HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.E 10/07/2019DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
October 7, 2019
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manageri '
Peggy Flynn, City Manager
Patrick Carter, Senior Management Analyst, City Manager's Office
Approve a Letter of Support for the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and
Housing Act
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the Council Approve a Letter of Support for the Fighting Homelessness
Through Services and Housing Act.
BACKGROUND
Homelessness is a significant issue facing the City. According to the 2019 Annual Homeless
Census and Survey conducted by the County of Sonoma, 265 of Petaluma's residents suffer from
homelessness, of which 138 were unsheltered. The also survey shows that many of Petaluma's
homeless residents are veterans or families. While the City has partnered with COTS to operate
a homeless shelter and provide services to prevent homelessness, current facilities and funding
amounts are insufficient to solve Petaluma's homelessness issues.
U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein has authored a bill which would authorize a $750 million annual
grant for supportive housing models that provide comprehensive services and intensive case
management. Up to $5 million would be available nationwide for planning grants, with up to
$100,000 per grant, with the remainder available for housing and services. Grants would require
for services and housing would require a 25% match from non-federal funds. Allowable uses for
grant funds include any combination of operations and capital costs.
The following housing services are required to be provided to be eligible:
• Addressing mental health, substance abuse disorders, disabling or chronic health
conditions, educational and job training/employment outcomes, and life skills classes
• Intensive case management with a ratio of no greater than one case manager to twenty
people served is required
• If children are served, children's behavioral and mental health services, early childhood
education, regular and age-appropriate children's programming and activities, child
health and nutrition screening and education, and parenting classes and support programs
• Staff training and best practices in place to identify and prevent child trafficking, abuse,
and neglect
Local government entities are eligible (including cities, counties, regions, and tribal
organizations) and the act acknowledges many applicants will represent partnerships among
several entities, including non-profit providers.
DISCUSSION
As passage of the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act creates a potential
new funding source for the City and its partners to address homelessness in Petaluma, staff
recommends the Council approve and sign the attached letter of support for the Act, and direct
staff to submit the letter to Senator Feinstein.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This item was listed on the agenda of the October 7, 2019 City Council Agenda, published in
accordance with public noticing requirements.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
There are no financial impacts resulting from the issuance of this letter. If the Act becomes law
and appropriations are allocated to the program created through the Act, the City would be
eligible to apply for grant funds to alleviate homelessness in Petaluma.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Letter of Support for the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act
2. Text of the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act
2
Attachment 1
October 7, 2019
The Honorable Diane Feinstein
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
RE: 5.923, the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act — Support
Dear Senator Feinstein,
The City Council of the City of Petaluma wishes to express our enthusiastic support for 5.923, the
"Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act."
Homelessness is a chronic and perpetual issue in Petaluma, and the current solutions to ending
homelessness are insufficient for the scale of the problem. According to the 2019 Annual Homeless
Census and Survey conducted by the County of Sonoma, 265 of Petaluma's residents suffer from
homelessness, of which 138 were unsheltered. The survey shows that many of our homeless residents
are veterans and families. The vast majority of our homeless residents were Sonoma County residents
prior to losing their home. These are our neighbors and family members.
The opportunity to obtain additional funding is essential to fixing the problem of homelessness. The
"Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act" provides an avenue for full-service cities
like the City of Petaluma to receive much needed resources, while providing the focus on delivering
comprehensive services and intensive case management in order to receive those resources. The
passage of this Act would demonstrate that the City of Petaluma has an engaged partner in the Federal
Government, a partner which is committed to providing the resources needed to figure out solutions to
long-term homelessness.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment on the issue of homelessness.
Teresa Barrett Kevin McDonnell
Mayor Vice Mayor
D'Lynda Fischer Mike Healy
Councilmember Councilmember
Gabe Kearney Dave King
Councilmember Councilmember
Kathy Miller
Councilmember
3
Attachment 2
BA119162 S.L.C.
116TH CONGREA SS
IST SESSION
so
To fight homelessness in the United States by authorizing a grant program
within the Health Resources and Services Administration for housing
programs that offer comprehensive services and intensive case manage-
ment for homeless individuals and families.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, ABIs. MURRowsIH, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. 11,0-
BUCHAR, Mr. BENNET, ABIs. SMITH, ABIs. HIRONO, A/s. CORTEZ A/ASTO,
and 1VIs. HARRIS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on
To fight homelessness in the United States by authorizing
a, grant program within the Health Resources and Serv-
ices Administration for housing progT ams that offer com-
prehensive services and intensive case management for
homeless individuals and families.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represegita-
2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
4 This Act may be cited as the "Fighting Homelessness
5 Throngh SerN ices and Housing Act".
BA119162 S.L.C.
