REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 5, 2021
FROM
GILBERT RAMOS, Director, Transitional Assistance Department
SUBJECT
Title v
Housing and Disability Advocacy Program 2020-21 Application Certification Form to the State of California Health and Human Services Agency Department of Social Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program application Certification form to the State of California Health and Human Services Agency Department of Social Services, in order to receive an additional allocation in the amount of $352,652, increasing the total allocation from $802,475 to $1,155,127, for the provision of 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 Certification form for the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program additional 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 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 $1,155,127, 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 Housing and Disability Advocacy Program application Certification form allows the Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) to receive an additional allocation amount of $352,652 for a total of $1,155,127 in funding from to the State of California Health and Human Services Agency Department of Social Services (CDSS) contingent upon availability. The dollar-for-dollar match of $1,155,127 will be met as an in-kind match provided through TAD’s existing General Relief Administrative funding. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Human Services (HS) Administrative Claim 2020-21 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (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. TAD submitted a 2020-21 HDAP application with all the required documents; however, CDSS is requesting a new application Certification form in order to obtain any additional allocation funds that may become available.
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.
On September 15, 2020 (Item No. 63), the Board of Supervisors approved the application to CDSS for the HDAP allocation to provide housing and disability benefits application assistance to people with a disability, in the amount of $802,475, for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. In addition the item authorized 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, and to accept the allocation for the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program.
On October 29, 2020, TAD received notification from CDSS that additional HDAP allocation funding may become available for 2020-21. TAD, as a current applicant, was instructed to submit a revised Certification form to reflect the new total amount of $1,155,127, for the provision of housing and disability benefits application assistance to people with a disability, for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on December 7, 2020; Community Development and Housing Agency (Dena Fuentes, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-4411) on December 10, 2020; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on December 7, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on December 9, 2020.