REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 15, 2022
FROM
JEANY ZEPEDA, Director, Children and Family Services
SUBJECT
Title
Allocation Award Agreement from the California Department of Housing and Community Development for the Housing Navigators Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve allocation award agreement (State Agreement No. 21-HNP-17395) from the California Department of Housing and Community Development for the Housing Navigators Program to provide housing support to eligible young adults, in the amount of $363,680, effective upon execution for a five-year period.
2. Designate the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, Assistant Executive Officer of Department Operations, or Director of Children and Family Services to execute and submit any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the Housing Navigators Program allocation award agreement (State Agreement No. 21-HNP-17395) on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, Assistant Executive Officer of Department Operations, or Director of Children and Family Services to transmit all non-substantive amendments in relation to the Housing Navigators Program allocation award agreement (State Agreement No. 21-HNP-17395) to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Jeany Zepeda, Director, 387-2792)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The allocation award agreement in the amount of $363,680 from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (State) for the Housing Navigators Program (HNP) does not require a local match. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Human Services Administrative Claim 2022-23 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The State is providing additional HNP funding to counties in order to assist young adults in securing and maintaining housing. HNP allocation amounts are based on each county’s percentage of the statewide number of young adults aged 18 to 21. Children and Family Services (CFS) will utilize the HNP funding to provide housing services to eligible young adults, with priority given to young adults in the foster care system. HNP services will be provided by existing CFS staff currently performing these types of services or by contract providers to be selected through a competitive procurement process. CFS has received HNP funding from the State since 2020.
HNP funds are utilized for the personnel costs of staff providing housing navigator services for county child welfare agencies. The role of the housing navigator is to act as a housing specialist to assist young adults in overcoming barriers to locating available housing. Activities may include, but are not limited to:
• Assist young adults aged 18 to 21 to secure and maintain housing, with priority given to young adults in the foster care system;
• Provide housing case management, which includes essential services in emergency supports to foster youth;
• Prevent young adults from becoming homeless; and
• Improve coordination of services and linkages to key resources across the community, including those within the child welfare system and the local Continuum of Care.
On November 16, 2021 (Item No. 24), the Board of Supervisors approved the submission of an allocation acceptance application to the State for HNP funding to provide housing support to eligible young adults, in the amount of $383,680, effective upon execution with an anticipated end date of June 30, 2023. In addition, this item adopted Resolution No. 2021-190, as required by the State, authorizing the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, Assistant Executive Officer of Department Operations or CFS Director to execute and submit the allocation acceptance application and all documents required to be awarded the allocation.
On September 20, 2022, CFS received the allocation award agreement (State Agreement No. 21-HNP-17395) from the State for HNP funding, in the amount of $363,680, effective upon execution for a five-year period.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Kristina Robb, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 25, 2022; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on October 24, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on October 25, 2022.