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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1987/12/15 Item 7 COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT Item 7 Meeting Date 12/15/87 ITEM TITLE: SUBMITTED BY: Director of Community REVIEWED BY : City Manager ~~ 17Q/ Report concerning Episcopal Community Services proposal to apply for Federal Emergency Shelter Grant funds. Authorizing the City to submit an of Episcopal Community Services to open shelter in Ch la Vista Development Resolution~~6 v application on behalf and operate a homeless (4/5ths Vote: Yes No X ) The recently enacted Federal McKinney Homeless Assistance Act has authorized the Federal Government to make funds available nationwide to increase direct services to the nation's homeless population. The City of Chula Vista, or a non-profit organization under the authority of a local jurisdiction is eligible to apply for a maximum grant of $250,000 under this program. Episcopal Community Services would like to apply for a $250,000 grant to operate a homeless shelter for families in Chula Vista. Since technically, funds are awarded to a local jurisdiction and then funneled to a social ervice agency, Episcopal Community Services requests that the City of Chula ~ista submit an application on their behalf. RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the City to submit an application for Federal Emergency Grant funds on behalf of Episcopal Community Services to operate a homeless shelter in Chula Vista. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable. DISCUSSION: Social Service Agencies in the South Bay that serve homeless clients have recognized the need for emergency shelter in the area. Currently, South Bay is the only region in the County without an emergency shelter. For the past several years a number of social service agencies have expressed an interest in operating a shelter in the South Bay, but have lacked the resources to operate such a shelter. Recently, Congress adopted the Federal McKinney Homeless Assistance Act which authorizes HUD to allocate $50 million nationwide. Episcopal Community Services would like to apply for funding under this program to open and operate a homeless shelter in Chula Vista. They believe that the Federal Grant, along with State Emergency Shelter Program funds and private fund raising, will enable them to successfully operate a small shelter to serve families in the South Bay Region. Funds for • • Page 2, Item 7 Meeting Date? the Federal Emergency Shelter Program are funneled through a local jurisdiction and given to a social services agency or agencies. Agencies can take the lead in preparing an application but the local jurisdiction is the only entity eligible to submit an application for funds. The City would be responsible for disbursing funds to Episcopal Community Services and would be required to submit quarterly reports to HUD. The City would enter into a contractual relationship with that agency to guarantee their performance similar to the agreements the City has with social service agencies under the CDBG program. NEED The South Bay Homeless Partnership, a group of local service providers, government representatives and concerned citizens, is drafting a South Bay Homeless Assistance Plan with the assistance of the Regional Task Force on the Homeless. As the Council will recall, the City Council awarded $5,000 to the Regional Task Force on the Homeless to help pay for the preparation of this plan. While the report is not yet completed, tentative results suggest that approximately 140-200 individuals are homeless on any given night in the South Bay Region. Over half of these are thought to be two parent families or single-parent families with children. Currently, most of these individuals are referred to shelters in downtown San Diego if space is available. South Bay has limited hotel vouchers funded by FEMA to house the homeless in local ~otels and hotels. Vouchers are limited, and are usually used up within a few months after funds are received. The draft homeless assistance plan will be used to help identify more clearly the specific needs of the homeless is South Bay, and Episcopal Community Services will utilize this information in developing a site specific shelter proposal. FEDERAL EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT Episcopal Community Services has been providing social services in San Diego County for 60 years. They currently operate a 28-room single-resident occupancy