Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes approximately $4 million to 11 community non-profit agencies to help finance the provision of an array of homeless services beginning in 2022. As shown in the attachment, the Community Development Division (CDD) staff recommend funding approximately $1.84 million in one-time funding and $2.08 million of recurring funding. Funding for the total allocation is included in the 2022 Executive Operating Budget and will draw upon the General Fund, CDBG fund, CARES Act funding, and Emergency Rental Assistance funds. The $2.08 million of recommended recurring funding will likely be largely funded by the continuation of the $2.2 million of General Fund support in CDD’s Affordable Housing service, subject to Common Council approval and future operating budgets. No additional City appropriation is required with the approval the proposed resolution.
Title
SUBSTITUTE: Authorizing the allocation of up to $4 million among 11 non-profit agencies to help finance the provision of an array of homeless services beginning in 2022, as the result of a competitive RFP process conducted by the Community Development Division and authorization the Mayor and the City Clerk to enter into agreements with those agencies to implement the designated programs and services.
Body
BACKGROUND
The Common Council adopted the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan on February 25, 2020, which articulates the community development goals and objectives including homeless services and housing stability.
The Consolidated Plan identifies the City’s goals to support activities that promote, achieve, or progress toward more stable housing arrangements for persons experiencing homelessness, or at risk of becoming homeless. The goals can best be achieved through multiple strategies and interventions. These strategies should include providing effective tenant support and homelessness prevention services; making available safe, welcoming and low-barrier shelter spaces; offering culturally competent and housing-focused outreach services; developing affordable and accessible housing options complete with support services; providing accessible tenant support services; and supporting meaningful collaborations across multiple systems of care focused on such things as community justice, health, behavioral health, and domestic violence support.
CDD released the Homeless Services and Housing Resources RFP on August 10, 2021 to identify community partners who will work toward implementing a coordinated array of homeless and tenant services, and accepted applications through September 3, 2021. A total of 24 proposals were received from 15 non-profit agencies.
CDD staff, with help from Dane County Human Services and United Way Dane County staff, reviewed the proposals and recommended allocating funds to the 11 agencies and 15 programs listed on the attachment, in amounts not to exceed those indicated for each program.
ACTION
WHEREAS, the Common Council has adopted the 2020-2024 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, the proposed 2022 Operating Budget assumes the Community Agency Contracts line item of approximately $2.3 million for affordable housing services which includes homeless and housing resources; and,
WHEREAS, additional one-time federal COVID-19 response funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act were available to be used in 2022 including CDBG-CV; and,
WHEREAS, additional Emergency Rental Assistance funds from the US Treasury have been awarded to the City of Madison from the State of Wisconsin to support housing stability services where Tenant Services in this RFP would be deemed eligible; and,
WHEREAS, on August 10, 2021, the CDD issued an RFP solicitation for homeless services and housing resources to be provided beginning on January 1, 2022, with an application due date of September 3, 2021; and,
WHEREAS, the finding support for the Beacon Day Resource Center ($200,000) and Coordinated Entry ($70,000) programs have been committed to Dane County and Institute for Community Alliances as matching funds and were not subject to the RFP; and,
WHEREAS, the CDD staff reviewed the proposals and developed a recommended funding allocation plan to utilize available funds beginning in 2022:
Homeless Services
• Catalyst for Change - Up to $328,000 ($19,400 one-time ESG, $17,000 recurring ESG, and $291,800 GPR) for Street Outreach and Mediation program serving people experiencing unsheltered homelessness
• Community Action Coalition for South-Central Wisconsin - Up to $51,850 (recurring ESG) for Prioritize Madison prevention program serving households at risk of homelessness
• Friends of the State Street Family - Up to $45,000 (GPR) for Emergency Hotel Rooms and Supportive Services program serving people experiencing unsheltered homelessness during extreme weather events
• Housing Initiatives - Up to $30,000 (GPR) for Supportive Services for the Formerly Homeless program serving households in permanent housing units dedicated for people experiencing homelessness
• MACH (Madison Area Care for the Homeless) OneHealth - Up to $249,400 ($19,400 one-time ESG and $230,000 GPR) Housing-Focused Street Outreach program serving people experiencing unsheltered homelessness
• Porchlight, Inc. - Up to $1,611,000 (one-time CDBG-CV) for Men’s Drop-In Shelter serving male-identified adults experiencing homelessness; up to $160,000 (GPR) for Permanent Housing Case Management program serving households in permanent housing units dedicated for people experiencing homelessness; and up to $55,275 for Transportation Assistance Grant program providing transportation assistance for people experiencing homelessness (in partnership with Catholic Charities Beacon, Salvation Army of Dane County shelters, YWCA Madison shelter, and Catalyst for Change outreach)
• Sankofa Behavioral and Community Health - Up to $301,000 (GPR) for Sankofa BCH at Tree Lane program providing supportive services for households with children residing at Tree Lane Apartments permanent supportive housing
• Tellurian - Up to $75,000 (GPR) for Rethke program providing supportive services for households without children residing at Rethke Terrace Apartments permanent supportive housing
• The Road Home Dane County, Inc. - Up to $90,000 (GPR) for Voucher Supportive Services program serving households with children receiving Mainstream Vouchers or Emergency Housing Vouchers that prioritize people experiencing homelessness or enrolled in homeless housing programs
• The Salvation Army Dane County - Up to $20,703 (GPR) for Diversion program serving household with children and single women; up to $309,000 ($189,000 one-time CDBG-CV, $60,000 recurring ESG, and $60,000 GPR) for Family and Single Women Emergency Shelters serving households with children and female-identified adults experiencing homelessness
• YWCA of Madison, Inc. - Up to $50,000 ($25,000 recurring ESG and $25,000 GPR) for Family Shelter serving households with children experiencing homelessness
Housing Resources
• Tenant Resource Center, Inc. - Up to $395,635 (GPR) for Tenant Services program providing housing counseling, mediation services, and legal representation (in partnership with Legal Action of Wisconsin, UW Neighborhood Law Clinic, and Community Justice Inc.)
• YWCA of Madison, Inc. - Up to $100,000 (ERA) for Steps to Stability program providing tenant education and housing location services for households with children residing at emergency shelters or at risk of homelessness
• Metro Milwaukee Fair Housing Council/Fair Housing Center of Greater Madison- Up to $41,000 (CDBG) and $2,028 (GRP) for fair housing activities required by HUD for enforcement services, training and technical assistance and education and outreach series in collaboration with City of Madison Department of Civil Rights.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby approves the homeless services and housing resources funding allocation as recommended by the CDD staff; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into contracts with the specific nonprofit agencies listed herein to provide the designated services at the specified funding levels.