HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY - J. RYDINGSWORD

Hold a Public Hearing to receive public comment on the proposed application; adopt Resolution approving and authorizing submission of the 2016 CDBG grant application; authorize the HHSA Director or Deputy Director to accept the grant, if awarded, enter into and execute the grant agreement and any subsequent amendments with the State of California, and execute Funds Requests and other required reporting forms for purposes of administering the grant; authorize the County Administrator to execute the Assurances pertaining to the grant and authorize the budget adjustment for the grant funds in the amount of $3,700,000.00. (4/5 vote)

SBC FILE NUMBER: 130

RESOLUTION NO: 2016-59

Since 1995, HHSA’s Community Services and Workforce Development(CSWD) Division has been successful in obtaining competitively-awarded CDBG funding to support a variety of services in the community from homeless and domestic violence shelter assistance to building a childcare facility for low-income children to providing job training services to low-income and providing food assistance to low-income families. In 2014, CSWD received a $1.5 million grant for the construction of a Homeless Service Center. For the 2016 application, San Benito County is requesting $500,000 under Public Services and $1,500,000 under Public Facilities for a total request of $2,000,000.

The purpose of the CDBG program is to benefit Targeted Income Group persons (low-income) and limited clientele (homeless, domestic violence victims, etc.), eliminate slums and blight and meet urgent community development needs.  Eligible activities under the General Allocation Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) include: Housing Rehabilitation, Housing Acquisition/Real Property Acquisition, Public Services, Public Improvements, Public Facilities, Public Improvements in Support on Housing New Construction and Housing New Construction.

The Board’s advisory board on low-income matters, the Community Action Board (CAB), held an initial planning public hearing on June 21, 2016 to inform the public of the upcoming NOFA and solicited comments regarding community needs. 

This application requests funding for the following activities and is reflective of the CAB’s recommendations: 

a.      Public Services- $500,000: 

-$200,000: Shelter for victims of domestic violence

-$200,000: Operation funding of the Homeless Service Center

-$62,500: Youth activities in the areas of Prevention and intervention services to provide enrichment scholarships to support low-income youth and children.

-Approximately $37,500 will go towards admin fees as allowed by the State (7.5%)

b.      Public Facilities:  $1,500,000 for construction/rehabilitation costs of the Homeless Service Center. The Homeless Service Center provides overnight shelter and a variety of services to the homeless community in San Benito County. CDBG funding will be used for Phase II of the Homeless Service Center to focus on the Workforce and Training Center in our efforts to support clients with job training services.  

The County’s application will be rated and ranked against other City/County non-entitlement applicants for activities in the areas of jurisdiction’s poverty rate, benefit target income group, need for services, prior CDBG grant performance and capacity for delivering the services and readiness to implement services. The State anticipates that award announcements will be made by the fourth quarter of this calendar year, with contracts issued to local jurisdictions in the first quarter of 2017.  From past experience, contracts have not been issued on a timely basis. Additionally, it generally takes another one to two months before contracts can be executed by the County and any non-profit that will receive funds.  The County cannot incur costs against the grant until the contract has been executed between the State and the County.

This year, the County is eligible for CDBG funding as it has met the 50% rule with the purchase of the future site of the Homeless Service Center. To meet the 50% rule, an applicant must have spent at least 50% of previous funds awarded in order to qualify for the submission of future CDBG NOFA applications. In addition, the County must complete and submit the Annual Audit Reports to the State Controller’s office.

At the conclusion of the Director’s report, there will be an opportunity for public comment during the public hearing. The public may also submit written comments to HHSA’s CSWD’s Division.  There will be a public information file available for on-site viewing at CSWD related to this grant application and process.

Note:

• The Statement of Assurances must be signed by the jurisdiction’s Chief Executive Officer, regardless of any signatory designation in the resolution.

1. Receive the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Director’s report.
2. Open a public hearing to receive public comment on the proposed application.
3. Adopt Resolution approving and authorizing submission of the 2016 CDBG grant application and authorizing the HHSA Director or Deputy Director to accept the grant, if awarded, enter into and execute the grant agreement and any subsequent amendments with the State of California, and execute Funds Requests and other required reporting forms for purposes of administering the grant; and authorize the Chair to sign the Resolution.
4. Authorize the County Administrator to execute the Assurances pertaining to the grant.
5. Authorize the Auditor to make the budget adjustments necessary to administer the grant in the amount of $3,700,000.00.