DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
2016 Community Services Block Grant
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes acceptance, upon award, of $1,879,398.00 in Community Services Block Grant funds from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for the period January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016, and authorizes a budget and personnel complement of 24 grant funded positions. This ordinance also authorizes the Department of Human Services to enter into Memorandums of Agreement with various higher educational institutions allowing internships to provide support to existing projects and high quality professional opportunities to local college students. Further, this ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Human Services to execute documents pertaining to this grant, to include acceptance of additional grant funds from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and associated amendments to Memorandums of Agreement for quality improvements of internship partnerships with higher educational institutions.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of San Antonio’s Department of Human Services is the designated Community Action Agency and Community Services Block Grant eligible entity for San Antonio and Bexar County. The Department of Human Services has operated the Community Action Program since 1979. The Community Action Advisory Board acts in an advisory capacity regarding implementation of Community Action Programs.
The primary purpose of Community Service Block Grant programs is to transition individuals and families out of poverty and to provide safety net assistance to San Antonio and Bexar County residents at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level. Community Service Block Grant funding is provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, with oversight by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Basic safety net assistance includes utility and rental assistance, as well as, supportive services including long-term case management that focuses on four areas: education, employment, emergency support, and financial education. Case managers work with committed program participants to complete individual assessments, develop case management service plans, arrange for necessary services and follow-up and monitor participants’ status to help them achieve a sustained family income above 125% of the Federal Poverty Level.
ISSUE:
As part of the planning process, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs requires Community Service Block Grant eligible entities to conduct a public hearing prior to submitting a proposed 2016 budget and Community Action Plan. A public hearing was held on September 24, 2015. The Community Action Advisory Board approved the Program Year 2016 Community Action Plan - Performance Statement and Targets on September 24, 2015 and the proposed Program Year 2016 budget on November 5, 2015.
A final award amount from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs will be provided upon authorization of the Fiscal Year 2016 Federal Budget. As requested by the state, the Department of Human Services is proposing to submit a Program Year 2016 budget in the amount of $1,879,398.00, which reflects level funding from Program Year 2015. The Community Service Block Grant contract with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for Program Year 2016 will be executed once the federal budget is approved or a Continuing Resolution is authorized and final award amount is received by the City of San Antonio. The FY 2016 proposed budget reflects the addition of two Community Services Specialists. Case Managers will provide targeted, intensive case management to individuals and families enrolled in high demand occupation training to help them achieve financial self-sufficiency.
In 2016, the City of San Antonio’s Department of Human Services will expand partnerships with higher educational institutions to offer quality professional development opportunities to local students through internships. As a result, the Department of Human Services is seeking authorization to enter into Memorandums of Agreement with various higher education institutions to facilitate internship opportunities.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City of San Antonio is the only designated Community Services Block Grant eligible entity for Bexar County and no other agency may apply for these funds. If the proposed ordinance is not approved, services provided by the City of San Antonio’s Department of Human Services may not be provided to the community while the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs undergoes a process to identify new designated entity for the service area.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of funds, upon award, in an amount up to $1,879,398.00 in 2016 Community Service Block Grant funding from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. This item also approves an associated budget and personnel complement of 24 positions for the Department of Human Services. There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing the acceptance of Community Service Block Grant funds, a budget and personnel complement, and agreements with local higher education institutions to provide internship opportunities within the Department of Human Services.