DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
2016 Financial Empowerment Centers and Provider Contract
SUMMARY:
The Department of Human Services (DHS) requests authorization of the following budgetary, grant and associated contract actions related to continuation funding for the City’s Financial Empowerment Center Program and related Financial Counseling Services for the 2016 Program Year:
a) Acceptance of $151,363.00 in grant funding from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) for the period of January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 for financial counseling services;
b) A total FY 2016 program budget of $449,260.00 which includes $97,897.00 from the FY 2015 Cities Financial Empowerment Fund, $151,363.00 from the FY 2016 Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, $200,000.00 from FY 2016 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds, and a personnel complement of 2 positions for DHS;
c) Execution of a contract with Family Service Association of San Antonio, Inc. for operation of two Financial Empowerment Centers and related financial counseling services for the period of October 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016 in an amount up to $251,363.00; and
d) Authority for the Director of the Department of Human Services to execute documents pertaining to this grant, to include acceptance of additional grant funds from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Center Fund if awarded, and any associated amendments
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In 2012, the City’s Human Services Department, in partnership with Family Service Association and the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, was one of five cities awarded funding to implement two Financial Empowerment Centers for a three year period through December 2015. United Way and Family Service Association have provided direct program services at two Financial Empowerment Centers (FEC’s) located at the Claude Black Community Center and the Neighborhood Place. Services include free, one-on-one financial counseling to assist participants in reducing debt, building credit, increasing savings, and accessing safe and affordable banking products. The City’s Human Services Department provides program oversight and coordinates operations between the City and program partners to ensure achievement of milestones and outcomes. Since the FECs opened on March 12, 2013, they have served over 4,000 clients, held over 12,000 financial counseling sessions, and helped clients reduce debt by a total of $4,122,274.69.
ISSUE:
Along with the implementation of the Financial Empowerment Center Model in San Antonio, the City’s Human Services Department began integrating financial counseling strategies into existing programs to improve social services outreach including Learn at SAPL and long term case management.
On August 4, 2015, the City was notified that funding in the amount of $151,363.00 was available to partially support a fourth year of the two Financial Empowerment Centers through 2016. In August 2015, the City Council approved the use of $200,000 in CDBG Fund to provide financial counseling services available through the Learn at SAPL program.
This ordinance authorizes acceptance of additional grant funding from the CFE Fund to continue financial counseling services at the Financial Empowerment Centers, authorizes a total FY 2016 program budget of $449,260.00, and a personnel complement of 2 positions.
This ordinance also authorizes execution of a contract, in an amount up to $251,363.00, with Family Service Association of San Antonio, Inc. for operation of the Financial Empowerment Centers for the period of October 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016. Funding will support three full-time counselors at the Financial Empowerment Centers and provide financial counseling to over 600 clients.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the proposed ordinance is not approved, financial counseling services at the City’s Financial Empowerment Centers will be interrupted until new program resources can be identified.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes acceptance of $151,363.00 in grant funding from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) for the period of January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 for financial counseling services; authorizes a total FY 2016 program budget of $449,260.00 which includes $97,897.00 from FY 2016 CFE Carry Forward funds, $151,363.00 from the FY 2016 CFE Fund award, $200,000.00 from FY 2016 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds, and a personnel complement of 2 positions for DHS; and authorizes execution of a contract with Family Service Association of San Antonio, Inc. for administration of Financial Empowerment Centers and related financial counseling services for the period of October 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016 in an amount up to $251,363.00.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the requested budgetary, grant and associated contract actions related to continuation funding for the City’s Financial Empowerment Center Program for the 2016 Program Year.