Title
FY 2012 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program Grant (CoC) Application (NB)
The City of Gainesville will participate in the development of an application for HUD Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program funding by serving as the sponsor grantee for two local projects. This item supports City Commission Strategic Goals & Initiatives for Human Capital to continue implementation of the 10 year plan to end homelessness.
Explanation
This item supports the City Commission Strategic Initiative 3.1: Continue Implementation of the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has published the FY 2012 Notice of Funding Availability (Funding Opportunity Number FR-5600-N-41) for the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program Competition. Approximately $1.61 billion is available for the CoC Program. The CoC Program is authorized by subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 11381-11389) (the "Act"). The FY 2012 funds for the CoC Program were authorized by the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-55) (the "HUD Appropriations Act").
The CoC Program is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; to provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, States, and local governments to quickly re-house homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; to promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and to optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
The City of Gainesville will partner with the North Central Florida Continuum of Care to prepare a grant application for the 2012 CoC Program funds. Since 1995, the City of Gainesville has coordinated with other Gainesville/Alachua County organizations to submit applications for funding under HUD's CoC. Two projects, for which the City has served as the applicant and grantee, will be included in the 2012 CoC grant application: 1) Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., "HOPE" Program. This project provides supportive services and transitional housing for mentally ill and dually diagnosed homeless individuals at leased scattered sites; and 2) VETSPACE, Inc., "VETSPACE": to provide supportive services and transitional housing for homeless veterans in leased scattered sites.
If funded, the City would act as fiscal agent for the receipt and disbursal of grant funds for the Meridian Behavioral Healthcare "HOPE" Project and "VETSPACE" transitional housing program via subrecipient agreements. The other projects, if awarded, would be administered directly by the project sponsors. The deadline for submitting the CoC application to HUD is January 18, 2013.
Fiscal Note
The grant amount for each project may vary based on HUD's final approval of the CoC funding for the various projects. The City of Gainesville would act as the fiscal agent for both projects, and all required matching funds for the grant will be provided by Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. and VETSPACE, Inc. as required by HUD.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) authorize the City Manager or his designee to apply for Continuum of Care Program grant funding to sponsor two agencies Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. and VETSPACE, Inc. in collaboration with the North Central Florida Continuum of Care under the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program; 2) authorize the City Manger or his designee to act on behalf of the City of Gainesville in all matters pertaining to said grants; and 3) authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute subrecipient agreements with Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. and VETSPACE, Inc. for funding through the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality.