Title
Resolution Approving the City of Hampton, Virginia's Participation in and Appropriation of the 2017 Continuum of Care (CoC) Planning Project Grant through the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The Greater Virginia Peninsula Homelessness Continuum (GVPHC) serves as the local Continuum of Care (CoC) and as such has the ability to apply for and receive Federal and State grants. Grant funding is received for the Greater Virginia Peninsula region. This region includes the cities of Hampton (Lead Agency), Newport News, Williamsburg, Poquoson and the counties of York and James City. The region is labeled as VA505. Grants are used for the sole purpose of ending homelessness in the region. This specific grant is designed by HUD for regional planning activities and data collection that supports the reduction of homelessness.
(See Hampton City Council File No. 17- 0160: Resolution adopted May 10, 2017; and Hampton City Council File No. 18-0150; Resolution adopted May 23, 2018)
DIscussion:
With grant funding from Federal and State governments and from localities, the regional body known as the GVPHC/VA505 has reduced overall homelessness by 45% and was instrumental in ending chronic homelessness in Virginia. The GVPHC continues to see a steady decrease in regional homeless numbers and consistently receives higher bench mark scores than neighboring CoCs.
As a regional body, matching funds for grants are leverage from other localities. No matching funds are required from the City of Hampton for this grant. The city will not incur any financial burden related to this grant request. The total grant amount is $58,754.
Impact:
This grant impacts the Federal Strategic Plan to reduce/end homelessness and is also directly related to the regional 10 year plan to end homelessness. The regional CoC has adopted the vision that homelessness will be rare, brief and non-recurring. This planning grant allows the GVPHC to gather data and provides guidance in determining how to proceed as a system to meet the above stated goals.
The most recent data gathered (April 18, 2018) show emergency shelters nationwide are seeing an increase in the number of adults entering their programs who are older, who report having a disability, and who come from unsheltered locations. This shows that emergency shelters serve an increasingly vulnerable population, one that may face higher barriers to housing or have greater needs for services and support.
Recommendation:
Approve
Body
WHEREAS, the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a 2017 Continuum of Care Planning Project Grant in the amount of $58,754
with no local match required, and
WHEREAS, the grant award covers the period of January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia amends its FY2019 Budget and accepts and appropriates the 2019 CoC Planning Project Grant in the amount of $58,754, with no local match required, for a total amount of $58,754, and any related supplemental funding, by HUD in accordance with the grant agreement,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council authorizes the City Manager, or her designee, to take the necessary steps to implement this gant award.