To: BOS
Department or Agency Name(s): Community Development Commission
Staff Name and Phone Number: Margaret Van Vliet x7505
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth District
Title:
Title
West County Community Services Flood Survivor Rapid Rehousing Program
End
Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
Authorize the Executive Director of the Community Development Commission to execute a $150,000 contract with West County Community Services for a Flood Survivor Rapid Re-Housing Program financed by partially re-directing Reinvestment and Revitalization (R&R) funds originally appropriated in the FY 2018-19 budget for shelter programs.
end
Executive Summary:
The 2019 Russian River Flood damaged over 2,500 structures in the lower river area. The lower Russian River communities serve as one of the few remaining affordable housing communities in Sonoma County. Structural damage to homes and rental units along the river has left low-income families and seniors on fixed incomes struggling to restore their homes or relocate to another rental unit. The homes of thirteen Housing Choice Voucher-assisted households were yellow-tagged, and CDC is aware of at least one such resident - an 80-year old veteran - continues to live there pending repairs because he has no alternative place to stay. Likewise, the Coordinated Entry system has seen a substantial increase in the number of individuals being assessed since the floods, indicating that the need for housing assistance is high.
West County Community Services has been operating a rapid rehousing program for formerly homeless residents who are in the Coordinated Entry program. The new Flood Survivor Rapid Housing Program will expand services to meet increased demand due to the recent Flood Disaster.
Discussion:
While the data is incomplete as of this writing, indications are strong that the Flood Disaster severely impacted the housing stability for residents in West County, including the Lower Russian River as well as Sebastopol. Between the early Coordinated Entry indicator and the Voucher program direct impacts, twenty-five low-income and vulnerable households have sought help as a direct result of the Flood Disaster. This does not take in to account the dozens who apparently voiced a need for assistance through the LAC, whose data was not fully captured. For this reason, a re-purposing of funds already set-aside for county-wide homeless services is warranted.
If approved, West County Community Services, the established and capable provider of a range of safety net services in the area, will use the funds to provide housing navigation, short-term rent assistance (including deposits), and transportation services as needed for those without vehicles, for those individuals who have been directly displaced by the Flood Disaster. Homes are being sought in other areas of the County, according to needs of the affected residents. The ability to quickly invest these one-time funds will prevent affected flood survivors from becoming homeless.
The $150,000 in funds recommended for this purpose arises because the pace of expenditures under CDC’s contracts for homeless services is not as fast as originally projected when the FY 2018-19 budget was approved. With new fiscal transparency and contract management practices in place at CDC, this timing lag is being corrected and is not expected to recur. It should also be noted that while county-wide homeless services will receive a substantial injection of new funds from the State Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) later this spring, it will take at least 60 days to have that new funding under contract and available. Fast-tracking the currently available funds as recommended herein will provide immediate relief to Flood Disaster victims.
Prior Board Actions:
12/12/17: Board authorizes CDC Executive Director to execute five contracts totaling $450,000 to perform services that will provide housing and services for homeless individuals in the Lower Russian River area.
06/15/18: Board adopts FY 2018-19 budget including General Fund, TOT, and R&R for delivery of certain homeless services.
06/15/17: Board adopts FY 2017-18 budget including $750,000 in Reinvestment and Revitalization Funds dedicated to the Lower Russian River Area to ameliorate the homeless crisis.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 18-19 Adopted |
FY19-20 Projected |
FY 20-21 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$150,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance: Reinvestment & Revitalization within General Fund |
$150,000 |
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
150,000 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Use of existing fund source.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A - I Step) |
Additions (number) |
Deletions (number) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
West County Community Services Program Outline
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.