2
1 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.
2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Health
3 Resources and Services Administration (referred to in this
4 section as the "Administrator"), in consultation with the
5 working group established under subsection (b), shall es -
6 tablish a grant program to award competitive grants to
7 eligible entities for the planning and implementation of
8 progTams to address homelessness.
9 (b) WORIaNG GROUP.—The Administrator shall es -
10 tablish an interagency working group to provide advice to
11 the Administrator in carr3 ing out the program -under Sub-
12 section (a). The working group shall include representa-
13 tives from the United States Interagency Co-u-cil on
14 Homelessness, Department of Education, Department of
15 Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and
16 Urban Development, Departnnent of Labor, Department
17 of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs, De -
18 partment of Agriculture, Department of the Treasury, De -
19 partment of Justice, and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
20 (c) TYPES OF GRANTS. -
21 (1) IIVIPLEMENTATION GRANTS. -
22 (A) IN GENERAL.—Under the program
23 -aider subsection (a), the Administrator shall
24 award 5 -year implementation g1 ants to eligible
25 entities to assist such entities in car ming out
26 activities, and paying capital building costs, as -
M
BA119162
S.L.C.
3
1
sociated Avith the provision of housing and sery-
2
ices to homeless individuals and families, in-
3
cluding homeless children and youths (as de-
4
fined by section 725 of the McKinney-Vento
5
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)),
6
or those at risk of becoming homeless.
7
(B) MOUNT.—The amount awarded to an
8
entity tinder a, g7 ant under this paragraph shall
9
not exceed $25,000,000.
10
(C) MATCHING REQUIREMENT. AATith re-
11
spect to the costs of the activities to be carried
12
out by an entity under a gT ant under this para-
13
graph, the entity shall make available (directly
14
or through donations from public or private en-
15
tities) non -Federal contributions toAvard such
16
costs in an amount that equals 25 percent of
17
the amount of the grant.
18
(2) PLANNING GRANTS.-
19
(A) IN GENERAL.-Under the program
20
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall
21
award 1-year planning g1 ants to eligible entities
22
to assist such entities in developing comprehen-
23
sive plans to address homelessness in the com-
24
munities and regions served by such entities or
25
to enhance the effectiveness of existing pro-
BA119162 S.L.C.
ISI
1 g1 anis that serve homeless indi-6duals and fami-
2 lies, including homeless children and youths (as
3 defined by section 725 of the McKinney-ATento
4 Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434x)),
5 or those at risk of becoming homeless.
6 (B) AiviouNT.—The amount awarded to an
7 entity under a grant under this paragraph shall
8 not exceed $100,000, and such amount shall
9 not be subject to any matching requirement.
10 (d) ELIGIBILITY. -
11 (1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a
12 grant under the program under subsection (a), an
13 entity shall -
14 (A) be a governmental entity (at the coun-
15 ty, city, regional, or locality level), Indian tribe,
16 or tribal organization;
17 (B) demonstrate that the capacity of the
18 entity for providing services Colder the grant in -
19 cludes the ability to address mental health, sub -
20 stance use disorder and recovery services, dis-
21 abling or other chronic health conditions, edu-
22 cational and job training or employment out -
23 comes, and life skills needs (including financial
24 literacy); and
BAI19162 S.L.C.
5
1
(C) submit to the Administrator an appli-
2
cation that includes an assurance that, in car -
3
Tying out activities under the grant, the entity
4
Will -
5
(i) ensure stable housing, intensive
6
case management, and comprehensive serv-
7
ices that include, at minimum, mental
8
health, substance use disorder treatment
9
and recovery services, education and job
10
training, age-appropriate services for chil-
dren, and life skills training (such as fi-
12
nancial literacy training);
13
(ii) coordinate with the population to
14
be served by the entity to ensure that sup -
15
portive services are tailored to meet the
16
specific and actual needs of the individuals
17
and families served;
18
(iii) coordinate Avith local lav enforce -
19
ment, courts (including specialized courts),
20
probation, and other public services agen-
21
cies to conduct outreach and better iden-
22
tify at -risk or homeless populations that
23
would benefit from services offered by the
24
entity;
N
BA119162
S.L.C.
