SUBJECT
Title
APPROVE $10 MILLION CAPITAL EMERGENCY HOUSING SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZE GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH SELECTED CITIES (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) has prioritized addressing homelessness in our region, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Just last year, on April 6, 2021 (6) the Board established the Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities (HSEC) within the County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). To unify the County’s efforts and strategies, the Board approved the historic Framework for Ending Homelessness on November 2, 2021 (4).
The County has consistently been a leader in addressing homelessness through person-centered services, creating affordable housing developments, and creating funding opportunities to leverage partnerships. City jurisdictions may not have access to the same resources as the County. In recognition of this, the County will create a $10 million Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Program, in which the 18 incorporated cities in the region can apply for funding to support the creation of new emergency housing solutions within their jurisdictions. The goal of this grant program is to create meaningful, one-time capital investments that support the city jurisdictions in kick-starting new projects that result in long-term and sustainable overnight shelter solutions, including but not limited to emergency shelters, safe parking lots, sleeping cabins, tiny homes, or expanded capacity of an existing emergency housing solution.
Today’s action requests the Board to approve the Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Program funded at a total of $10,000,000 and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, or designee, to execute grant agreements with the selected city jurisdictions to implement the program. Upon approval of this program, the County will send a notification to all 18 city jurisdictions, providing the official announcement of the commencement of this funding opportunity and detailing requirements and application information.
Today’s actions support the County’s vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all San Diego County residents, particularly for historically underserved communities. Additionally, today’s actions renew the County’s support of the regional Live Well San Diego vision by ensuring low-income residents have access to suitable living environments, as well as enhancing the quality of life for residents by encouraging decent and affordable housing, which promotes a healthy, safe, and thriving region.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Approve the Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Program funded at a total of $10,000,000.
2. Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, or designee, upon approval of applications and successful negotiations, to execute grant agreements with the selected city jurisdictions to implement the Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Program.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The We All Count Point-in-Time Count (PITC) identifies the number of individuals living on the streets or in emergency shelters on one specific designated day of the year. In the 2020 Point-in-Time Count, 7,638 individuals were identified as living on the streets or in shelters throughout San Diego County. Of those who were unsheltered, 58% reported having a disability, which includes 37% of the population who reported having a mental health condition. Unified under a County of One approach, the County of San Diego is dedicated to addressing the root causes of homelessness and providing preventative and supportive services to the most vulnerable residents. The Framework for Ending Homelessness (Framework) outlines the path towards building the capacity to advance the San Diego County of Board of Supervisors’ priority of addressing homelessness.
People of color are disproportionally impacted among those experiencing homelessness, with 27.2% identifying as Black or African American, roughly five times the proportion of African Americans in the region; 3.4% identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native, which is nearly three times the proportion in the region; 2.8% identifying as Asian and 28% identifying as Hispanic. Individuals at-risk of or experiencing homelessness, impacted residents, community partners and other key stakeholders were engaged during the development of the plans outlined in today’s actions, and their feedback was sought and incorporated.
Ensuring racial and social equity in all aspects of homelessness prevention and response is one of the key principles that guide the Framework and all items that fall under its strategic domains. Additionally, securing equitable housing, supports and funding will assist those who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness throughout San Diego County. Therefore, it is anticipated that the recommended actions will provide needed housing and supports to individuals countywide, including those that are disproportionately represented in the system.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 CAO Recommended Operational Plan. If approved, this request will result in costs of $10,000,000 in Fiscal Year 2022-23 for the Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant program. The funding source is General Purpose Revenue on a one-time basis. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
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Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
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BACKGROUND
Now, more than ever, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) has prioritized addressing homelessness in our region. Just last year, on April 6, 2021 (6) the Board established the Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities (HSEC) within the County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). To unify the County’s efforts and strategies, the Board approved the historic Framework for Ending Homelessness on November 2, 2021 (4).
