To: Harris County Commissioners Court
Through: David Berry, County Administrator
Dr. Adrienne Holloway, Executive Director, Community Services
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Prepared By: Leah Barton, Managing Director Strategic Initiatives, Office of County Administration
Subject: COVID-19 Community Housing Program Supportive Services
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Project ID (If applicable]:
Purpose and Request:
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Request by the Office of County Administration and Community Services for approval of a contract with the Coalition for the Homeless and an interlocal agreement with the Harris Center for provision of support services to homeless individuals entering Permanent Supportive Housing, leveraging Emergency Housing Vouchers made available to local Housing Authorities by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
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Background and Discussion:
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds with a goal of accelerating recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds provide substantial flexibility to meet local needs including support for households, small businesses, impacted industries, essential workers, and the communities hardest hit by the crisis.
Through ARPA, the Harris County Housing Authority and the Houston Housing Authority have also received Emergency Housing Vouchers, which they have agreed to use to create Permanent Supportive Housing for 1,200 individuals currently experiencing homelessness. To fully support these individuals, additional services are needed: navigation services, case management, apartment fees and move-in support, mental health and substance abuse services, and domestic violence-related counseling. Funding for these
The Coalition for the Homeless, in collaboration with the Harris Center and additional nonprofits, will coordinate delivery of these services as part of the COVID Community Housing Program (CCHP), leveraging additional outside funding.
The intent to enter into these agreements was approved at Commissioners Court on August 10, 2021.
Fiscal Impact: Funding for this program will be fully provided by the U.S. Dept. of Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
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Fiscal Summary |
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Expenditures |
FY 20-21 |
FY 21-22 Projected |
Future Years Projected [3 additional years] |
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Service Impacted: |
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|
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Navigation, Case Management, and Program Administration via Coalition for the Homeless |
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$4,865,000 |
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Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services via Harris Center |
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$635,000 |
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Total Expenditures |
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$5,500,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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|
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ARPA Local Fiscal Recovery Funds |
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$5,500,000 |
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Total Sources |
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$5,500,000 |
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Alternatives:
Providing housing without supportive services is unlikely to yield permanent recovery from homelessness.
Alignment with Strategic Objective:
This activity is aligned with the strategic objective of securing and deploying emergency funding to support Harris County residents in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the County goal of increasing access to quality, affordable housing.
Attachments: Contract and Interlocal Agreement to Follow