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Date |
May 22, 2006 |
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Agenda Item No. 28 Roll Call No. 06- Communication No. 06-282 Submitted by: Chris M. Johansen, Housing Services Director |
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AGENDA HEADING:
Approval of 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:
Amount: $2,571,481 (application amount)
Funding Source: HUD/Continuum of Care Program
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
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 $2,571,481. The application is made up of ten Supportive Housing Program (SHP) projects and one Shelter Plus Care (S+C) project. As the applicant, the City’s Housing Services Department will be responsible for the overall management and administration of the grant, including drawdowns, fund distribution and reporting to HUD. The City will retain approximately $46,203 of the grant funds for administrative costs if the application is approved. Eleven agencies (project sponsors) will utilize these funds to assist homeless residents.
This year’s application includes the following programs in priority order:
- YMCA of Greater Des Moines - Permanent Housing Program ($192,998): this is a two-year application for bonus funding which HUD makes available annually to target a particular sector of the homeless population. With $736,309 of funding from other sources, the Downtown YMCA will make 30 units of permanent housing available to chronically homeless men with disabilities (physical, mental and/or substance abuse). This new program will address two local priorities - permanent housing and chronic homelessness.
- Iowa Institute for Community Alliances - Iowa Homeless Management Information System ($220,500): this is a new two-year expansion of the federally required Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The grant will fund staff, hardware/software resources, and operating expenses to expand the coordination network with emphasis on street outreach, supportive services, and permanent supportive housing. The HMIS is used throughout the metro area and also statewide. This expansion will operate a pilot service in Polk County to expand electronic participation by a wider array of service providers (including street outreach) and improve data quality of all participants.
- House of Mercy - Transitional Housing Program ($289,733): this is a one-year renewal of an existing transitional housing program for up to 148 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. The project leverages $556,005 in additional funding and 81% of the clients who exited the program last year moved to permanent housing.
- House of Mercy at Capital Park ($227,468): this is a one-year renewal of a permanent housing program that serves women with disabilities. Up to 26 individual women and/or women with children can be served by the project, located at 1240 E. 12th St. House of Mercy purchased and rehabilitated the facility in 2005 and it opened in September to expand their continuum of services to include permanent housing. Participants in Mercy's transitional housing program can move to this facility, if their progress to self-sufficiency will take longer than the two years allowed for a transitional housing program. Based on the availability of space, other agencies can also refer women to the facility. House of Mercy will leverage $56,867 of other funds to operate the program.
- YMCA - Transitional Housing Program ($102,217): this is a one-year renewal of a program that provides 120 units of transitional housing and support services to disabled and/or chronically homeless men. In 2005, staff provided case management and assisted 163 clients to address substance abuse, mental health, or medical problems, find employment and move onto permanent housing. The YMCA leverages $775,679 from other sources to operate this program. In 2005, 343 persons exited the program and 107 of them moved to permanent housing
- Iowa Homeless Youth Centers - Lighthouse Host Home ($287,356): this is a one-year renewal that provides transitional housing and support services for up to 20 youth including youth with children. IHYC transitioned 75% of their clients to permanent housing last year.
- Iowa Homeless Youth Centers - Buchanan Transitional Living Center ($99,391): this is a one-year renewal that provides transitional housing and support services for up to 8 youth. Clients are required to work and/or attend school. The project served 28 youth last year and 71% moved to permanent housing.
- 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 assists 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. PHC leverages $189,716 of additional funding and 719 adults exited the program last year.
- 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. PHC leverages $64,408 of additional funding and 86 persons exited the program last year of which 76% obtained additional financial resources.
- 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 18 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. The project leverages an additional $60,953 of other funds and of the 2 households that exited the program last year one moved to permanent housing.
- Anawim - Shelter Plus Care ($723,384): this is a one-year renewal of a program that provides permanent housing in 102 units with 205 beds for 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. In 2005, the case management match totaled $916,133. Human service agencies are very willing to provide case management for their clients who obtain decent affordable housing. Landlords are also interested in the program because the lease is between Anawim, the landlord, and the client and Anawim follows up on landlord/client problems.
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 ninth 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 Polk County Housing Continuum provides considerable assistance in the development of the application and funding priorities. The Polk County Housing Continuum adopted the Committee’s recommendations at their meeting on May 3, 2006 and recommended that the City Council approve the application.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S):
Date: May 23, 2005
Roll Call Number: 05-1277
Action: Continuum of Care Program application made to HUD for Supportive Housing Program (SHP) and Shelter Plus (S+C) supplemental funding for local homeless programs to address service gaps. (Council Communication No. 05-269). Moved by Hensley to adopt. Motion Carried 7-0.
BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S):
Date: May 17, 2006
Roll Call Number: NA
Action: The Neighborhood Revitalization Board (NRB) received application information.
ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS: NONE