hotel for the homeless in San Diego. They also operate Julian's Anchorage, a shelter for battered women and their children. In terms of their commitment to the South Bay region, they operate four Head Start programs i n the South Bay, the Otay Community Clinic, and the South Bay Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center. Additionally, they operate a variety of social service programs throughout the County, many of them serving the homeless. Episcopal Community Services is attempting to meet a portion of the shelter needs of the homeless in South Bay. They plan to open a small homeless shelter that could house six to ten families with children at one time. While it is believed that single men also comprise a significant portion of the South Bay homeless population, it is generally easier for them to travel to downtown shelters than for families to uproot, often needing to remove their children from school. Both populations are in need of emergency shelter, but • families are perceived to have a greater need for emergency shelter that is ~~... • Page 3, Item 7 Meeting Date-T~/T~Sj$7 close to their local community. Episcopal Community Services has identified Chula Vista as a potential location for a South Bay Homeless Shelter because it is centrally located in South Bay. However, because the shelter would serve the entire South Bay region, the shelter could physically be located in any South Bay community if the Chief Executive Officer of that local jurisdiction submits a letter to the State acknowledging her/his approval of the concept. Clients served by the proposed homeless shelter would be referred by existing social service agencies in the South Bay such as the Salvation Army, Project Hand, and the MAAC Project, and these agencies would provide ongoing case management to clients they place in the shelter. Clients would be screened for mental illness, drug or alcohol abuse, and extreme anti-social behavior and would not be referred to the shelter if any of these conditions existed. These clients would be referred to other more appropriate facilities. At this point, a shelter site has not been identified due to the short response time imposed by HUD. Episcopal Community Services is working with a local real estate agent to locate an appropriate site. They are looking into the possibility of renting and renovating an existing motel or a hotel. If funding is secured, the site would be reviewed by the City as part of the process of obtaining Land Use Permits for the shelter. vocational criteria will be developed in concert with the Planning Department to ensure that the shelter would be in close proximity to supporting social services and public transportation and be buffered from single family residential neighborhoods and other inappropriate locations. Once a site is identified, the City Council would review the specific proposal and would have the option of approving or denying the shelter proposal prior to the time that grant funds would actually be received. If the City Council does not approve a site, then the shelter would not go forward. THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT PROCESS: The Federal McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, as mentioned earlier, allocates $50 million nationwide for homeless assistance programs. Funds for the Federal Emergency Shelter Grant Program are allocated to units of local Government using the allocation formula of the Community Development Block Grant Program. If the formula produces an allocation of less than $25,000 to a local Government (as is the case for Chula Vista), then that locality's allocation is combined into a Statewide allocation for distribution by States. Chula Vista along with many other jurisdictions may apply for California's $1.355 million allocation. Non-profit organizations may submit an application if a local jurisdiction authorizes the submittal of their application to the State. The City would be responsible for disbursing the funds, ensuring that work is completed, and reporting to the State. This process is similar to the Community Development Block Grant Program procedures. The City Council, in submitting the application for funds would be allowing Episcopal Community Services an opportunity to compete for funds. • They would be supporting the concept of a South Bay homeless shelter, but would not be committing to an actual proposal. If funds are approved, but an appropriate site is not located, the proposal would not go