Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2022 Council Approved Budget to Accept and Appropriate the 2020 Continuum of Care Planning Project Grant Awarded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The Greater Virginia Peninsula Homelessness Consortium (GVPHC) serves as the local Continuum of Care (CoC) and as such has the ability to apply for 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 the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for regional planning activities and data collection that supports the reduction of homelessness.
Discussion:
Through grant funding from Federal and State governments and from localities, the regional body known as the GVPHC/VA505 has reduced overall homelessness by 42% and was instrumental in ending chronic homelessness in Virginia. Those found unsheltered - i.e. living on the streets, in cars or other places not meant for human habitation - also decreased significantly, 39% since 2011.
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 state goals. The most recent data gathered (GVPHC 2020 Annual Report) shows a decrease by 13%, the number of persons becoming homeless for the first time and a decrease in veteran's homelessness by 10%.
Following national trends, the majority of persons were male, single individuals, over age 24 and sheltered. The 2020 count represents a rate of homelessness of 8.7 per 10,000 people in its service area population. The National Alliance to End Homelessness uses rates to understand the severity of homelessness with the nation's 396 CoCs. Of the 396 CoCs nationwide, only 137 fare better than GVPHC in umber of persons experiencing homelessness.
Impact:
No matching funds are required from the City of Hampton for this grant. The total grant amount is $55,621.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve and appropriate funds.
Body'
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a 2020 Continuum of Care Planning Project Grant in the amount of $55,621 and no local match is required;
WHEREAS, the grant award covers the period of January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia accepts and appropriates the 2020 Continuum of Care Planning Project Grant in the amount of $55,621, with no local match required, for a total amount of $55,621, and any related supplemental funding by HUD in accordance 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.