The County has consistently been a leader in addressing homelessness through person-centered services, creating affordable housing developments, and creating funding opportunities to leverage partnerships. As refenced in the State of the County address on March 29, 2022, city jurisdictions may not have access to the same resources as the County. In recognition of this, the County will create a $10 million Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant program in which the 18 incorporated cities in the region can apply for funding to support the creation of new emergency housing solutions within their jurisdictions. The goal of this grant program is to create meaningful, one-time investments that support the City jurisdictions in kick-starting new projects that result in long-term and sustainable overnight shelter solutions, including but not limited to emergency shelters, safe parking lots, sleeping cabins, tiny homes, or expanded capacity of an existing emergency shelter.
This funding is available for any of the 18 city municipalities in San Diego County. In order to be eligible for this funding, the proposals must be for one-time costs associated with a new emergency housing solution, including but not limited to acquiring property or capital improvements to create emergency shelters, shelters, safe parking lots, sleeping cabins, tiny homes, or expand the capacity of an existing emergency shelter solution.
Upon approval of this item, the County will send a notification to all 18 city jurisdictions, providing the official announcement of the commencement of this funding opportunity and detailing requirements and application information. Multiple projects may be submitted by each city municipality, but each will be evaluated independently. Applications will be accepted during a 30 day period. Notification of awards is anticipated to occur approximately 30 days after the application period closes. Additional applications periods will be opened until all funds are expended.
Proposed projects with the earliest operational date will be prioritized first. Projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
• Readiness
o Projects with earliest operational date will be prioritized first.
o Additionally, construction/shovel readiness (including site control) and financial readiness is important to ensure timeliness of project.
• City Council and Community Approval
o Strong local support for project would be needed to ensure limited barriers to implementation.
• Need
o May be demonstrated through a combination of factors, including but not limited to, the number of individuals to be served, type of service, Point-in-Time Count number relative to the population within the city, geographic location, healthy places index and others.
o Lack or gap of existing internal/external funding or inadequate existing funding for the creation of emergency housing solutions within their respective city.
• Sustainability of Operations
o Must show that project can be sustained long term after funds are spent. City must demonstrate the operations of the emergency shelter solutions can be sustained for at least two (2) years, and it is encouraged that any subsequent use of the facility will be aligned with a homelessness solution.
If an awarded project is unable to expend all funds by the deadline, the City will be required to return unspent funds. Additionally, cities must agree to follow all funding source requirements, including grant reporting requirements.
If awarded, the city would retain the option to also participate in the Regional Shelter Collaboration Agreement. This agreement, which is available for all city jurisdictions independent of this grant opportunity, lays the foundation for regional collaboration around emergency shelters for homelessness. Laid out in this agreement, for any current or future shelter a city commits to operating, the County will commit to providing some supportive services that may include behavioral health continuum of care, public health education and relevant communicable disease screening tools to the shelter operator, and assistance to individuals in obtaining HHSA-administered benefits and self-sufficiency resources including, CalWORKs, General Relief, Cal Fresh, Medi-Cal, and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).
Today’s action requests the Board to approve the Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Program funded at a total of $10,000,000 and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, or designee, to execute grant agreements with the selected city jurisdictions to implement the program. This item supports the County’s Framework for Ending Homelessness, specifically Permanent Housing and Support strategic domain. Additionally, these actions support the County’s vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all San Diego County residents, particularly for historically underserved communities. Additionally, this renews the County’s support of the regional Live Well San Diego vision by ensuring low-income residents have access to suitable living environments, as well as enhancing the quality of life for residents by encouraging decent and affordable housing, which promotes a healthy, safe, and thriving region.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action to approve the Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant program support the County of San Diego’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan Initiatives of Sustainability, Equity and Community and the region’s Live Well San Diego vision by providing assistance to and increasing the availability of resources to local jurisdictions to collectively address issues of homelessness.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN N. ROBBINS-MEYER
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
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