M&C Review


COUNCIL ACTION:  Approved on 11/14/2017 

DATE: 11/14/2017 REFERENCE NO.: C-28478 LOG NAME: 02DIRECTIONS HOME PROGRAM YEAR X CONTRACT WITH UNITED WAY
CODE: C TYPE: NON-CONSENT PUBLIC HEARING: NO
SUBJECT:   Authorize Execution of an Agreement with the United Way of Tarrant County in the Amount of $3,106,912.00 to Implement Action Items from Directions Home, the City's Strategy to Make Homelessness Rare, Short-Term and Non-Recurring (ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS)

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that the City Council:

1. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute an Agreement with the United Way of Tarrant County in the amount of $3,106,912.00 for a term commencing upon execution and terminating on March 31, 2019 for the implementation of initiatives described in Directions Home, the City's 10 year plan to make homelessness rare, short-term and nonrecurring;

2.  Authorize the City Manager or his design designee to extend or renew the Agreement for up to one year if United Way of Tarrant County requests an extension and  it is necessary for the completion of  the program; and

3.  Authorize the City Manager or his designee to amend the Agreement if necessary to achieve program goals provided that the amendment is within the scope of the program and in compliance with City policies and applicable laws and regulations.

 
DISCUSSION:

On June 17, 2008, the City Council adopted Directions Home, the City's 10 year plan to make homelessness rare, short-term and nonrecurring (Resolution No. 3628-06-2008). The United Way of Tarrant County (United Way) has served as the fiscal and grant-making agent for public and private funds in support of Directions Home.

On October 11, 2017, the Fort Worth Advisory Commission on Ending Homelessness (FWACEH) voted unanimously in support of staff funding recommendations for the coming year. Because of large programmatic shifts this current year, FWACEH agreed to Staff's recommendation that awards be renewed for Program Year X. The attached budget lists the amounts per category and which agency was awarded funds in Program Year IX.  Directions Home Program Year X will run from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019. United Way is paid by the City in two installments: half of the funds are paid before United Way releases the Directions Home Notification of Funding Availability in January and the other half of the funds are paid before the end of the City's fiscal year.  

The $3,106,912.00 is made up of three funding sources: $2, 456,912.00 from the City; $150,000.00 currently held in reserve at the United Way from prior years' Directions Home budgets; and $500,000.00 donated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation currently held in reserve at the United Way.

The Agreement will cover initiatives such as:

Permanent Supportive Housing –
Rental Assistance to offset a portion of the Fair Market Rent  on a modest apartment so that chronically homeless households can move off the streets and out of emergency shelters;

Housing Retention Services to provide case management/supportive services for permanent supportive housing clients who are receiving rental assistance;

Tenant Support Services to provide specialized behavioral health assessments/care and support to tenants receiving rental assistance;

Housing Retention Services (Project-Based) to provide case management/supportive services to match project based vouchers (vouchers that remain with the unit and not the tenant) supplied by Tarrant County Housing Authority to house homeless families and chronically homeless individuals; and

Rapid Re-Housing -
Housing First Program to quickly house people experiencing homelessness by providing short-term rental assistance and/or case management.

System Support -
Direct Client Services Fund to fill unmet needs which help people be quickly housed;

Critical Documents to provide document application and processing services for people who are homeless;

Navigators to work with prioritized individuals on waiting list for permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing;

Continuum of Care Coordination to provide support for the community-wide Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), oversee coordinated entry process and provide navigator training;

Cold Weather Emergency Overflow Shelter to fill unmet need for emergency shelter beds on cold nights when emergency shelters are full;

Project Homeless Connect which is a one-day, one-stop services and hospitality fair;

Fee to United Way to process reimbursements to agencies;

Capacity Reserve funds available to provide case management support as Directions Home obtains more project-based vouchers or which enable Directions Home to work toward its goal of making homelessness rare, short-term and non-recurring.  Note: Any unused funds from Program Year IX and X will be added to this reserve fund. These reserve funds can be used to quickly address veteran and family homelessness or other urgent system needs.

The Veterans Housing Fund will assist with ending veteran homelessness by reducing barriers to housing veterans. The fund will be used to assist other sub-populations as needed.

Staff recommends the execution of an Agreement with United Way of Tarrant County in the amount of $3,106,912.00 for the implementation of initiatives described in Directions Home.

Directions Home services and programs are available in ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS.






 
FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION:

The Director of Finance certifies that funds are available in the current operating budget as appropriated, of the General Fund and that prior to an expenditure being made; the City Manager's Office has the responsibility to validate the availability of funds.

TO
    Fund Department
ID
Account Project
ID
Program Activity Budget
Year
Reference #
(Chartfield 2)
Amount

FROM
    Fund Department
ID
Account Project
ID
Program Activity Budget
Year
Reference #
(Chartfield 2)
Amount

Submitted for City Manager's Office by:
Fernando Costa (6122)
Originating Department Head:
Tara Perez (2235)
Additional Information Contact:
Tara Perez (2235)

 
 
ATTACHMENTS
  Itemized Budget Directions Home Year X (lt edits).pdf
  United Way Form 1295.pdf