title
APPROVE THE SAN JOAQUIN COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIC PLAN
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council by Motion:
1. Approve the San Joaquin Community Response to Homelessness Strategic Plan.
2. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to take necessary and appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this motion
body
Summary
In July 2019, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 101 (AB 101) into law allocating $650 million in available Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention program funding (HHAP). In order to receive HHAP funding, a Regional Strategic Homelessness Plan is required. Staff applied for funding in February 2020 and was awarded $6.4 million of HHAP grant funds in April 2020. The San Joaquin Community Response to Homelessness Strategic Plan (Plan) has recently been completed and is being presented to the City Council for approval.
DISCUSSION
Background
On July 31, 2019, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 101 (AB 101) into law allocating $650 million in available funding through the HHAP program. HHAP grant funds were designed to support regionally coordinated efforts between the County, City, and Continuum of Care (CoC) to expand and develop regional and local capacity to address immediate homelessness challenges. A condition to receive HHAP funding is the requirement of a coordinated regional strategic plan to address homelessness.
On September 17, 2019, the City Council approved a motion authorizing a contract with Homebase for $90,365 to prepare the San Joaquin Regional Strategic Homelessness Plan, City of Stockton Homelessness Plan, and City of Stockton application for HHAP funding (Attachment A - Motion 2019-09-17-1401). It was agreed that a single consultant for both plans would increase the coordination of regional services and programs. The City would manage the contract, but the San Joaquin CoC would direct the consultant to develop the regional and local Strategic Plan for Homelessness.
On December 6, 2019, the State of California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council
(HCFC), Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH) issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for their Homeless Housing Assistance Program (HHAP) for approximately $650 million in available HHAP funding. The City applied for HHAP funds in February 2020.
Present Situation
In April 2020, the City of Stockton was allocated $6.4 million in HHAP funding. To receive the funds, completion of a regional Strategic Homelessness Plan for San Joaquin County, which includes Stockton, is required. Although the original direction was to develop a separate plan specific to Stockton, it was determined not to be necessary for the HHAP application. Additionally, the implementation plan serves as a guide to determine roles and responsibilities for various action steps. As such, Homebase was requested to evaluate and incorporate the impacts of COVID-19.
The availability of new State funding creates an opportunity to improve the lives of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Stockton and San Joaquin County by making available much needed resources for housing and case management services. The Plan identifies a coordinated regional effort to address homelessness and considers the various components needed to ensure successful homeless strategies.
The Strategic Plan was developed with significant community engagement and reflects feedback and input from hundreds of community members spanning over a six-month period. In summary, the planning process included:
• An environmental scan of existing reports and research about the region and the health and economic well-being of the community, including homelessness.
• Stakeholder interviews with representatives from cities, County agencies, Federal agencies (including the Veterans’ Association), health care, service providers, law enforcement and faith-based organizations.
• Focus groups with service providers and people who have experienced homelessness.
• A Community Summit with more than 130 attendees was held.
• CoC Strategic Planning Leadership Committee meetings focused on increasing housing, unsheltered homelessness solutions, public engagement, and strengthening supportive services for the homeless.
• A series of presentations and discussions at public meetings.
The Homeless Strategic Plan identifies three primary goals and implementation strategies to address homelessness (for the full Strategic and Implementation Plan see Attachment B):
1. Establishment of a coordinated cross-jurisdictional effort to create shared processes. This includes securing joint funding streams, implementing a shared funding advisory process, identifying community priorities, and coordinating a County-wide Homeless System of Care.
2. Increase the Access and Reduction of Barriers to Homeless Crisis Response Services. Through the expansion of low-barrier shelter capacity, 200 rental assistance eviction prevention grants by 2025, and a 50% reduction of households in Transitional Housing or Rapid Rehousing programs (exiting to permanent housing) by 2025.
3. Increased Access to Affordable and Sustainable Permanent Housing Solutions. By creating 100 new rapid rehousing opportunities and 200 new or rehabilitated permanent supportive housing units by 2024, and people experiencing homelessness in San Joaquin County and Veteran homelessness reaching functional zero by 2025.
Approving the San Joaquin County Strategic Plan on Homelessness will provide a set of goals tailored for our community that has been proven to be successful and will serve as a roadmap for San Joaquin County, San Joaquin CoC, and City of Stockton on addressing homelessness based on local needs and strategies.
Further, as a result of this collaborative approach, a multi-agency HHAP Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) consisting of the City, County, and San Joaquin CoC will be issued in July 2020 as an effort to increase the coordination of services and programs supporting homelessness in our region. The NOFA parameters will align with the Strategic Plan and it is anticipated that funding recommendations will be presented to the City Council in September.
The table below reflects the funding allocations that were included within the respective jurisdictions’ application for HHAP grant dollars. The actual funding allocations and sub recipient selection will be determined by each jurisdictions’ governing body and is subject to change.
|
Eligible Activities - Priority Area |
% of Funds |
Total Amount |
Stockton |
CoC |
County |
|
New Navigation Centers & Emergency Shelters |
42% |
$5,220,980 |
$2,713,312 |
$1,301,718 |
$1,205,950 |
|
Rental Assistance/Rapid Rehousing |
14% |
$1,740,327 |
$904,437 |
$433,906 |
$401,983 |
|
Landlord Incentives |
9% |
$1,118,781 |
$581,424 |
$278,940 |
$258,418 |
|
Outreach and Coordination |
5% |
$621,545 |
$323,013 |
$154,967 |
$143,565 |
|
Delivery of Permanent Housing |
4% |
$497,236 |
$258,411 |
$123,973 |
$114,852 |
|
Homelessness Prevention |
3% |
$372,927 |
$193,808 |
$92,980 |
$86,139 |
|
Operating Subsidies and Reserves |
2% |
$248,618 |
$129,205 |
$61,987 |
$57,426 |
|
Systems Support to Create Partnerships |
1% |
$124,309 |
$64,603 |
$30,993 |
$28,713 |
|
Youth Set-Aside |
8% |
$994,472 |
$516,821 |
$247,946 |
$229,705 |
|
Administrative |
7% |
$870,163 |
$452,218 |
$216,953 |
$200,992 |
|
CES or HMIS infrastructure |
3% |
$372,927 |
$193,808 |
$92,980 |
$86,139 |
|
Strategic Planning |
2% |
$248,618 |
$129,205 |
$61,987 |
$57,426 |
|
TOTALS |
100% |
$12,430,905 |
$6,460,265 |
$3,099,331 |
$2,871,309 |
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There is no additional financial impact associated with the adoption of the San Joaquin County Plan on Homelessness. Council approved Motion 2017-05-09-1404 allocating $50,000 in General Funds toward the cost of the Plan, with the remaining cost of $40,365 being paid by the County.
Attachment A - Motion 2019-09-17-1401
Attachment B - 2020 San Joaquin County Strategic Plan on Homelessness