sr-091410-1bCity Council Meeting: September 14, 2010
Agenda Item: ~~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Andy Agle, Director of Housing and Economic Development
Subject: Submittal of a Shelter Plus Care (S+C) Grant Application
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that Council:
1. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to
the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for
new permanent supportive housing vouchers for homeless persons; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute related required documents to complete
the Shelter Plus Care Program (S+C) grant application process and submit to
HUD.
Executive Summary.
The Housing Authority seeks to apply for a new grant from HUD in the amount of
$2,028,000 to provide housing vouchers and comprehensive services to house 25
chronically homeless and disabled persons, increasing the likelihood that they will
remain housed.
Background
The City's recent homeless counts conducted in 2009 and 2010 identified the critical
need for increased affordable housing for Santa Monica's homeless households.
The Action Plan To Address Homelessness in Santa Monica, the Consolidated Plan,
the Housing Element, and the Housing Authority's Five-Year and Annual Plans all
identify the need for housing for homeless persons, especially those who are seniors,
disabled, youth and the most medically vulnerable individuals on the. Service Registry.
The City currently provides supportive housing to homeless households with- federal
funding from HUD in five Shelter Plus Care grants, HOME housing vouchers and the
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Supportive Housing Program (SHP) grant. The Shelter Plus Care Program provides a
housing subsidy linked to services to establish a permanent supportive housing
environment which sustains chronically homeless households in housing.
The City's application will be considered by the Los Angeles Homeless Services
Authority (LAHSA) together with other applications submitted by participating
jurisdictions in Los Angeles County. LAHSA will then consolidate all of the applications
after a local ranking process and compete nationally for McKinney Vento/Continuum of
Care HUD funds. The grant, if awarded, would be funded for afive-year period.
Discussion
Through this grant, the Housing Authority would be able to provide rental subsidies to
an additional 25 chronically homeless and disabled Santa Monica residents, with local
non-profit service agencies providing wrap-around services as a match requirement for
the grant. The services would be funded in part by the Human Services Division
through the City's Community Development Grant Program. Participants in the S+C
program are required to contribute 30 percent of their income to housing-related
expenses and lease the unit from a landlord. Housing units would be located throughout
the City in a scattered site model and not concentrated in any one neighborhood or site.
Santa Monica's eight-mile area allows for effective service delivery and the economies
of scale that can be achieved in a scattered site model. The program will increase
residential stability, life skills, and the possibility of increased income/benefits.
Up to eight percent of the grant may be used for general administration. Housing
Authority staff will be responsible for eligibility determination, management of the wait-
list, unit inspections, subsidy payments, evaluation of rent reasonableness, annual
recertification, and reporting.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no budget impact associated with the submission of an application for Shelter
Plus Care. program funds. If the City's funding application is successful, revenues
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would increase by as much as $2,028,000. Specific budget adjustments, including
staffing resources, will be considered following any award of new S+C funds.
Prepared by: Barbara Collins, Housing Manager
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
~_~ -~-a~ ~~~e__ Cpl
Andy Agle, Director Rod Gould w`T
Housing and Economic evelopment City Manager
Attachments:
A. Resolution
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Reference Resolution No.
10521 (CCS).