Primary Department: County Administration
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Diana Ramirez, County Administrator
Secondary Department: Public Health Services
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton, Interim Executive Director
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Amendment
Project ID (if applicable): FLEX_DVAF
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of an amendment to an agreement with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) to transfer program ownership of the Domestic Violence Assistance Fund (DVAF) to Harris County Public Health (HCPH).
end
Background and Discussion:
Reports of domestic violence increased locally during the COVID-19 pandemic and women of color have been most severely impacted. Harris County has a high turn-away rate for domestic violence shelters, with over 70% of callers unable to access emergency shelter bed space due to high demand. Of the 1,100 households assessed for domestic violence housing services each year, approximately 200 are housed. DVAF currently provides flexible assistance to survivors of domestic violence (DV) via grants to qualifying community-based organizations (CBOs), provides wraparound services to survivors of domestic violence in collaboration with the High Risk Team, and facilitates training to DV service providers. These services help survivors leave abusive situations and seek stability by covering costs for housing, transportation, childcare, utilities, and other needs. Recipient organizations may also use a limited portion of the funds to build organizational capacity to address unmet needs of survivors. The previous amendment extended the original contract by an additional nine months and increased the program budget by $1,500,000. This amendment transfers administration and program ownership to Harris County Public Health (HCPH). Harris County will procure a new agreement to continue these services beyond the extension period.
Expected Impact: Continuation of DVAF through the end of FY 2025 and any subsequent terms approved by Commissioners Court.
Alternative Options: Not approving this contract amendment will make it difficult to administer the program after FY 2025.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: A: Reduce violent crime across the County.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): A3: Increase resources available to families exposed to domestic violence.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
12/10/2024 |
26 |
Approval of an amendment with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) to extend the administration of the Harris County Domestic Violence Assistance Fund (DVAF) to September 30, 2025 and increase program budget by $1,500,000. |
|
06/04/2024 |
10 |
Approval of an amendment to an agreement with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) to increase the disbursement amounts for Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and include training services as part of the administration of the Harris County Domestic Violence Assistance Fund (DVAF). |
|
10/25/2022 |
266 |
Approval of an agreement with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) to administer the Harris County Domestic Violence Assistance Fund, provide flexible assistance to survivors of domestic violence via grants to qualifying community-based organizations (CBOs), and provide wraparound services to survivors of domestic violence in collaboration with the High Risk Team using FLEX funds in the amount of $4,700,960. |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Domestic Violence Assistance Fund (DVAF) |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$1,500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$1,500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$1,500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 4/10/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Xavier Perry, Justice & Safety Manger, ARPA PMO; Lupe Washington, Director CHVPS, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): Contract amendment