Fiscal Note
Costs of the projects and portions of program administration will be covered by the grant, and administered through a segregated fund. Expenses will not be counted toward the State expenditure control limits.
Title
Authorizing specific projects for an application to the State of Wisconsin for ESG and related Rental Assistance/Homeless funds and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to sign agreements with various agencies to implement the projects.
Body
BACKGROUND
The City of Madison has worked closely for twenty-five years with a group of community-based non-profit agencies that provide services and housing to homeless people and people at risk of becoming homeless. This cooperation involves City sponsorship and administration of an annual application to the State of Wisconsin for Federal Emergency Shelter Grant funds for various projects. The goals of these projects are to help prevent homelessness, to provide essential services like case management or counseling, or to improve housing and shelter operations. The grant is a competitive one, open to all Wisconsin communities. Last year, the City was able to obtain $285,234 for 13 projects.
AGENCIES
The cooperating agencies include the following non-profits, each of which serve a particular homeless population group or offer a specialized approach or set of services to strengthen the continuum of care for homeless people within the community:
Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin-Briarpatch Division, Community Action Coalition, Domestic Abuse Intervention Services, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Legal Action of Wisconsin, Salvation Army, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Tellurian, Tenant Resource Center, Porchlight, Inc., Dane County Parent Council and the YWCA.
ACTION
Whereas, the Common Council has adopted a five-year Community and Neighborhood Development 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 the Council has accepted a Community Plan to Reduce Homelessness;
Whereas, the Common Council authorized application for ESG/THP and other state funds as part of the adoption of the year 2007 budget, but specific funding priorities and projects were unavailable at the time of the adoption of the budget because the State decides to wait to set its priorities until after Congressional adoption of a Federal budget; and
Whereas, the CD staff has met with these agencies and jointly developed a prioritized list of projects for submission to the State for funding; and
Whereas, the CD Office has reviewed these proposals to ascertain their rating according to the following criteria: Continuum of Care Consortium rating and involvement; organizational capacity, experience, and compliance with financial standards through independent reviews or audits; client surveys and participation; project readiness, cost effectiveness, match and spending patterns;
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Common Council approve the following list of projects for application to the State of Wisconsin, authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the State for acceptance of the funds, and enter into agreements with the following agencies to implement the projects:
AGENCY / PROGRAM
NARRATIVE
2007 DOLLAR REQUESTED
Community Action Coalition for South Central WI / Rentable Program
Financial assistance to pay back rent, first months rent, and on-going rental subsidies.
$284,350
Community Action Coalition for South Central WI / Case Management
Case manager to assist households to obtain and/or maintain stable housing
$11,500
Dane County Parent Council / Hope House Case Management (Shelter & Support Services)
Hope House is an Early Head Start (EHS) project of Dane County Parent Council, serving 12 - 15 homeless families a year, specifically women and babies, for up to 3 months and beyond. Grant will provide case management services including in-kind referral employment, health, child development, education and housing search services.
$9,500
Interfaith Hospitality Network / Shelter & Services
Shelter case management services for families with children
$27,000
Legal Action of WI / Legal Advocacy
Statewide organization applying for funds outside of Dane County HSC application
$0
Porchlight / STABLE Program
Staff and operating costs associated with STABLE program; housing and services for single adults with AODA issues
$30,750
Porchlight / Brooks Street Support Services
Staff costs associated with providing support services to previously homeless residents in Brooks Street SRO units.
$6,000
The Salvation Army / Family Stabilization Mentor Program
Staff costs associated with soliciting and training volunteers as mentors to previously homeless families.
$18,000
The Salvation Army / Medical Shelter/Vouchers
Funds is to be used for motel vouchers for clients that have medical issues that make staying in a shelter facility unmanageable for medical reasons.
$11,500
The Salvation Army / Support Services Group Facilitator
Facilitator to organize and implement a variety of groups for The Single Women's Shelter and Family Shelter (parenting, budgeting, domestic violence, job training).
$8,000
Society for St. Vincent de Paul / Port St. Vincent/Seton Houses Case Management (Shelter & Services)
Support services for single men, single women and families with children
$13,000
Tellurian UCAN / Job Coach
Single adults, many with mental illness and/or alcohol and drug issue, who are participating in Transitional Housing Program will receive assistance in gaining employment.
$26,000
Tenant Resource Center / Housing Mediation Program
Provide tenant landlord mediation for eviction cases in order to help prevent homelessness due to untimely eviction.
$13,500
Wisconsin ServicePoint Fees / Homeless Information Management System
Porchlight, $700
The Salvation Army, $1000
Tenant Resource Center, $200
YWCA, $500
Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin
Services include temporary housing (for up to 14 days in volunteer host homes), counseling, outreach, information, referral, and case management for homeless youth under the age of 18.
$14,000
YWCA of Madison / Second Chance Tenant Education Workshop
Costs of providing program including staff costs
$24,500
TOTAL $500,000
*Some amounts may be lower due to negotiations with the State or with individual agencies regarding eligible costs or project design. The State may approve some of the above projects in whole or in part. Projects would be funded to the extent that the State approves of such funding, including modifications approved by the State during implementation in order to meet the draw rate goals.
NOTE: Complete Project Proposals are available in the Council Office or from the CDBG Office by calling 267-0740.