Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes amending the contract with the Tenant Resource Center by increasing the contracted amount by $40,000, funded by a special allocation from the 2019-2020 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), for mediation services. The special allocation from the HUD ESG funds was originally awarded to Catholic Charities for a rapid resolution program. This program will no longer be pursued by Catholic Charities and the $40,000 special allocation will now be transferred to the Tenant Resource Center. No additional City appropriation is required.
Title
Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to sign a contract amendment with Tenant Resource Center to use an additional $40,000 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 $603,960 in EHH funds for the 2019-2020 grant cycle, which included $40,000 in special allocation funds. Special allocation funds are awarded to CoCs that propose new projects that either serve new populations or offer new service components. Catholic Charities received special allocation funds to start a rapid resolution (otherwise known as diversion) program at the Beacon Day Resource Center. However, after further considering the contract requirements that come with HUD ESG funds, Catholic Charities decided not to proceed with the project at this time. To avoid the loss of these funds, City staff solicited alternative special allocation proposals, and on September 20, 2019, the CoC Board of Directors met and agreed to offer the funds to support the Tenant Resource Center’s Upstream Mediation Services.
The Tenant Resource Center’s Upstream Mediation Services will expand access to its mediation services, which are currently available only at the small claims court, by also offering them outside a court-involved setting. The program seeks to reduce court eviction case filings which will reduce barriers that clients face in obtaining future housing, as well as helping them avoid eviction and 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 Dane County Continuum of Care (CoC); and,
WHEREAS, the Common Council authorized the City of Madison, on behalf of the CoC, to accept an EHH grant from the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration, and authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute agreements with specific Dane County CoC agencies to provide services using the EHH funds; and,
WHEREAS, the Homeless Services Consortium Board of Directors subsequently met and approved the reprogramming of up to $40,000 in EHH special allocation funds, previously awarded to Catholic Charities, to be used instead by the Tenant Resource Center for mediation services.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the Mayor and City Clerk to sign an amendment to the contract with the Tenant Resource Center to increase the contract amount by $40,000 to reflect the receipt of special allocation ESG funds, which are to be used for mediation services.