Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes increasing the family shelter operations contract with YWCA Madison by $3,356. No additional City appropriation is required. The proposed resolution reprograms $3,356 of unutilized Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds from The Road Home Dane County to YWCA Madison for eligible emergency shelter operations. The Homeless Services Consortium Board of Directors Executive Committee has approved the reprogramming of the unutilized funds.
Title
Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to amend a contract with YWCA Madison to use an additional $3,356 in state EHH funds
Body
Background:
The City of Madison works closely with Dane County Continuum of Care (CoC) member agencies that serve people experiencing homelessness and those at risk of becoming homeless, and provides leadership and administrative support to the group. This collaborative work includes the City's administration of the State of Wisconsin EHH grant (EHH) on behalf of the Dane County CoC. EHH funds combine the HUD Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), State of Wisconsin Homeless Prevention Program (HPP) and Housing Assistance Program (HAP), and support the following eligible activities: emergency shelter, street outreach, homeless prevention, rapid re-housing program, other housing programs, Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and administration. The State Department of Administration's Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources ("the State") annually distributes available funds among four Wisconsin Continua of Care (CoC): Dane, Milwaukee, Racine, and Balance of State CoCs.
The Dane County CoC was awarded a total of $594,270 in EHH funds for the 2018-2019 grant cycle which ends on September 30, 2019. Following the notice of award, the City entered into contracts with the nonprofit agencies approved by the CoC Board of Directors.
The Road Home Dane County was unable to spend the entire balance of their awarded ESG funds due to delayed opening of the Healing House, a new family medical shelter, resulting in up to $3,356 available for use elsewhere. On August 27, 2019, the Homeless Services Consortium Board of Directors Executive Committee approved reprogramming these available funds to YWCA Madison, for use in its family shelter operation to assist eligible households who are experiencing homelessness.
Action:
WHEREAS, the Common Council has adopted the 2015-2019 City of Madison Consolidated Plan which identifies homelessness as a critical issue within the community and outlines a set of strategies and priorities to address those problems using community-based groups; and,
WHEREAS, City Community Development Division staff has worked collaboratively with the Dane County CoC to assess community needs and develop a list of projects for submission to the State for EHH funds on behalf of the CoC; and,
WHEREAS, the Common Council authorized the City, on behalf of the Dane County Continuum of Care (CoC), to accept an EHH grant from the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration and the Mayor and City Clerk to execute agreements with the specified Dane County CoC agencies to provide services using the EHH funds; and,
WHEREAS, the Homeless Services Consortium Board of Directors Executive Committee has approved the reprogramming of up to $3,356 in unutilized funds from The Road Home Dane County to YWCA Madison to be used for emergency shelter operations; and,
WHEREAS, YWCA Madison has identified an ESG-eligible shelter operations budget gap these available funds can fill;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the Mayor and City Clerk to sign a contract amendment with YWCA Madison, increasing the family shelter operations contract by $3,356 in ESG funds, to reflect the Homeless Services Consortium Board decision.