Title
Allocate Additional Funding for the Transitional Campground at the Empowerment Center (NB)
This item requests the City Commission to allocate additional funding in FY 21 for Transitional Campground Services.
Explanation
On September 26, 2019, the City Commission approved entering into a Service Agreement for the Provision of Homeless Services with the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungary (ACCHH). The Term of that agreement, which was executed on November 26, 2019, is from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2024 (Fiscal Years 2020 through 2024).
That service agreement includes funding a plan to close Dignity Village. An important component of that plan is the establishment of a Transitional Campground on the GRACE Marketplace Campus. The Transitional Campground Plan proposed funding for up to two fiscal years (FY20 and FY21)-ending on September 30, 2021. In addition to being an important part of the plan to close Dignity Village, the Transitional Campground remains a key part of continuing to serve approximately 36 former Dignity Village residents.
Earlier this year, the ACCHH submitted a budget of $299,136.00 to operate the second year (FY21) of the Transitional Campground. The ACCHH understood that both the City and County would equally fund these costs in FY21, if appropriated. On November 10, 2020, the County voted not to fund Transitional Campground services in FY21.
City staff is working to identify funds to replace the previously anticipated County funds. Currently identified funds will allow the campground to continue to provide current service levels through the end of May 2021.
Fiscal Note
City staff have identified $219,602.41 of the $299,136.00 ACCHH requested for the second year of services. Staff is continuing to work to identify the remaining $79,533.59. The funding identified, $219,602.41, has come from the following:
• Dignity Village salary savings and operating savings
• Closing out old Neigh...
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