SR-9-A (17)
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Council Heeting: 1/21/92
CDD:CNS:JR:srshltrc
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Santa Monica, California
TO:
Hayor and City Council
FROM:
City staff
SUBJECT:
Request Authorization for City Manager to Apply for
the Federal Department of Housing and Urban
Development's (HOD) Shelter Plus Care Program Funds
INTRODUCTION
This report transmits a recommendation for the city Council to
direct staff to assess the feasibility and submit a funding
proposal for the Federal Department of Housing and Urban
Department's (HUD) Shelter Plus Care Program.
BACKGROUND
In
December
of
1991,
the
city
Council
approved
the
recommendations of the Santa Honica Task Force on Homelessness.
A vital part of the recommendations contained in the Report
address the need for comprehensive housing programs including
shelter beds, emergency detox beds, special needs housing options
and transitional and permanent housing. Additionally, the Report
calls for enhanced programs to serve the complex needs of the
homeless people with mental illnesses.
The comprehensive policies and programs recommended in the Task
Force Report represent a multi-year approach. While a number of
recommendations can be implemented without new expenditures/ many
require funding and resources which are not now available.
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Resource and program development are key to the successful
implementation of the Task Force's recommendations.
The city is currently seeking other fundl.ng opportunities to
build
a
stronger
funding base
that
can
support
these
recommendations. In so doing, city staff will explore Federal,
state, County and private resources that target the needs of
homeless persons. The Shelter PI us Care Program administered
through HOD has the potential to provide resources for some of
these enhanced housing and supportive service needs.
DISCUSSI.ON
The Shelter Plus Care (S+C) Program was authorized under the
National Affordable Housing Act which amended the stewart B.
McKinney Act and is funded from HUD' s appropriation act for
fiscal year 1992 in the amount of $110,533,000.
The S+C Program is a rental assistance program designed
.
specifically to link supportive services to rental assistance for
homeless persons with disabl.lities.
The program primarily
targets people with serious mental illnesses, chronic problems
with alcohol, drugs or persons with AIDS and related diseases.
The S+C Program includes three components: section 8 Moderate
Rehabilitation Program for Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Dwellings
funded at $73 million for FY1992; Sponsor-based Rental Assistance
(SRA)
funded at just over $37 million for FY1992; and,
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TRA) which will not be funded in
FY1992.
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The following describes the two components of the S+C program for
which funding is available in FY92-93.
SRO Component
The SRO component is a moderate rehabilitation program
designed to bring more standard SRO units into the local
hous ing supply and to use those units to assist homeless
persons with disabilities over-a ten-year period.
Eligibility for the section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program
for Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Dwellings is contingent upon
establishing housing linked with supportive services.
SRA Component
The SRA component provides rental assistance through a
contract with a private nonprofit organization, called a
sponsor. The housing units for this program must be owned or
leased by the sponsor. The SRA units may be of any type,
ranging from group homes to apartments, including SRO units.
The sponsor is allowed flexibility in program design which
offers participants a variety of housing options while the
sponsor retains rental assistance during the term of the
grant, as long as the participant stays wi thin an
SRA-assisted unit.
City staff have performed a preliminary review of the Notice of
Funding Availability (NOFA) published in the Federal Register on
December 5, 1991.
Based on this preliminary review, the city
appears eligible to apply for the SRO and SRA program components.
The application is consistent with the City's Comprehensive
Housing Affordability Strategy (CRAS) which details housing needs
and market conditions within Santa Monica, together with
strategies and plans for meeting those needs.
Communi ty and
Neighborhood Services staff will be working with the Housing
Division and other local non-profi ts to co-sponsor this
application.
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.
This program does not mandate minimum or maximum grant level.
Funding through this
program
requires
that
30
program
participants be served in a program year.
Application for funding through the Shelter Plus Care Program is
due on February 28, 1992.
BUDGETARY IXPACT
There is no budgetary impact at this time.
RECOMMENDATION
city staff recommends that the Council direct staff:
1) to
determine feasibility of application to the Shelter Plus Care
Program; and 2) based upon a favorable feasibility assessment,
authorize the city Manager to apply for Shelter Plus Care
funding.
Prepared By: Julie Rusk, Acting Community and Neighborhood
Services Manager
Wendy Bines, Homeless Coordinator
community Development Department
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