HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY - T. BELTON

Hold a Public Hearing to receive public comment on the proposed application; adopt Resolution approving and authorizing submission of the 2020 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.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 130

RESOLUTION NO: 2020-34

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 and 2016, CSWD received a combined $3.5 million grant for the construction of a Homeless Service Center as Phase l and for the construction of the Whole Person Care Services/Training Center as Phase ll. For the 2020 application, San Benito County is requesting $500,000 under Public Services and $3,000,000 under Public Facilities for a total request of $3,500,000.

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 two initial planning public hearings on June 12, 2018 and on February 19, 2020  to inform the public of the upcoming NOFA and solicited comments regarding community needs in preparation of the CDBG 2020 NOFA.

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

a.      Public Services- $500,000: 

-$187,500: Operations of Sun Street Center for a residential treatment facility

-$275,000: Operations of Community Homeless Solutions year-round Homeless Shelter

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

b.      Public Facilities:  $3,000,000 for construction costs of approximately 8, 400-800 sq. ft. transitional housing units at the Migrant Center to provide transitional housing to homeless families in need of assistance. In addition, funding will support the construction of a 3,500 sq. ft. community center and the revitalization of an existing park. Approximately $225,000 will go towards activity delivery fees as allowed by the State (7.5%).

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 third quarter of this calendar year, with contracts issued to local jurisdictions in the first quarter of 2021.  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 unless written authorization is given by the State.

This year, the County is eligible for CDBG funding as it has met the 50% rule with the completion of Phase ll of the HOME Resource 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 2020 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.