title
ADOPT A MOTION TO ACCEPT AND APPROVE A REGIONAL HOMELESS ACTION PLAN AND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR HOMELESS, HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION ROUND 5 APPLICATION
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a motion to:
1. Accept and approve the Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan for Round 5 of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Grant (HHAP 5) grant program;
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with San Joaquin County and San Joaquin Continuum of Care; and
3. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this motion.
body
Summary
The general purpose of Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funding is to build regional coordination and a unified regional response to reduce and end homelessness, informed by a best-practices framework focused on moving homeless individuals and families into permanent housing and supporting the efforts of those individuals and families to maintain their permanent housing. HHAP 5 requires applicants to strategically pair HHAP 5 funds with other local, state, and federal resources toward long-term sustainability of housing and supportive services and to prioritize permanent housing solutions.
HHAP 5 differs from previous funding rounds in that it requires regions (i.e., the Continuum of Care, San Joaquin County, and the City of Stockton) to apply together and be signatory to a Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan. Funding allocations, though, may be received directly. Applications and the Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan are due to the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) on March 27, 2024.
On October 17, 2024, the City Council approved a Motion (Motion 2023-12-12-1203) authorizing staff to apply for, accept, and appropriate Round 5 of HHAP, and enter into a Standard Agreement for consulting services for a regionally coordinated homeless action plan to meet HHAP 5 application requirements.
DISCUSSION
Background
HHAP 5 is established for the purpose of organizing and deploying the full array of homelessness programs and resources comprehensively and effectively, and to sustain existing federal, state, and local investments toward long-term sustainability of housing and supportive services. To accomplish these goals, HHAP 5 requires applicants to: create and implement a Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan; develop data-driven plans which fund the state’s priorities and commit to spending funds to sustain existing investments towards long-term sustainability of housing and supportive services, with a focus on permanent housing solutions; and be a signatory to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between each eligible applicant that is participating in the Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan.
On September 29, 2023, Cal ICH released the NOFA for Round 5 funding. Applications are due March 27, 2024.
The City’s funding allocation dollar amount under HHAP Round 5 was announced on January 14, 2024. The City’s allocation is $7,153,178.87 and is based on HUD certification of the 2023 Point in Time Count findings for all jurisdictions.
On October 17, 2024, the City Council approved a Motion (Attachment A - Motion 2023-12-12-1203) authorizing staff to apply for, accept, and appropriate Round 5 of HHAP. Council additionally approved findings pursuant to Stockton Municipal Code section 3.68.070, which supported an exception to the competitive bidding process, to enter into a Standard Agreement for consulting services for a Regionally Coordinated Homeless Action Plan to meet HHAP 5 application requirements.
Present Situation
The HHAP 5 regional and coordinated planning process included the following methods to garner community insight, assess needs and opportunities, and create coordinated and collaborative strategies to address homelessness:
Community Insight
• Key Stakeholder Interviews:
o 17 one-hour discussions with community and system leaders
• Public Meetings
o January 11, 2024: 65 participants
o February 8, 2024: 23 participants
o March 7, 2024: 21 participants
• Focus Groups
o February 22, 2024: People with Lived Experience in Homelessness
o February 23, 2024: Regional Housing Trust Fund (COG meeting)
o February 26, 2024: Housing Justice Coalition
o March 5, 2024: Reinventing South Stockton Neighborhood Transformation
• Community Survey
o Open for on-line submission: 2/21/24 through 2/28/24: 33 responses
Assessment of Needs and Opportunities
• HMIS Data Dashboard, April 2021 - June 2022
• HDIS Data Review, Provided February 2024 by Cal-ICH
• PIT and HIC Data / Trend Analysis: as submitted to HUD
• Homeless Revenues and Expenditure Analysis
o City of Stockton
o City of Lodi
o City of Tracy
o City of Manteca
o County of San Joaquin
o San Joaquin Continuum of Care
• Review of Written Reports and Meeting Minutes
o San Joaquin Cost of Homelessness Survey Summary Report 2023
o Unsheltered Encampment Outreach Study 2023
o City of Stockton’s Local Homeless Action Plan 2022
o San Joaquin Community Response to Homelessness 2020
o SJCoC Strategic Impact Report 2020-2021
o Point in Time Count (PIT) Trends and Analysis: Homelessness and Disparities in San Joaquin County 2022
o Various SJCoC Meeting Agendas and Minutes 2020 - 2023
Strategy Development
• Best Practices Review
o Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Establishing and Operating a Continuum of Care Program Guidelines, 2012
o Code of Federal Regulations, Continuum of Care Title 24, Chapter V Part 578, as updated 2017
o California State Housing Policy Chapter 6.5 (section 50231 - 50238)
o Interview with Stanislaus County Continuum of Care: 2/27/2024
o Practice Review: Harris County CoC (Houston TX), Lane County CoC (Eugene, OR) and San Diego County CoC
• Four Funding Partner Planning Workshops
o January 30, 2024: Roles and Responsibilities
o February 12, 2024: Equity in System Performance Measures
o February 20: 2024: Reducing Institutional Exits to Homelessness
o February 26: 2024: Budget Planning
Review Process
• March 12, 2024: Draft Plan posted for Public Review
• March 14, 2024: Presentation to CoC Board
• March 19, 2024: Presentation to Stockton City Council
• March 26, 2024: Presentation to County Board of Supervisors
The Regionally Coordinated Homeless Action Plan (a draft including the MOU, which will be substantially similar to what is submitted to Cal ICH, has been included as Attachment A - Regionally Coordinated Homeless Action Plan and MOU) will be submitted as part of the regional application to Cal ICH on March 27, 2024.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There is no financial impact to the City's General Fund as a result of this action. HHAP 5 funding will be appropriated and budgeted in the Special Grant Fund in the Housing Division. The consultant contract will be supported with available HHAP 4 funds, and later reimbursed with HHAP 5 funds once received, as allowed by grant guidelines.
Attachment A - Regionally Coordinated Homeless Action Plan and MOU