Title
CONSIDERATION OF A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $321,479.00 FOR RENEWAL OF COMCARE'S HOMELESS PROGRAM TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECT.
Presented by: Marilyn Cook, Executive Director, LSCSW, COMCARE.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the application for the grant, and authorize the Chairman to sign all necessary documents, including the grant award agreement containing substantially the same terms and conditions as this application, and approve establishment of the budget authority at the time the grant award documents are executed.
Body
Grant Renewal: Yes
Never Applied: N/A
Applied; not awarded: No
Grant Summary and Timeline:
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the 2012 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program. This NOFA makes funds available for Homeless Assistance Grants which include transitional housing, supportive services for homeless persons, and permanent supportive housing. The community application will be submitted to HUD through the United Way of the Plains by January 18, 2013.
Within the Sedgwick County/City of Wichita community application, COMCARE has two projects that are included- the Transitional Housing Project (THP) and the Transitional Housing Project Enhancement (THP-E). COMCARE has operated the Transitional Housing Project through these HUD dollars since 2003. The grant provides funds for sixteen apartments, 1.0 FTE therapist, 1.4 FTE case managers, 1.0 FTE clerical staff, and 0.5 FTE addictions counselor. Staff are based at the apartment site, so that clients have access to this staff support when they need it. The grant also provides funding for representative payee services and money management education for the clients, which are provided for the Transitional Housing Project by Episcopal Social Services. THP's target population is COMCARE clients who have a dual diagnosis of mental health/substance use disorder and who meet the HUD definition of homelessness. Participants may remain in the program for up to 24 months and receive treatment to recover from mental illness/substance use issues, with the goal of moving to permanent housing and increasing self-sufficiency.
The Transitional Housing Project Enhancement, which was an expansion of the THP, was initiated in 2006. The Enhancement grant added four additional apartments specifically targeted to house clients who are chronically homeless. Chronic homelessness is defined by HUD as a disabled individual who has been homeless continuously for one year or has experienced four episodes of homelessness in the last three years. The grant also provides funding for 0.6 FTE of a case manager.
Financial Considerations (THP):
Grant period starts: 08/01/13
Grant period ends: 07/31/14
Source of funding
Grant: $279,533.00
Required Match: $47,249.00
Required Cash Match: $0
Required In-Kind Match: $0
Other funding: $0
TOTAL SOURCES: $326,782.00
Uses of funding
Operational costs: $326,782.00
Personnel: $206,687.00
Contractual services: $116,880.00
Operational supplies: $0
Equipment: $0
Indirect administrative costs: $3,215.00
Capital projects cost:$0
TOTAL USES: $326,782.00
Source of matching funds: 310635-12 (Medicaid Revenue)
Source of other funding: N/A
Financial Considerations (THP-E):
Grant period starts: 02/01/13
Grant period ends: 01/31/14
Source of funding
Grant: $41,946.00
Required Match: $4,955.00
Required Cash Match: $0
Required In-Kind Match: $0
Other funding: $0
TOTAL SOURCES: $46,901.00
Uses of funding
Operational costs: $46,901.00
Personnel: $22,473.00
Contractual services: $22,164.00
Operational supplies: $0
Equipment:$0
Indirect administrative costs:$2,264.00
Capital projects cost:$0
TOTAL USES: $46,901.00
Source of matching funds: 310315-13 (Medicaid Revenue)
Source of other funding: N/A
Budget Adjustment:
Authorize the necessary budget adjustments for each grant, totaling $373,683.
Personnel considerations:
Between these two HUD grants, there are 4.5 positions tied to this funding source, including 1.0 FTE therapist, 2.0 FTE case managers, 1.0 FTE clerical staff, and 0.5 FTE addictions counselor.
Expected measurable outcomes:
Clients housed in the Transitional Housing Project all have a dual diagnosis. Through participation in this program residents have access to safe, recovery oriented housing and supportive services for the treatment of severe and persistent mental illness and substance use disorders. Upon exit from THP consumers may have increased housing stability, self-sufficiency, and recovery from mental illness and addiction disorders.
Alternatives:
None identified. There is no program in Sedgwick County which addresses co-occurring disorders among the literally homeless. There is no other funding source for this lease subsidy or the supportive services offered at THP. THP tenants may be indigent and would not otherwise be able to access housing and treatment. The Transitional Housing Program would have to be discontinued if funds were not available and homelessness would persist in our community.
Policy considerations:
All Sedgwick County policies have been followed in the development of this renewal application.
Legal considerations:
The authority for this action is K.S.A. 19-101. A simple majority vote is required. Compliance with federal laws, specifically the Fair Housing Act, is a requirement for this grant.