G
1
(iv) follow trauma-informed best prac-
2 '
tices to address the needs of the popu-
3
lations to be served;
4
(v) provide services under the grant
5
on-site or in-home as appropriate;
6
(vi) provide assistance in addressing
7
the transportation needs of individuals for
8
services provided under the grant off-site;
9
and
10
(vii) comply with additional require-
11
meats, if the entity intends to serve fami-
12
lies with children under the grant, to en-
13
sure-
14
(I) that services include chil-
15
dren's behavioral and mental health
16
services, early childhood education,
17
regular and age-appropriate children's
18
progr a.mming and activities, child
19
health, development, and nutrition
20
screening (including coordination of
21
medical and well-child services), and
22
parenting classes and support pro-
23
grams;
24
(II) in conditions where family
25
housing is provided in a central facil-
it
BAI19162 S.L.C.
fl
1 ity and not in mixed units in a com-
2 mercial building, that a safe space for
3 play and age-appropriate activities is
4 available on-site and has regular
5 hours of operation; and
6 (III) that the entity has in place
7 protocol for staff training and best
8 practices to identify and prevent child
9 trafficking, abuse, and neglect.
10 (2) CASE- NMINTAGENIENT.A7 entity receiving a
11 grant under this section shall ensure that case man -
12 agement provided by the entity under the g7 ant does
13 not exceed a ratio of 1 caseworker to 20 cases.
14 (3) PARTNERSHIPS. An entity may enter into
15 a partnership with more than one provider that may
16 include a, local health agency, non-profit service pro -
17 viders, medical and mental health providers, housing
18 providers, and other service providers as necessary.
19 (e) OVERSIGHT RE, QUIRE, RE,AIENTS.-
20 (1) A1�TNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year
21 after the date on which a g7 ant is received by an en -
22 City under subsection (a), and annually thereafter
23 for the term of the g1 ant, such entity shall submit
24 to the Administrator a report on the activities car -
25 ried out under the grant. Such report shall include,
m
BAI19162 S.L.C.
8
1 with respect to activities carried out under the grant
2 in the community seiiTed, pleasures of outcomes re-
3 lating to-
4 (A) whether indMduals and families Avho
5 are served continued to have housing and did
6 not experience intermittent periods of homeless-
7 ness;
8 (B) whether indi-6dua.ls and families Avho
9 are served see huprovements in their physical
10 and mental health, have access to a specific pri-
11 mart' care pro-rider, promptly receive any need-
12 ed health care, and have a health care plan that
13 meets their indi6dual needs (including access to
14 mental health and substance use treatment as
15 applicable, and family-based treatment models);
16 (C) whether children who are served are
17 enrolled in school, attend regularly, and are re-
18 ceiAng services to meet their educational needs;
19 (D) whether children Avho are served have
20 access to trauma-informed mental health care
21 and screening for any mental and beha-doral
22 health needs, as well as other ser-6ces to meet
23 their needs, as appropriate;
24 (E) how grant funds are used; and
BA119162
9
S.L.C.
1 (F) other matters determined appropriate
2 by the Administrator.
3 (2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this
4 subsection shall be construed to condition the receipt
5 of future housing and other services by individuals
6 under the gT ant on the outcomes detailed in the re -
1 ports submitted under paragraph (1).
8 (f) DEFINITION.—In this section, the terms "Indian
9 tribe" and "tribal organization" have the meanings given
10 such terms in section 4 of the Indian Self -Determination
11 and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304) and shall
12 include tribally designated housing entities (as defined in
13 section 4(22) of the Native American Housing Assistance
14 and Self -Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103(22))
15 and entities that serve Native Hawaiians (as defined in
16 section 338K(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42
17 U.S.C.254s(c)).
18 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
19 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section,
20 $750,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025,
21 of which -
22 (1) not less than 5 percent of such fonds shall
23 be awarded to Indian tribes and tribal organizations;
24 (2) $5,000,000 shall be made available for plan -
25 ping grants under subsection (c)(2); and
1Z
BAIL 9162
10
S.L.C.
1 (3) the remainder shall be made available for
2 implementation grants under subsection (e)(1).
9