Department
Community Development
Requested Action (Identify appropriate Action or Motion, purpose, cost, timeframe, etc.)
title
Request approval to substantially amend the 2019 Annual Action Plan of the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan’s Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) activities for the use of the Emergency Solutions Grant COVID-19 (ESG COVID-19) funding-ESG CV ($2,529,828.00). The substantial amendment will reprogram $306,113.78 in ESG COVID-19 funding as follows: (1) Reduce funding in the following categories: Outreach ($188,550.22), Rapid Rehousing ($100,889.13), and Administration ($16,674.43) and (2) move the funding to Emergency Shelter ($56,680.24) and Homeless Prevention ($249,433.54). (APPROVED UPON ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA)
body
Requirement for Board Action (Cite specific Board policy, statute or code requirement)
HUD regulations require that substantial changes in funding, goals or activities require a substantial amendment to the Consolidated Plan as set forth in 24 CFR Part 91, which includes: a significant change to an activity, scope of work, location, beneficiaries, or persons served; and funding of a new activity not previously described in the FY 2019 Action Plan.
Strategic Priority Area related to this item (If yes, note strategic priority area below)
Health and Human Services
Commission Districts Affected
All Districts ☒
District 1 ☐
District 2 ☐
District 3 ☐
District 4 ☐
District 5 ☐
District 6 ☐
Is this a purchasing item?
No
Summary & Background (First sentence includes Agency recommendation. Provide an executive summary of the action that gives an overview of the relevant details for the item.)
The ESG program provides funding to:
1. Engage homeless individuals and families living on the street;
2. Improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families;
3. Help operate these shelters;
4. Provide essential services to shelter residents;
5. Rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families; and
6. Prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless.
ESG funds may be used for five program components: street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing assistance, and HMIS; as well as administrative activities.
The request to amend the 2019 Action Plan will reduce ESG funding in the Outreach ($188,550.22), Rapid Rehousing ($100,889.13), and Administration ($16,674.43) activities and move funding to Emergency Shelter ($56,680.24) and Homeless Prevention ($249,433.54) ESG activities. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires approval by the Board of Commissioners of the Resolution that authorizes the amendment of the 2019 Action Plan to reallocate ESG federal fund activities to support services needed by Fulton County’s low and moderate-income citizens. The Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved the use of ESG COVID-19 funds on August 19, 2020 (#20-0577).
Increased funding for the Emergency Shelter and Homeless Prevention ESG activities will provide the Department of Community Development’s Homeless Division with increased capacity to support Emergency Shelter and Homeless Prevention activities.
A public notice of the proposed Substantial Amendment was placed on the County’s website from November 8, 2021 to November 13, 2021. No comments were received.
Background: The CARES Act appropriated $4 billion through the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, among individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance and to support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts created by coronavirus under the Emergency Solutions Grants program (42 U.S.C. 11371). And, on April 2, 2020, and June 9, 2020, the Department of Community Development’s Homeless Division received letter notifications of additional ESG CV grant awards for $574,624 and $1,955,204, respectively to support ESG COVID-19 program activities.
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved the use of ESG COVID-19 funds on August 19, 2020 (#20-0577).
Scope of Work: ESG COVID-19 grant funding will be used to support COVID-19 homeless Emergency Solutions Grant activities.
Community Impact: Funding will support homeless services for low and moderate-income citizens.
Department Recommendation: Approve the requested action.
Project Implications: None.
Community Issues/Concerns: None
Department Issues/Concerns: None