REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 15, 2020
FROM
CASONYA THOMAS, Assistant Executive Officer, Human Services
SUBJECT
Title v
Resolution for the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Homekey Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the submission of an application for the Homekey Program and authorizing the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, or Assistant Executive Officer of Human Services to execute the application and documents for participation, as required by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, on behalf of the County.
(Presenter: Tom Hernandez, Chief of Homeless Services, 501-0611)
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). Approval of this item will adopt a Resolution, as required by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), approving the submission of an application to HCD for the Homekey Program. Project funding and match requirements have not yet been determined at this time. Human Services plans to return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) in October 2020 to accept the award and approval of the state grant award agreement.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
HCD is providing approximately $600 million in Homekey funding to rapidly sustain and expand the inventory of housing for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness and impacted by COVID-19. The Homekey grant, created through Assembly Bill 83, is an opportunity for local public agencies to purchase motels and a broad range of other funding types in order to increase their community’s capacity to respond to homelessness and the current COVID-19 pandemic. Of the $600 million in Homekey grant funds, $550 million is derived from the state's direct allocation of the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief Funds (to be expended by December 30, 2020) and $50 million is derived from the state's General Fund (to be expended by June 30, 2022) to supplement the acquisition of and to provide initial operating subsidies for, Homekey sites.
The purpose of the Homekey Program is to provide grant funding to eligible applicants and facilitate a partnership with the state to quickly acquire or rehabilitate or master lease a variety of housing types. Once developed, these projects will provide interim or permanent housing options for persons experiencing homelessness and who are also at risk of COVID-19.
Projects are separated by HCD into two funding categories: Tier One projects include projects that can be occupied within 90 days and used for interim housing, provided the project is expected to be developed into permanent housing at a later date or interim housing with a coordinated exit strategy adopted by the Continuum of Care to support transitions into other permanent housing. Tier Two projects are all other projects and uses, including housing that will be used for interim only and with no expectation of development into permanent housing.
On August 11, 2020 (Item No. 23), the Board approved and gave the Chief Executive Officer authority to submit a County-led Homekey Program, non-binding application to the HCD by August 13, 2020, the priority application period. In addition to the application, HCD requires the adoption of a Resolution by the Board approving the submission of the application and authorizing the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, or HS Assistant Executive Officer to execute the application and documents for participation in the Homekey Program. The application was submitted, and the County was notified funds are being reserved pending receipt of the Resolution.
The recommended Resolution informs HCD of the Board’s agreement with the County-led Homekey Program and will allow HCD to officially transition reserved funding to awarded funding with a state award agreement. Additionally, the Office of Homeless Services will move forward with a formalized memorandum of understanding detailing specific responsibilities of the partnering agencies to provide much needed housing services through the Homekey Program to this key target population of people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness and impacted by COVID-19. The County is in the initial stages of the Homekey Program and is actively working with its community partners to understand the impacts of the project.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 8, 2020; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on September 8, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0280) on September 8, 2020.