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DATE: |
September 14, 2021 |
02 |
SUBJECT
Title
NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING:
FISCAL YEAR 2020-21 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS; AND A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING AND THE EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO FROM THE 2021-2022 FUNDING YEAR OF THE STATE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM, CONTINUUM OF CARE ALLOCATION NOTICES OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The County of San Diego (County), as a recipient of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement program funding, is required to prepare a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) summarizing the Fiscal Year 2020-21 accomplishments. During Fiscal Year 2020-21, the Health and Human Services Agency, Housing and Community Development Services (HCDS) administered a wide variety of housing and community development activities utilizing funds from the four federal entitlement programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). The County also administers funding provided by the State of California through the State Emergency Solutions Grant (State ESG) program. The activities, as described in the CAPER, predominately benefited lower-income residents.
To provide an opportunity for public input, HUD requires a public comment period and a public hearing to be held before the CAPER is submitted. This hearing provides an opportunity for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) to receive public comment on the Fiscal Year 2020-21 CAPER. The CAPER has also been posted on the HCDS website at www.sdhcd.org and made available at the HCDS office for public comment since August 27, 2021. The public comment period ends on September 14, 2021. Today’s action also seeks to obtain an authorizing resolution for authority to apply for, accept, and administer State ESG funds. State ESG supplements the federal ESG program and provides funding for emergency shelter and rapid re-housing programs, which serve persons who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The County is estimated to receive an allocation of approximately $500,000 in ESG funds from the State of California.
Today’s action supports the County’s Live Well San Diego vision by increasing quality of life for low-income residents and providing assistance to vulnerable populations within San Diego County. Today’s action also supports the Board’s Framework for Our Future by targeting key priorities through investing in historically disadvantaged communities through creating parks and green spaces. The CAPER serves as a public record of activities and accomplishments undertaken over the past year and consequently supports the Board’s movement towards further government transparency.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Hold this public hearing to receive public comment on the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).
2. Adopt a Resolution entitled A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING AND THE EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO FROM THE 2021-2022 FUNDING YEAR OF THE STATE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM, CONTINUUM OF CARE ALLOCATION NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY.
3. Authorize the Agency Director, Health and Human Services Agency or designee, to apply for State of California ESG grant funds of up to $500,000 and to execute any agreements, certifications, amendments, or any other documents necessary to accept and implement the State ESG grant.
4. In accordance with Section 401 et seq. of the County Administrative Code and where determined appropriate, authorize the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting, to issue competitive solicitations for the Fiscal Year 2022-23 State ESG grant funds, and upon successful negotiations and determination of a fair and reasonable price, award contracts for a term of one (1) year with a six (6) month option, and, if needed, to amend contracts as required to reflect changes to services and funding or services requirements, subject to the availability of funds and the approval of the Agency Director, Health and Human Services Agency.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and the State of California Emergency Solutions Grant (State ESG) programs were established to meet community development, housing, and public service needs of low-income households and certain limited clientele groups. These limited clientele groups include persons experiencing homelessness, domestic violence survivors, abused or neglected children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development entitlement programs support the San Diego County Board of Supervisors’ Framework for Our Future by prioritizing the needs of these vulnerable communities.
As an entitlement grantee, Housing and Community Development Services (HCDS) holds community forums in eligible jurisdictions to ensure all the voices in that community, including low-income and historically underrepresented residents, can express their community’s needs. Robust community engagement is held every five (5) years for the development of the Consolidated Plan, as well as annual community forums to update the community and receive feedback on HUD entitlement programs. Forums for the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan were held throughout the San Diego County unincorporated area, including Borrego Springs, Campo, Fallbrook, Julian, and Lincoln Acres, as well as in central San Diego. The input gathered from the community forums guide the County of San Diego (County) on how best to utilize its entitlement funds equitably. All projects incorporated into the HCDS Annual Plan and CAPER are aligned to key Consolidated Plan goals prioritizing affordable housing, homelessness, community infrastructure, and housing for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Data collected during the development of the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan found that approximately 61% of low-income households in the County’s jurisdiction is housing-cost burdened and nearly 40% of all households experience some form of housing problem, such as overcrowding or nonfunctional utilities. Community forums and surveys revealed that residents see the rehabilitation or preservation of existing affordable units and the construction of new affordable units to be the highest need. Additionally, data found that the region’s special needs populations are particularly vulnerable to housing instability. Approximately 25% of the region’s population with a disability lives under 125% of the federal poverty line and housing was the top concern for the region’s more than 7,500 transition-aged youth. Lastly, the community strongly prioritized community infrastructure, with a particular interest in street and sidewalk improvements and urban greening.
