DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Authorizing the acceptance of funds from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA )- Homeless Housing and Services Program (HHSP) in the amount of $268,670.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes budgetary, grant, and associated contract related actions related to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)- Homeless Housing and Services Program (HHSP), including:
a) the acceptance of funds from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) - Homeless Housing and Services Program (HHSP) in the amount of $268,670.
b) Execution of contracts with Roy Maas Youth Alternatives, Thrive Youth Center and Alamo Colleges District. The proposed budgeted allocation for each organization is as follows:
• Roy Maas Youth Alternatives- $168,670
• Thrive Youth Center, Inc.- $50,000
• Alamo Colleges District- $50,000
c) Approval for the Director of the Department of Human Services to execute necessary documents including a grant contract and contract amendments accepting grant funds in an amount up to 20% of the total amount awarded to the grant.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of San Antonio has been awarded $268,670 from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) - Homeless Housing and Services Program (HHSP) to address youth homelessness within the community. The award opportunity is a result of the Texas Legislature approving an increase in funding of
$3,000,000 over the 2020-2021 biennium ($1,500,000 a year) to address youth homelessness across the state. The City of San Antonio is one of eight Texas cities to be awarded the funds, which must be expensed by August 31, 2020.
The State’s proposed funding amount for San Antonio is $268,670, which would be an addition to the
$877,656 general set-aside allocation which is currently designated to Haven for Hope to serve individuals and
families experiencing homelessness.
The primary focal areas for the HHSP Youth Set-Aside funds include case management, street outreach, emergency shelter and transitional living for unaccompanied homeless youth and homeless young adults 24 years of age and younger.
DHS presently contracts with, and would amend its current contract with Thrive Youth Center, Inc. to enhance street outreach efforts and services for youth experiencing homelessness; would expand services to qualifying youth at the City’s NXT Level Youth Opportunity Center through a partnership with Roy Maas Youth Alternatives. In addition, DHS would partner with the Alamo Colleges District to administer an emergency fund to provide assistance for their eligible enrolled students experiencing homelessness.
Moreover, all proposed projects will be incorporated into the City’s Homeless Strategic Plan and the Community Plan to Address Youth Homelessness which would help leverage the $6.88 Million HUD Youth Homeless Demonstration Program (YHDP) grant which is being managed by SARAH.
ISSUE:
Presently, there are limited resources for immediate shelter services specific to youth experiencing homelessness (18-24 years old) within the Bexar County/San Antonio catchment area. In addition, the $6.88 million HUD Grant recently received by SARAH for the community will not be used for any construction to create a transitional housing, drop-in center, etc. For these reasons, HHSP Youth Set-Aside funds are proposed to assist with leveraging resources to develop a transitional housing option and fund associated services which are specific to youth and young adults.
ALTERNATIVES:
If City Council does not approve the proposed use of the funds, DHS will request approval to proceed with a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation. However, this option has the potential to limit the ability to expend all funds prior to the August 31, 2020 deadline for the first year of this funding project.
Furthermore, if City Council does not approve the acceptance of the TDHCA-HHSP Youth Set-Aside funds, funds would be returned to the State for use in other Texas metro areas.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance approves the acceptance of the TDHCA-HHSP Youth Set-Aside Funds in the amount of
$268,670 and up to an additional 20%, if awarded, of the total awarded grant.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval to accept funds from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)-Homeless Housing and Services Program (HHSP) in the amount of $268,670, and approval to execute necessary documents to contract with service providers addressing youth homelessness.