Title
Resolution Approving the City of Hampton, Virginia's Participation in and Appropriation of the 2015 Continuum of Care (COC) - Housing Crisis Hotline 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 will provide support to the Regional Housing Crisis Hotline. This service is provided by For-Kids, a Norfolk based housing partner. For-Kids manages the Housing Crisis hotline for the Great Virginia Peninsula, Norfolk, western Tidewater and VA Beach. All three COCs provide funding to support this effort.
In 2013, the GVPHC developed a systematic plan to design a regional hotline. This hotline would allow a person experiencing literal homelessness or those experiencing the threat of homelessness to use one central number that would access all housing providers. It was determined that using an existing service would be the most cost effective. For-Kids is currently providing the service to the Norfolk COC and was selected as the GVPHC provider. Startup capital was needed and the GVPHC turned to private funding sources. In 2014, the GVPHC applied for and was awarded a three-year grant in the amount of $150,000.00 from the Peninsula Community Foundation / Ferguson Enterprises. In October 2016, that funding was exhausted. Grant applications were submitted to both Federal and State governments and awards were received. The GVPHC has been able to continue the regional hotline services and, since 2014, other partners have joined the hotline thus reducing the costs per partner.
Discussion:
The GVPHC is well on its way to meeting the goals of “Opening Doors”, the Federal Strategic Plan to prevent and end homelessness by being client-focused and data driven. The GVPHC will continue to prioritize the most vulnerable families/individuals, with a special focus on veterans, those experiencing chronic homelessness, and youth. The hotline allows the GVPHC to screen for eligible customers and make direct referrals to housing providers. Centralizing services with one intake provider reduces the time and stress on citizens when seeking services. While screening the hotline, data is also collected and used to determine the communities’ needs and the direction that the GVPHC will take.
As a regional body, matching funds for grants are leveraged from other localities. No matching funds are requested from the City of Hampton for this grant and the City will not incur any financial burden related to this grant request.
Impact:
Impact information is listed in the above section. 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.
Recommendation:
Approve.
Body
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a 2015 Continuum of Care (COC) Housing Crisis Hotline Grant to the City of Hampton, Virginia in the amount of $65,682 with no local match required; and
WHEREAS, the grant award covers the period of July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia accepts and appropriates the 2015 COC Housing Crisis Hotline in the amount of $65,682, with no local match required, for a total grant amount of $65,682, 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 grant award.