Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the City of Madison to serve as the Lead Agency for the HUD’s FY20 Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) Planning Project. In 2021, the Madison/ Dane County Continuum of Care (CoC) successfully applied for the YHDP grant, with Briarpatch Youth Services, Inc. designated as the Lead Agency. The aggregate grant award is $2.4 million, of which $249,000 is designated for a Planning Project. The Madison/ Dane County CoC has requested that the City act as the Lead Agency and administer the YHDP Planning Project, with the Center for Community Stewardship as the fiscal agent. No additional City appropriation is required.
Title
Authorizing the City of Madison to serve as the Lead Agency for the HUD’s FY20 Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) Planning Project; authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an agreement with Center for Community Stewardship to serve as a fiscal agent for the Planning Project.
Body
BACKGROUND
The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (CFDA #14.276) is an initiative developed by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to reduce the number of youth experiencing homelessness -- both unaccompanied minors and youth ages 18-24 -- in communities across the nation.
On May 24, 2021, HUD released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO #FR-6400-N-35), announcing its FY20 YHDP grant award competition. The Madison/Dane County Continuum of Care (CoC) applied for the grant, with the City of Madison as the Collaborative Applicant and Briarpatch Youth Services, Inc. as the Lead Agency. The Madison/Dane County (CoC) was among the successful applicants, receiving an aggregate YHDP grant award of $2,447,820.
Up to $249,000 of this YHDP grant award is specifically earmarked for a Planning Project and the Common Council previously approved the City of Madison, as the Collaborative Applicant, to accept the Planning Project grant and the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an agreement with Briarpatch to administer and carry out the goals of the grant as the Lead Agency (RES-22-00142; File # 69553).
Briarpatch, as the Lead Agency, hired two project staff members to work closely with the Madison/Dane CoC Youth Action Board (YAB) to facilitate the YHDP planning process. The YAB is responsible for leading the CoC through the YHDP process by providing lived-expertise, youth leadership and collaboration. However, the project staff’s employment with Briarpatch prevented them from participating in the Request for Proposal development process for the housing and services part of the grant due to a potential conflict of interest. The YAB, in consultation with the HUD technical assistance, requested that the City of Madison serve as the YHDP Lead Agency to manage the grant funds and support projects that will be funded to support the end of youth homelessness. The YAB also requested that the City authorize Center for Community Stewardship (C4CS), a local nonprofit agency that has been serving as a fiscal agent for the YAB and other Madison/Dane County CoC groups, to serve as a fiscal agent for the Planning Project and employ two project staff previously hired by Briarpatch.
The Madison/Dane CoC Board of Supervisors approved the request by the YAB to change the YHDP Lead Agency from Briarpatch to the City of Madison and to work with C4CS as a fiscal agent for the planning grant at its June 21, 2022 board meeting.
ACTION
WHEREAS, the YHDP grant awarded to the Madison/Dane County CoC includes up to $249,000 for a YHDP Planning Project and the Common Council previously approved the City of Madison, as the Collaborative Applicant on behalf of the Madison/Dane County Continuum of Care (CoC), to accept the Planning Project grant and the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an agreement with Briarpatch Youth Services, Inc. to administer and carry out the goals of the grant as the Lead Agency (RES-22-00142; File # 69553); and,
WHEREAS, the Madison/Dane County CoC would like to change the YHDP Lead Agency from Briarpatch to the City of Madison and to work with C4CS as a fiscal agent for the planning grant;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby authorizes the City of Madison to serve as the Lead Agency to administer and implement the goals of the YHDP Planning Project; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby authorizes the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a Purchase of Services contract for the remaining YHDP Planning Project grant, in an amount not to exceed $249,000, with Center for Community Stewardship (C4CS) as the fiscal agent for the Planning Project.