To:   HONORABLE MAYOR                             From:   Leslye Corsiglia

                        AND CITY COUNCIL                                              

 

   Subject:   SEE BELOW                                               Date:   October 31, 2001

                  

                                                                                                                                               

Approved                                                                              Date

                                                                                                                                               

 

COUNCIL DISTRICT: Citywide

 

SUBJECT:     APPROVAL OF GRANTS TO COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE, CONCERN FOR THE POOR, EMERGENCY HOUSING CONSORTIUM, INNVISION, LOAVES AND FISHES, SACRED HEART COMMUNITY SERVICE, ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, SAN JOSE FIRST, UNITY CARE GROUP, AND VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA BAY AREA FROM THE MAYOR’S HOMELESS FAMILIES AND CHILDREN’S INITIATIVE FUND AND AUTHORIZATION FOR THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF HOUSING TO ENTER INTO GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

The Housing Department recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the following grants from the Mayor’s Homeless Families and Children’s Initiative Fund and authorizing the Director of Housing to negotiate and execute agreements with the grant recipients:

1.      Up to $16,350 to Community Technology Alliance (CTA) for the purpose of implementing Phase I of the HMIS system.

2.      Up to $43,250 to Concern for the Poor for the purpose of expanding services in the Moving Home Program at the San Jose Family Shelter.

3.      Up to $51,200 to the Emergency Housing Consortium (EHS) to provide new, intensive, daily individualized supportive services to homeless families at the SAFE Center.

4.      Up to $15,000 to InnVision to provide direct assistance to the women and children served at the Georgia Travis Center.

5.      Up to $15,000 to Loaves and Fishes for hotel/motel vouchers for homeless families.

6.      Up to $50,000 to Sacred Heart Community Service to increase staffing in the Housing Assistance Program and provide rental assistance.

7.      Up to $15,000 to St. Vincent de Paul Society for hotel/motel vouchers for homeless families.

8.      Up to $29,200 to San Jose First to expand outreach services and provide direct assistance to homeless families.

9.      Up to $40,000 to Unity Care Group to provide staffing of transitional housing for youth aging out of foster care.

10.  Up to $25,000 to Volunteers of America Bay Area provide expanded hours at Brandon House, a shelter for women and children in San Jose.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Mayor’s Homeless Families and Children’s Initiative Fund was created in the 2001-2002 Operating Budget.  The Fund provides $300,000 for programs that address the needs of homeless families and children. 

 

The Fund, which is administered by the Department of Housing, is designed to support creative and collaborative proposals for one-time projects from the community.  The Fund is a special competitive funding opportunity for nonprofit organizations that have a federal Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) exemption.  Grant recipients must demonstrate the ability to administer the funding successfully and projects must take place within San Jose. 

 

Twelve agencies submitted applications prior to the September 17, 2001 deadline.  The total amount of the funding requests was $658,839. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

The Mayor’s Homeless Families and Children’s Initiative Fund Review Committee met on October 4 and October 15 to evaluate these proposals.  The Review Committee was composed of a representative from the Office of the Mayor, two County Homeless Concerns Officers, and Department of Housing staff. 

 

Proposals were accepted in the following three categories:

 

  1. Expansion of current services to meet gaps in the system, such as:
    1. Contracting outreach services;
    2. Contracting housing search specialists;
    3. Hotel/motel assistance;
    4. Transportation costs (i.e. bus passes, gas equivalents); and
    5. Day Services.
  2. Implementation of a new program that addresses issues faced by homeless families and individuals, such as administration of rent-deposit-guarantee program.
  3. Innovative approaches to providing such services as housing, health and employment.

           

 

Eight organizations submitted applications in category #1: Catholic Charities, Concern for the Poor, Loaves and Fishes, Rohi Alternative Community Outreach (RACO), Sacred Heart Community Fund, St. Vincent de Paul Society, San Jose First, and Volunteers of America Bay Area (VOA).  Three organizations submitted applications in category #2:  Community Technology Alliance (CTA), Emergency Housing Consortium (EHC), and InnVision.  One organization submitted an application in category #3: Unity Care Group.

 

Mayor’s Homeless Families and Children’s Initiative Fund activities must take place between November 1, 2001 and December 31, 2003.  Each organization that receives funding will be expected to submit a Final Report on the outcomes, successes, and challenges of their proposal.

 

An attachment to this report details each of the twelve proposals received and the Review Committee’s conclusions on each.

 

PUBLIC OUTREACH

 

Not Applicable.

 

COORDINATION

 

Preparation of this report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The Mayor’s Homeless Families and Children’s Initiative Fund was funded by an allocation of $300,000 from the Fiscal Year 2001-2002 General Fund.  Approval of the recommended grants would disperse all of the monies available.

 

 

 

LESLYE CORSIGLIA

Acting Director of Housing

 

Attachment