Title
Budget authority request for the HUD Dual Diagnosis Permanent Supportive Housing Grant.
Body
Recommended Action: Authorize the establishment of budget authority as provided in the financial consideration section of the request.
Background: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the 2013 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 was submitted to HUD through the United Way of the Plains on February 3, 2014.
COMCARE's Dual Diagnosis Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program is one component of the HUD community application. This project has been operated by
COMCARE and funded by HUD since 2003, and was previously referred to as COMCARE's Transitional Housing Project (THP). The THP had two grants, known as the HUD-16 and HUD Enhancement, but these were combined into one grant and are now recognized as Dual Diagnosis Permanent Supportive Housing.
COMCARE's PSH will be a 21-bed housing resource for chronically homeless individuals and/or families who have a mental illness and substance use disorder. The project's goal is to effectively address the complex needs of the chronically homeless by offering integrated treatment services to improve housing stability and access to mainstream resources. Residents will continue to be encouraged to participate in a full array of services, including individual/group mental health therapy, addiction treatment, medication management, and independent living skills training. They will develop an individualized treatment plan to address issues related to their specific needs and homelessness, and will focus on attaining self-sufficiency via competitive employment and/or accessing mainstream benefits. Current residents of the program will detect little change in the new PSH program design other than the opportunity to sign a new sublet agreement from COMCARE and having a permanent housing status as opposed to transitional. The grant amount being requested from HUD is consistent with the prior year, and totals $321,469.
HUD has awarded COMCARE $328,795 with an additional $40,294 in Medicaid fees, totaling $369,089. Budget authority is needed in order to begin using funds for the PSH program.
Alternatives:There are no alternatives 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 at PSH. Residents may be indigent and would not otherwise be able to access housing and treatment. The Dual Diagnosis Permanent Supportive Housing program would have to be discontinued if funds were not available and homelessness would persist in our community.
Financial Considerations:
Grant Total: $369,089
Funding Center: New
Term: 1/01/15 - 12/31/15
Budget Authority: Authorize the necessary budget authority for the grant, totaling $369,089.
Policy considerations: All Sedgwick County policies have been followed in the development of this grant application.
Legal considerations: The authority for this action is K.S.A. 19-101 and a simple majority vote is required. Compliance with federal laws, specifically the Fair Housing Act, is a requirement for this grant.