Agenda Item # 2

Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

07/08/2014

Agenda Report # 02


TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: Support for Continuum of Care

INITIATED BY: David Arrington, Deputy City Manager

Recommendation: Authorize a resolution in support of the City participating in the establishment of a local Continuum of Care in accordance with the Homeless Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Continuum of Care Program as adopted in 24 CRF Part 578.

Background: The City has participated in a Continuum of Care Program in previous years. This organization has primarily served as a mechanism to apply for federal funds for local agencies providing services to the homeless or disadvantaged families. Local agencies have received in excess of $1 million annually in funding through this program in the past. The adoption of the HEARTH Act codifies in law the Continuum of Care planning process, by providing greater coordination in responding to the needs of the homeless and directs HUD to promulgate regulations for these new programs and processes. Under the new regulations the Continuum of Care program is designed to promote community wide goals to end homelessness: provide funding to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing trauma and dislocation to those persons; promote access to, and effective utilization of, mainstream programs; and optimize self sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The program is composed of transitional housing, permanent supportive housing for disabled persons, permanent housing, supportive services, and reporting through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

Analysis: The new regulations require communities to have established a Continuum of Care Program and have a Board of Directors in place by August 30, 2014 and to meet other regulatory deadlines later in the year in order to maintain eligibility to apply for grant funding of the Continuum. The City has actively participated in the past with the Continuum by providing funding through the Homeless Resource Network to manage the local HMIS reporting and application for Continuum funding to local agencies. The local Continuum of Care will be guided by a Governance Charter created by local providers and stakeholders.

Financial Considerations: There is no direct financial impact to the City but failure to comply with the regulations will result in numerous local agencies not receiving federal funds to provide services to the homeless and disadvantaged families.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: None

Legal Considerations: None

Recommendations/ Actions: Authorize a resolution in support of the City participating in the establishment of a local Continuum of Care in accordance with the Homeless Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Continuum of Care Program as adopted in 24 CRF Part 578.



GA505_CoC Governance Charter.pdf

A RESOLUTION

NO. ______


A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY PARTICIPATING IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HOMELESS ASSISTANCE AND RAPID TRANSITION TO HOUSING CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM AS ADOPTED IN 24 CFR PART 578.

WHEREAS, Congress adopted the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH Act): Continuum of Care Program in 2009 consolidating three separate homeless assistance programs administered by HUD under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act into a single grant program; and,

WHEREAS, the HEARTH Act also codifies in law the Continuum of Care planning process, by providing greater coordination in responding to the needs of the homeless and directs HUD to promulgate regulations for these new programs and processes; and,

WHEREAS, the Continuum of Care program is designed to promote community wide goals to end homelessness: provide funding to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing trauma and dislocation to those persons; promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs; and optimize self sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The program is composed of transitional housing, permanent supportive housing for disabled persons, permanent housing, supportive services and HMIS; and,

WHEREAS, the City has participated with local agencies in a Continuum Program in the past that was primarily a reporting and grant application mechanism to secure federal funds for local service providers. The local Continuum Program does not meet the regulatory requirements as outlined under the HEARTH Act which are required to maintain eligibility for federal funds and,

WHEREAS, the Continuum of Care is responsible for making application to HUD for funding of programs to local agencies providing services to the homeless. Locally, agencies have received in excess of $1 million annually in funding through this program in the past; and,

WHEREAS, the regulations require communities to have established a Continuum of Care Program and have a Board of Directors in place by August 30, 2014 and to meet other regulatory deadlines later in the year in order to maintain eligibility to apply for grant funding of the continuum; and,

WHEREAS, the City must take a leadership role in establishing the Continuum of Care Program in accordance with the federal regulations and based on a Governance Charter created by local agencies and stakeholders to insure the community maintains eligibility for funding of our local service provides and to promote coordination of a community wide effort to reduce and prevent homelessness.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

That the City Manager is hereby authorized to coordinate the establishment of a local Continuum of Care Program in accordance with the Homeless Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act and in accordance applicable HUD regulations.


___________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the _________ day of _____________, 2014 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.


Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.

_____________________________ _________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor