DEPARTMENT: Department of Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
General Fund and ESG Reprogramming and Substantial Amendment to the FY 2014 HUD Annual Action Plan and Budget
SUMMARY:
A Public Hearing and Ordinance authorizing reprogramming of FY 2013 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds and substantial amendment to the FY 2014 Consolidated Annual Action Plan/Budget; authorizing ESG reprogramming action of $50,000.00 from Outreach Services to Homeless Prevention Services provided by DHS and $25,000.00 in FY 2013 ESG Outreach Services to Shelter Services provided by Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc. (FVPS) through its Battered Women's Shelter project and; authorizing reallocation of $25,000.00 in FY 2014 General Funds awarded to Generation Texas San Antonio through the FY 2014 Consolidated Funding process to Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc. for the Battered Women's Shelter project; and authorizing a related contract amendment.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The ESG program provides funding to prevent homelessness and to enable homeless individuals and families to move toward independent living. ESG funds may be used for five eligible activities: Street Outreach, Emergency Shelter, Homelessness Prevention, Rapid Re-Housing, and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). In addition, recipients may use up to 7.5% of their ESG grant for the payment of administrative costs related to the planning and execution of ESG activities.
On June 21, 2012, City Council, adopted the FY 2013 ESG budget allocating $1,145,362.00 to DHS to support eligible ESG activities, including $75,000.00 for Outreach Services. Funds from this allocation of ESG may be used for eligible activities during the two year grant period of October 1, 2012 through September 31, 2014. The proposed reallocation of these funds would occur in the second year of the grant.
Additionally, through the Consolidated Funding Process for Human and Workforce Development Agencies, on September 12, 2013, City Council adopted Ordinance 2013-09-12-0627 and allocated ESG funding to FVPS in the amount of $175,701.00 for FY 2014 to support the Battered Women's Shelter. Through this ordinance, City Council also allocated $50,000.00 in General Funds to Generations Texas San Antonio to support the Seasons of College program. Additional program funding to support FVPS will be used to minimize homelessness by providing additional shelter nights and food for victims of domestic violence. Shelter operations are operating at full capacity.
ISSUE:
DHS is requesting that the original allocation of $75,000.00 for Outreach Services in ESG funding be reallocated to Shelter and Prevention Services. Of the $75,000.00, it is proposed that $50,000.00 be reprogrammed to DHS for Homeless Prevention Services and $25,000.00 be reprogrammed and awarded to FVPS to provide additional support for the Battered Women's Shelter for emergency shelter services. The DHS ESG-funded prevention program served 21 families in FY 2013, with an additional 20 families on the waiting list. The additional funding will allow the program to more than double the number of families in FY 2014. FVPS proposes to utilize additional funding to increase meals served, shelter bed nights, and literacy classes offered to women recovering from domestic violence. This reprogramming will require the Office of Grants Monitoring and Administration to submit an amendment to the FY 2014 HUD Action Plan and Budget.
DHS is also requesting General Funds in the amount of $25,000.00, initially allocated to Generations Texas San Antonio, but later declined, also be reallocated to FVPS to provide additional support to the Battered Women's Shelter. If approved, reprogrammed funding allocations of $25,000.00 in FY 2013 ESG funds and $25,000.00 in City General Funds will increase the total funds provided to FVPS to $225,701.00, of which $200,701.00 is ESG grant funded.
ALTERNATIVES:
General and Grant Funds could be reprogrammed to other eligible projects; however, staff recommends that the funds be utilized by FVPS for emergency shelter services and DHS for Homeless Prevention Services as there is a high demand for these two services at this time. Additionally, General Funds also proposed to be reallocated have not been accepted by the initial proposed recipient, and DHS could explore reprogramming options for other eligible agencies and activities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Through this action, FY 2013 ESG and FY 2014 General Funds totaling $50,000.00 are proposed to be reprogrammed to FVPS to support the Battered Women's Shelter. Reprogramming will not have an impact on the City's General fund. Also, $50,000.00 of ESG funding is proposed to be reprogrammed to DHS to expand Homeless Prevention Services.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council authorize an amendment to the FY 2014 HUD Annual Action Plan and Budget, reprogramming of $50,000.00 in ESG funds to DHS for Prevention Services, and reprogramming $25,000.00 in ESG funds and $25,000.00 in General funds to FVPS to support the Battered Women's Shelter.