forward. • An applicant may apply for a maximum rent and/or rehabilitate a building. building, to provide services to operational costs. The grant would b Page 4, Item 7 Meeting Date 1 /87 grant of $250,000. Funds may be used to They can also be used to maintain the the homeless, and to provide ongoing e for a maximum of three years. Episcopal Community Services is interested in submitting an application for $250,000 to open and operate an approximately 30 bed shelter for families with chi 1 dren i n the South Bay. They are also applying for operating funds from the State Emergency Shelter Program. As part of their application for Federal funds, the local jurisdiction must authorize the submittal of their application, since funds are distributed by jurisdiction. Episcopal Community Services is not requesting any financial assistance from the City. CONCLUSION: If the City Council votes to authorize the submittal of Episcopal Community Services application for Federal funds, the City is in no way obligated to assist the shelter. Episcopal Community Services may at some point in the future request Block Grant funds or Low and Moderate Housing funds. The City would become involved in the administration of the Emergency Shelter Grant Program funds. The City would be giving Episcopal Community Services the opportunity to pursue funding from the Federal Government under this unique, •one-time program. FISCAL IMPACT: If the grant is awarded, a minimal amount of staff time would be required to prepare and monitor the contract with Episcopal Community Services. WPC 3319H by the City Councei of • -~- v Chula Vista, Calito~nia Dated • John & Michele Delehanty ,,/ J 350 Windjammer Circle Chula Vista, CA 92010 Dec. 11, 87. Ci ~.y Council, liven the number of families, mostly women with children who are homeless in our community • consistantiy during the year, I. strongly urge you to support the family shelter proposa It is the responsible thing to do. All other portions of the county have some sort of emergency shelter for their people - So. Bay needs to make this provision especially for those families originating from here. ~.~ G~~ . • u~ .__ E • Mrs. ~A. J. Mayer 44g Nickman St. G~u~a Vista, lla. 92011 .~,..~.,~ l0, ! 9 8' 7 c. Y. Cw yaaio -~.-ca~ --~=~ .~`„°~~ ~ ~.~~-~~G tea.-~'" G~~r~- ~-~~ ~~ s~~~rGl~ ,,tld 1 ~o .GLo .~6 . ~~ c~~.~ /' -G,Gl'~CJ fJ~ ~ ~.?~GO , ~~~~ ~.,~ ~ mac, ~--~ r~ ~s%e~~Y~SC~ u~£ti ..~. ~f`, ~; u, ~j `' ` ~~19 .f,.~ ~, ~~~,.~ ~. ~ ~ ~ ~ ',,'~' n ~ P "' 4`.'.. '~ "°"?; ~~'~..^ ^ °~, 4^, ~?^~, ^. '~ , ..std ~~";'1 ~' ~ c;: `,:i3 cu ..:7 ~ ~ ~ ",d~ ~ =tea ~ s. w..;'+~ L. ~ .r ~.: _~ ~ . _- - ~ f,~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~_~ SACRAMENTO OFFICE STATE CAPITOL. ROOM 3048 SACRAMENTO. CA 95814 ~1445~6767 HELEN JONES ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICE 430 DAVIDSON STREET CHULA VISTA. CA 92010 16191 4277080 BARBARA HUNSAKER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT • • COMMITTEES TRANSPORTATION. CHAIRMAN N I SURANCE. CLAIMS AND AIRMAN R~ / ff + // ~p ~~- BAND COMMERCE C~ MITTEE ON DRUG ~ SENATOR ~HOL ABUSE A A/ SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE I _ T Y a~ }_~i ~ ~ PACIFIC RIM WADIE P. DEDDEH C~T Y C~ CI . u; ,a ~F7~GT COMMITTEE ON THE ~'I~~~;.' .Y~~fd•INRJG FOR CALIFORNIA-S Fortieth Senatorial District i J ~F I~¢,h~/r/H*G','ISLATIVE 6 Y RETIREMENT COMMITTEE JOINT COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ~~ ~~•4 PENSION FUND INVESTMENTS v~` ~ wi z I` 1~ °a r ~' %°61 , CALIFORNIA STATE WORLD TRADE COMMISSION ~~~ ` ~~ ~~ _ ~ ~'' a AOVISORV COUNCIL NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES December 15, 1987 Glen Allison, Executive Director Episcopal Community Services 3425 Fifth Avenue San Diego, California 92103 Dear Mr. Allison: It is my understanding that the Episcopal Community Services is planning to establish a Family Shelter in the South Bay. I wholeheartedly endorse this project since the area is in dire need of additional facilities for families needing temporary shelter. The additional effort that will be expended to assist these people in becoming gainfully employed and "back on their feet" will provide additional manpower to those who are so valiantly trying to handle the job now. I encourage you to proceed with your plans in the Chula Vista. has access to bus service. the trolley certain there will be a facility that is adaptable the homeless. Sincerely, /A /y/'~ ~. // WADIE P. DEDDEH WPD : fms South Bay. and I am for housing