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COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
City Manager’s Office
GENERAL INFORMATION
Agenda Date: 05/23/05 Communication No.: 05-269
Agenda Item Type: Resolution Roll Call No.:
Submitted by: Chris M. Johansen, Housing Services Director
SUBJECT—
Approve Continuum of Care Program application.
SYNOPSIS—
The City of Des Moines is proposing to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Continuum of Care Program funding which will provide needed services to homeless persons in Des Moines and Polk County. The program is designed to develop supportive housing and related services that will allow homeless persons to live as independently as possible.
FISCAL IMPACT—
The Housing Services Department will administer the $2,485,522 grant, and eight agencies will utilize these funds to assist homeless residents. The City will retain approximately $43,839 of the grant funds for administrative costs if the application is approved.
RECOMMENDATION—
Approval.
BACKGROUND—
On behalf of the City, the Housing Services Department is proposing to be the applicant for a Continuum of Care grant that includes the HUD geographic areas of the City of Des Moines and Polk County in the amount of $2,485,522. The application is made up of seven Supportive Housing Program (SHP) projects and one Shelter Plus Care (S+C) project. As the applicant, the City is responsible for the overall management and administration of the grant, including drawdowns, fund distribution and reporting to HUD. The City will retain approximately $43,839 of the grant funds for administrative costs if the application is approved.
Project sponsors would carry out the following project activities. Project sponsors are:
· Children and Families of Iowa - Samaritan Housing Initiative ($198,338): this is a three-year application for bonus funding which HUD makes available annually to target a particular sector of the homeless population. With funding from other sources, CFI will purchase a twelve-unit apartment house and make 6 two-bedroom units of permanent housing available to 12 chronically homeless women with disabilities (physical, mental and/or substance abuse). This new program will address two local priorities - permanent housing and chronic homelessness.
· Children and Families of Iowa (CFI) - Permanent Housing Family Initiative ($79,611): this is a three-year application to provide permanent housing for disabled women with children. Five of the units in the apartment house to be purchased will be reserved for homeless women and children. The sixth unit will be used for case management and other client services. This new project will address the local need for permanent housing for families.
· House of Mercy - Supportive Housing Program ($579,465): this is a two-year renewal of an existing transitional housing program for up to 120 individual women and/or women with children. The project provides housing and a wide array of supportive services including case management, counseling, medical and dental health care, transportation and job search assistance.
· Primary Health Care - Enhancement ($256,109): this is a one-year renewal of a supportive service program that provides outreach, case management, healthcare, substance abuse and mental health services. The program will assist up to 1,100 adults and children to transition from the street to decent affordable housing through outreach, referral and support services. Primary Health Care also conducts site visits to all Des Moines area shelters to provide health screenings and treat medical problems.
· Primary Health Care - Street Outreach ($85,000): this is a one-year renewal of a supportive services project to assist 25 chronically homeless persons obtain needed medical and mental health services and move from the streets to transitional and/or permanent housing.
· YMCA - Transitional Housing Program ($306,651): this is a three-year renewal of a program that provides transitional housing and support services to 489 disabled and/or chronically homeless men. Staff provides case management and assist clients to address substance abuse, mental health, or medical problems, find employment and move onto permanent housing.
· West Des Moines Human Services - Transitional Housing Program ($87,325): this is a one-year renewal of a program that provides transitional housing and support services In four single-family homes and can serve up to 19 adults and children annually. The agency also provides case management, employment assistance, transportation, and other basic needs. Transitional housing, especially for large families, is an identified need in the Consolidated Plan and the Continuum of Care.
· Red Cross - Homeless Helpline ($75,405): this is a one-year renewal of the phone service that will direct 1,400 homeless callers annually to appropriate shelter and services. The Red Cross also operates the 211 Human Services hotline.
· Iowa Institute for Community Alliances - Iowa Homeless Management Information System ($85,642): this is a one-year renewal of a federally required Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The agency provides the "Service Point" software used is the system to agencies throughout the metro area and also statewide. The Institute also provides training to agency staff and is working with the Red Cross to integrate 'Service Point" with the Red Cross 211 system.
· Anawim - Shelter Plus Care ($731,976): this is a one-year renewal of a program that provides permanent housing to chronically homeless individuals. It is similar to the Sec. 8 housing program and subsidizes up to 100% of the rent. Federal regulations require that case management be provided by other agencies locally, the cost of which is used as match for the program. Human service agencies are very willing to provide case management for their clients who obtain decent affordable housing. Landlords are also interested is the program because the lease is between Anawim, the landlord, and the client and Anawim follows up on any landlord/client problems. Des Moines' program recently won a "Cream of the Crop" award from the Omaha HUD office.
The application has been developed from the City’s Continuum of Care strategy and will address high priority service gaps within the parameters of Continuum of Care eligible activities. This is the eighth year that the City has been an applicant for this program. The projects are selected based on the priorities in the Continuum of Care. The Affordable Housing and Homeless Partnership (AHHP) Continuum of Care Committee provides considerable assistance in the development of the application and funding priorities. The AHHP Board adopted the Committee’s recommendations at their meeting on May 2, 2005 and recommended that the City Council approve the application.