Accomplishments outlined in the Fiscal Year 2020-21 CAPER have narrowed the gap in services and housing for these populations. Today’s action ensures compliance with federal reporting requirements that allows the County to continue utilizing more than $11.7 million annually for historically vulnerable populations.
FISCAL IMPACT
Recommendation #1 (Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER))
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. There will be no change in net General Fund costs and no additional staff years.
Recommendations #2, #3 and #4 (Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG))
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Operational Plan in the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). If awarded and approved, this request will result in estimated costs and revenue of $500,000 in Fiscal Year 2021-22. The funding source is State ESG funds. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) (Recommendation #1)
The County of San Diego (County), as a recipient of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement program funding, is required to prepare a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) summarizing Fiscal Year 2020-21 accomplishments. This report must be submitted to HUD within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year, enabling HUD to assess overall performance in meeting goals and addressing needs identified in the County’s five-year 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Annual Plan, approved April 7, 2020 (2).
During Fiscal Year 2020-21, the Health and Human Services Agency, Housing and Community Development Services (HCDS) administered a wide variety of housing and community development activities utilizing funds from the four federal entitlement programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). The activities, as described in the CAPER (Attachment B), predominately benefited lower income residents. During Fiscal Year 2020-21, CDBG expenditures totaled $3,548,253, HOME expenditures totaled $2,562,703, ESG expenditures totaled $379,331, and HOPWA expenditures totaled $5,254,717.
The Consolidated Plan’s geographic focus is the jurisdiction within the San Diego County Consortium, which includes the “Urban County” and the “HOME Consortium.” The Urban County is composed of the San Diego County unincorporated area and the CDBG and ESG participating cities of Coronado, Del Mar, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Poway, and Solana Beach. The HOME Consortium is composed of the Urban County and the HOME participating cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, La Mesa, San Marcos, Santee, and Vista. The HOPWA program’s jurisdiction covers the entirety of the San Diego County, including larger cities.
CDBG funds were allocated for public facility and infrastructure improvement projects, such as improvements to sidewalks, parks, and non-profit facilities. HOME and CDBG funds were expended for affordable housing development, residential rehabilitation, first-time homebuyer assistance, and tenant-based rental assistance. ESG funds were used for homeless shelter operations, support services, rapid rehousing, and homelessness prevention programs. HOPWA funds were used for emergency and transitional housing, housing stabilization services, housing operations, support services, and tenant-based rental assistance.
Notable accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2020-21 include:
• Provided approximately $0.7 million in HOME funds for financial assistance as down payment and closing cost assistance to 17 low-income households to purchase a home.
• Provided approximately $0.5 million in CDBG funds to 44 low-income homeowners for necessary repairs and/or Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) home improvements.
• Completed construction on an 80-unit affordable housing development in the City of Vista. $2.7 million in HOME funds were expended for this development.
• Completed eight (8) new infrastructure projects, including a total of five (5) ADA improvement projects, one street/sidewalk project, and two facility projects utilizing approximately $0.8 million in CDBG funds.
• Administered approximately $1 million in HOME funds for tenant-based rental assistance to 148 extremely low and low-income households, primarily those experiencing homelessness or with special needs residents. Additionally, administered approximately $1.1 million in HOPWA funds to provide tenant-based rental assistance to 86 households living with HIV/AIDS.
• Provided emergency shelter to 429 low-income persons at risk of or experiencing homelessness using approximately $0.2 million in ESG funds.
The County HHSA HCDS achieved or exceeded annual accomplishment goals for HUD entitlement programs. However, the COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to accomplishing Consolidated Plan annual goals, primarily for goals related to emergency shelter and direct financial assistance to households and homebuyers. This is largely due to a decrease in congregate shelter settings during the pandemic to limit the spread of COVID-19 and the stay-at-home orders that prevented staff from working directly with program participants.
