HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY - J. RYDINGSWORD

Receive Community Homeless Planning Committee Report from Health and Human Services Agency Director; Authorize HHSA Director to pursue the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) Funding Application and Allow the HHSA to pursue discussions with its partners and with the prospective sites to determine its feasibility for the Homeless Navigation Center.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 130

Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has been working collaboratively with County departments, the City of Hollister, San Juan Bautista our community non-profit partners for the planning and delivery of services benefiting our homeless community members. The County of San Benito Homeless Planning Committee (HPC) has continued to collaborate in order to create an effective plan for the use of HEAP funds that will have immediate impact on our homeless community. As a requirement for these funds, a resolution declaring a shelter crisis within the County, the City of Hollister and the City of San Juan Bautista was approved late 2018.

The State of California has made available the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) funding in light of the homeless and housing crisis facing all Counties. HEAP is a $500 million block grant program designed to provide direct assistance to cities, counties and Continuums of Care (CoCs) to address the homelessness crisis throughout California. HEAP is authorized by SB 850, which was signed into law by Governor Edmund G. Brown on June 27, 2018.

The Coalition of Homeless Services Providers anticipates the released the RFP to pursue HEAP Funding in late February with a mandatory Bidder’s Conference the week of February 25 and the application due at the end of March, 2019. The total funding available for the CoC Region is $12,505,250. Based on the 2017 Homeless Point-in-Time Census numbers, the total funding available to San Benito County is $1,871.098 for HEAP related projects and services designed to serve homeless individuals and families in San Benito County.

Funding from HEAP can be designated for a variety of activities including the expansion of beds for homeless individuals. To accomplish this, HHSA and the City of Hollister have had several planning meetings and have identified a “Tent City” project as the Homeless Navigation Center at two possible locations including 1171 San Felipe Road and Behind HHSA Building at 1111 San Felipe Rd, Hollister. It will be equipped to hold 75 bed capacity and provide supportive services and operated by an experienced partner in response to an RFP. More details in the presentation.

1. Accept the Director's report from the Community Homeless Committee;

2. Give direction to the HHSA Director to pursue Homeless Emergency Aid Funding (HEAP) in partnership with local community based organizations;

3. Allow the HHSA to pursue discussions with its partners and with the prospective locations to determine its feasibility for the Homeless Navigation Center