Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with the Community Shelter Board (CSB) for the continued implementation of a single adult crisis response system. The contract will provide $1,562,750 from the general fund for the purpose of assisting homeless men and women to transition more efficiently and effectively from a place of homelessness to permanent housing and stability.
In addition to the single adult crisis response program ($1,270,750), two new initiatives are included in this year’s crisis response agreement. The first will provide assistance for Pregnant Women ($167,000). Our community is prioritizing pregnant homeless women to make sure they are never turned away from shelter due to lack of space or resources. In alignment with our community’s infant mortality reduction initiative, additional funding is needed to provide enhanced services including longer rental assistance, so that pregnant women are housed before they give birth. The program will serve the poorest homeless women and families in our community, earning less than 35% of the area median income. The second will provide assistance for non-VA eligible veterans ($125,000). Currently, veterans who are homeless are not able to access shelter and services immediately because all shelter beds are full every night and there are waiting lists. These new resources, combined with other matching funding, would allow CSB to provide shelter and navigator services to 167 more veterans each year.
Emergency action is requested so that the Community Shelter Board can implement these services without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this contract are allocated from the FY2017 general fund budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contract with the Community Shelter Board for the purpose of implementing the crisis response system; to authorize the expenditure of $1,562,7...
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