TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
George Gabriel, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Resolution No. 18-0149 Declaring a Shelter Crisis Pursuant to SB 850, Allowing the City to be Eligible for Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) Grant Funding and the City’s Multi-Jurisdictional Proposal to Implement the City’s Homelessness Plan (City Manager Moe).
a) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 18-0149
b) APPROVE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 18-0149 Declaring a Shelter Crisis Pursuant to SB 850, Allowing the City to be Eligible for Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) Grant Funding,
2. Approve the City’s multi-jurisdictional proposal in collaboration with the Cities of Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach to implement the City’s homelessness plan.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action. However, should the City receive grant funding from either the State or County’s RFP, the City will reflect those grant amounts in the revised FY 2019-2020 budget.
BACKGROUND:
On August 21, 2018, the City Council adopted the City’s “Five-Year Plan to Address Homelessness in Our Community.” The plan contains 10 goals aligned with Manhattan Beach’s and Los Angeles County’s objectives to address homelessness. While the City plans to achieve these goals, no direct funding source has been identified to implement these goals.
In anticipation of the limited funding cities have to address homelessness, County of Los Angeles and State of California funds have become available through two separate grant funding processes.
State of California
Pursuant to a new state statute codified in the California Health and Safety Code, the State of California has approved $500 million in onetime funding to address homelessness in the FY 2018-19 State Budget through the new Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP). The purpose of the HEAP is to provide local agencies with one-time flexible block grant funds to address immediate homelessness challenges. The allocation in funding under the program is based on (1) a jurisdiction’s total share of homeless individuals based on a 2017 point-in-time count; (2) the jurisdiction’s share of the total statewide homeless population based on the 2017 point-in-time-count; or (3) on whether a city has a population of 330,000 or more. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) will be the administrative agency for the HEAP and expects an allocation of approximately $80 million.
Eligible uses of funding include emergency aid, prevention, and diversion programs. In order to be eligible to apply for funds, a jurisdiction must declare a shelter crisis.
County of Los Angeles
On March 7, 2017, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors obtained voter approval for a 10-year, ¼ cent sales tax increase to help fund housing and support services for the homeless population throughout the County.
Recently, the County of Los Angeles released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Measure H grant funding to cities. The funding opportunity provides up to $9 million in County Measure H funds and $1 million in private support through the Home for Good Funders Collaborative. These funds will help implement local projects that enhance County service systems for those currently experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. All indications are that the County is looking for multi-jurisdictional (i.e. regional) submissions. For example, individual cities are capped at $300,000 grants, whereas joint submissions from multiple jurisdictions have no such cap.
At the City Council meeting on October 16, 2018, the City Council appointed five members to an ad hoc Homelessness Task Force. To date, the Task Force has met twice to discuss a multi-jurisdiction proposal that Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach have discussed in an effort to create regionally collaborative solution to address homelessness.
DISCUSSION:
For City Council consideration are two separate items related to grant funds the City may utilize to address homelessness in the City of Manhattan Beach. These two opportunities are discussed in greater detail below.
HEAP Grant
As stated earlier, in order for the City to be eligible for HEAP funding provided by the State, the City must adopt a Resolution declaring a shelter crisis. The Resolution attached for City Council consideration is based off a template provided by the State with specified language that the City cannot alter if it would like to pursue HEAP funding.
Under the terms of the state statute (also confirmed by SBCCOG and LAHSA) approving this Resolution to seek grant funds does not obligate the City to construct shelters or allow homeless to occupy public facilities. If the Council adopts Resolution No. 18-0149, the City will be eligible to apply for HEAP funding. The RFP is anticipated to be released in December. Once LAHSA releases the RFP, Staff and the Task Force will discuss the application requirements, and, if necessary, may seek Council direction.
Measure H Homelessness Plan Grant
Following discussions with the Homelessness Task Force, the City of Hermosa Beach, the City of Redondo Beach, the South Bay Cities Council of Government (SBCCOG) and the South Bay Coalition to End Homelessness, Staff has developed a multi-jurisdictional proposal to submit to the County.
In summary, the Proposal (attached) seeks to accomplish three key objectives by the “Tri-City Collaborative” which includes the City of Hermosa Beach and the City of Redondo Beach. These objectives include:
1. Staff and Community Training
The goal for Objective one is to modernize the training provided to Tri-City personnel to improve understanding of referral-based services and their role in managing contacts with people experiencing homelessness, and in providing customer service in CES protocols. Further, Objective one will educate the community on the programs implemented by the Tri-Cities, the existing CES system, referral portals, and their role in managing contacts with people experiencing homelessness. The outcome for Objective one is a Tri-City region led by City personnel galvanized by an understanding of the homeless crisis, and the progressive services and planning underway through Measure H implementation.
2. Creation of Coordinator
The goal for Objective two is to establish and promote coordination between the Tri-Cities. This will be comprised of aligning goals contained in each approved homeless plan as well as logistical management of outreach services that deal with the micro-region’s homeless population. The outcome is progressive outreach services and accelerated achievements in navigating individuals to housing by creating a coordinator in the form of a contractor or service organization that promotes coordination.
3. Housing Navigator
The goal for Objective three is to augment the existing matrix of partial-week outreach services. Adequate caseload management for outreach and navigation personnel remains a challenge that is addressed by increasing the number of caseworkers. The outcome is more rapid service outreach, increased follow-up on contacts, and better relationships with those experiencing homelessness. Recognizing existing CES high caseloads, provide dedicated Tri-City navigators.
The Homelessness Task Force has reviewed the Proposal (attached) and has recommended it to City Council for consideration and approval. Upon City Council approval of the proposal, the City of Manhattan Beach will send the proposal to the County of Los Angeles for consideration by the November 7, 2018, deadline.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 18-0149
2. 2018 Tri-Cities Implementation Grant Application