020. In order to receive continued funding, CDSS is requiring a new application for HDAP program funding for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. The allocation application must be from the county welfare department (TAD), with all documents executed by the County Welfare Director, and submitted to CDSS by October 2, 2020.
CDSS requires HDAP be operated in a manner consistent with Senate Bill 1380 and the core components of Housing First enumerated in Welfare and Institutions Code section 8255. Housing First includes housing individuals without constraints while also linking individuals to housing as soon as possible. Individuals should be connected to housing early in the advocacy process, with a goal of continuing to work on the individual’s disability benefits application while also working to secure permanent housing. HDAP funding must be applied for and be allocated to the county welfare department, and all documents executed by the County Welfare Director. TAD will continue the partnership with Community Development and Housing Agency to perform administrative functions which include program development and management of HDAP.
As outlined in the proposed CDSS allocation application, HDAP activities will include referring potential participants to the Coordinated Entry System (CES), by using existing outreach and engagement teams within San Bernardino County. These include the Homeless Outreach and Proactive Enforcement (HOPE) team, Homeless Outreach Support Team (HOST), General Relief program services through TAD, 211 Outreach Team, and other Continuum of Care housing providers to prioritize and refer chronically homeless or homeless individuals who rely most heavily on state or county funded programs. Individuals with the highest need will be given the highest priority.
On August 10, 2020, CDSS announced HDAP funding requirements for 2020-21, that included application instructions for counties interested in continuing the program. Approval of this item will allow the HS Assistant Executive Officer, as the County Welfare Director, to execute and submit the application documents, including any non-substantive amendments to the application documents, as required by CDSS in order to secure the allocation for 2020-21 HDAP program funding. In addition, HS/TAD is requesting authorization to accept the allocation once received from CDSS, on behalf of the County.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 31, 2020; Community Development and Housing Agency (Dena Fuentes, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-4411) on August 27, 2020; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on August 31, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on August 31, 2020.