Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2021 Council Approved Budget to Accept and Appropriate the 2020 - 2022 COVID Homelessness Emergency Response Program (CHERP) Funding Grant by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The 2020 - 2022 COVID Homelessness Emergency Response Program Funding Grant provides State funds through the COVID Relief Fund and Federal funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) authorized under the Emergency Solutions Grant - COVID program to support emergency shelter operations and rapid re-housing activities. The goals of this grant are to (1) ensure all individuals and households experiencing homelessness have access to safe, 24-7 emergency shelter during this health pandemic; and (2) to help households maintain or obtain permanent housing and receive the housing-focused supportive services necessary to retain permanent housing. The grant will fund the regional body known as the Greater Virginia Peninsula Homelessness Consortium (GVPHC)/VA505, which serves the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg and Poquoson and the counties of York and James City. The Hampton Department of Human Services - Social Services is the lead agency.
Discussion:
This grant award will help support the GVPHC region through coordinated community-based activities that are designed to reduce the overall length of homelessness in the community, the number of households becoming homeless, and the overall rate of formerly homeless households returning to homelessness. The funding will assist with emergency shelter operations and rapid re-housing activities within the GVPHC region.
Impact:
The City has been awarded $560,000 in Federal funds and $240,000 in State funds with no local match required. This is the first year this grant has been awarded.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve.
Body
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has awarded the City of Hampton, Virginia (the "City") a 2020 - 2022 COVID Homelessness Emergency Response Program Funding Grant in the amount of $560,000 in Federal funds and $240,000 in State funds;
WHEREAS, the 2020 - 2022 COVID Homelessness Emergency Response Program Funding Grant award requires no local match;
WHEREAS, the 2020 -2022 COVID Homelessness Emergency Response Program Funding Grant, which totals $800,000, will be used by the Hampton Department of Human Services -Social Services to fund the cost of emergency shelter operations and rapid re-housing activities within the GVPHC region; and
WHEREAS, the grant award is for the period of April 2, 2020 through September 20, 2022.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia hereby amends its Fiscal Year 2021 Council Approved Budget to accept and appropriate the 2020 - 2022 COVID Homelessness Emergency Response Program Funding Grant in the amount of $800,000 in Federal and State funds awarded by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and any supplemental funding, to the Grant Fund for the purpose of assisting with emergency shelter operations and rapid re-housing activities within the Greater Virginia Peninsula Homelessness Consortium (GVPHC) region in accordance with the grant agreement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia authorizes the City Manager, or her designee, to take any and all actions necessary to implement this grant award.