To provide an opportunity for public input, HUD requires a public comment period and a public hearing to be held before the CAPER is submitted. Today’s action satisfies this public hearing requirement. The draft CAPER (Attachment B), which identifies the Fiscal Year 2020-21 accomplishments of the four federal entitlement programs, has been available for public viewing on the HCDS website at www.sdhcd.org since August 27, 2021. The CAPER was also available for public viewing at the HCDS office located at 3989 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA 92123. Responses to written or oral comments received at this hearing or received by September 14, 2021, will be attached to the CAPER for submission to HUD.
Resolution, Application and Acceptance of Grant Funds from the State of California (Recommendations #2, #3 and #4)
The State of California has announced that FY 2021-2022 State ESG grant funds will be made available to current HUD ESG entitlement recipients through an annual application process. These funds will be targeted to jurisdictions that currently do not receive an ESG entitlement from HUD but may be used regionally to address homelessness through eligible ESG activities. The ESG program serves persons who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness. Programs that will be funded include emergency housing and rapid re-housing which provide immediate housing relief to vulnerable persons.
The State released its ESG notice of funding availability on August 17, 2021. The attached Resolution entitled, A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING AND THE EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO FROM THE 2021-2022 FUNDING YEAR OF THE STATE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT (ESG) PROGRAM, CONTINUUM OF CARE ALLOCATION NOTICES OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY (NOFA) (Attachment C) authorizes the application for State ESG funds up to $500,000.
Today’s action supports the San Diego County Board of Supervisors’ (Board) Framework for Our Future by targeting key priorities through investing in historically disadvantaged communities through creating parks and green spaces. The CAPER serves as a public record of activities and accomplishments undertaken over the past year and consequently supports the Board’s movement towards further government transparency.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action to hold a public hearing and receive public comment on the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) supports the Operational Excellence strategic initiative of the County of San Diego’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan by openly reporting entitlement program accomplishments. The services provided during the Fiscal Year 2020-21 support the Live Well San Diego indicators of increasing the quality of life for residents within San Diego County and providing assistance to vulnerable populations.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN N. ROBBINS-MEYER
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report Guide
Attachment B - Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report FY 2020-21
Attachment C - Resolution entitled A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING AND THE EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO FROM THE 2021-2022 FUNDING YEAR OF THE STATE ESG PROGRAM, CONTINUUM OF CARE ALLOCATION NOFA
AGENDA ITEM INFORMATION SHEET
REQUIRES FOUR VOTES: ☐ Yes ☒ No
WRITTEN DISCLOSURE PER COUNTY CHARTER SECTION 1000.1 REQUIRED
☐ Yes ☒ No
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PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOARD ACTIONS: April 7, 2020 (2), approved FY 2020-24 Consolidated Plan and the 2020-21 Annual Funding Plan for CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA Programs. |
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BOARD POLICIES APPLICABLE: N/A |
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BOARD POLICY STATEMENTS: N/A |
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MANDATORY COMPLIANCE: 24 CFR §91.105(d) Performance Reports 25 CCR §8400 - Emergency Solutions Grants Program Today’s requested actions comply with the HUD requirement to provide citizens with reasonable notice and an opportunity to comment on the performance report (CAPER) to be submitted to HUD. A summary of any comments from citizens received in writing, or orally at public hearings in preparation of the CAPER, shall be attached to the CAPER before submission. Additionally, today’s requested actions comply with the State of California’s program regulations for the Emergency Solutions Grant program. |
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ORACLE AWARD NUMBER(S) AND CONTRACT AND/OR REQUISITION NUMBER(S): 118260 PWR 45813 CDBG 507898 - COFD7684 508306 - COFD7747 COFD508597 - COFD7794 506854-OES 45813 AR CDBG GRANT SDCFA 507189 HHS HC 45813 AR CDBG PROG 507190 HHS HC 45814 AR ESG PROG 507195 HHS HC 45812 AR HOME PROG |
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ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: Health and Human Services Agency |
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OTHER CONCURRENCE(S): |
Department of Purchasing and Contracting |
CONTACT PERSON(S):
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David Estrella |
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Kelly Salmons |
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Name |
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Name |
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858-694-8750 |
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858-694-4806 |
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Phone |
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Phone |
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David.Estrella@sdcounty.ca.gov |
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Kelly.Salmons@sdcounty.ca.gov |
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E-mail |
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E-mail |