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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 19 CDBG-CV FundsAGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: Meeting Type: Staff Contact/Dept.: Staff Phone No: Estimated Time: 12/6/2021 Regular Meeting Erin Fifield / DPW 726-2302 10 minutes SPRINGFIELD Council Goals: Encourage Economic CITY COUNCIL Development and Revitalization through Community Partnerships ITEM TITLE: CDBG-CV FUNDS FOR HUMAN SERVICES ACTION Approve, or approve with amendments, the CDAC's recommended allocation of REQUESTED: CDBG-CV funds for human services. ISSUE Springfield issued a Request for Proposals for $185,000 in Community STATEMENT: Development Block Grant coronavirus funds (CDBG-CV funds) targeted toward $ 60,000 local non -profits to provide direct services and resources for the unhoused as a response to the coronavirus pandemic. The City received proposals from Inclement weather hotel rooms Catholic Community Services of Lane County and Carry It Forward. The $ 20,400 Community Development Advisory Community met on November 10, reviewed CIF both proposals, and made a recommendation to Council for funding. ATTACHMENTS: 1: Council Briefing Memo 2: Memo to Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) DISCUSSION/ Springfield received two proposals through this RFP from two agencies currently FINANCIAL working with unhoused community members in Springfield: Catholic IMPACT: Community Services of Lane County (CCS) and Carry It Forward (CIF). Staff first reviewed the proposals for eligibility and identified four different activities that were eligible to fund. To note: CIF identified the need for street outreach for the unhoused, which is a regional effort managed by Lane County. The CDAC recommended funding this activity; however, in order to do so, funds would need to be allocated to Lane County as the lead agency for regional street outreach efforts. The CDAC met on November 10, 2021 to review the two responses received, and made the following recommendation to Council: Eligible Activity to Fund Agency to Fund CDAC recommendation Shower trailer for homeless CCS $ 60,000 families with children Inclement weather hotel rooms CIF $ 20,400 Staff to troubleshoot non- CIF $ 17,680 working RVs on the street Street outreach, case Lane County $ 86,920 management and resources TOTAL available to allocate $ 185,000 MEMORANDUM City of Springfield Date: 12/6/2021 To: Nancy Newton COUNCIL From: Erin Fifield, Community Development Analyst BRIEFING Tom Boyatt, Community Development Director Subject: CDBG-CV FUNDS FOR HUMAN SERVICES MEMORANDUM ISSUE: Springfield issued a Request for Proposals for $185,000 in Community Development Block Grant coronavirus funds (CDBG-CV funds) targeted toward local non -profits to provide direct services and resources for the unhoused as a response to the coronavirus pandemic. The City received proposals from Catholic Community Services of Lane County and Carry It Forward. The Community Development Advisory Community met on November 10, reviewed both proposals, and made a recommendation to Council for funding. COUNCIL GOALS/ MANDATE: Encourage Economic Development and Revitalization through Community Partnerships BACKGROUND: The City received additional CDBG funds through the CARES Act (CDBG-CV funds) to prevent, prepare for, and address the coronavirus pandemic. During the 2021 allocation process for these funds, various needs were identified, including street outreach, and direct services for the unhoused. At that time, Council opted to not fund street outreach and put forward $185,000 for direct services for the unhoused through a Request for Proposals (RFP). This RFP resulted in two proposals from two agencies currently working with unhoused community members in Springfield: Catholic Community Services of Lane County (CCS) and Carry It Forward. Staff first reviewed the proposed activities in each proposal for eligibility and identified four different activities that would be eligible to fund. To note: In its proposal, Carry It Forward identified the need for street outreach for the unhoused, which was an activity proposed by Lane County last spring. (See Attachment 2: Memo to the CDAC for more details on the proposed activities) On November 10, 2021, the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) met to review the two applications. The committee supported all four eligible activities proposed by CCS and Carry It Forward. Staff also met with Lane County and Carry It Forward to better understand how the request for street outreach, case management, and resources fit with the existing efforts funded and coordinated by the County. Both Lane County staff and Carry It Forward staff are in agreement that the need for street outreach identified by Carry It Forward is eligible under the County's current contract, and that additional funding would allow for dedicated focus on the Springfield area for case management and street outreach. Attachment 1, Page 1 of 2 MEMORANDUM Page 2 The CDAC puts forward the following funding recommendation for the $185,000 available in CDBG-CV funds: Eligible Activity to Fund Agency to Fund Amount requested CDAC recommendation Shower trailer for homeless CCS $ 60,000 $ 60,000 families with children Inclement weather hotel Carry It $ 20,400 $ 20,400 rooms and staff to administer Forward Staff to troubleshoot non- Carry It $ 17,680 $ 17,680 working RVs on the street Forward Street outreach, case Lane County $ 118,400 $ 86,920 management and resources TOTAL available to allocate $ 185,000 RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve, or approve with amendments, the CDAC recommended funding for CDBG-CV funds. Attachment 1, Page 2 of 2 MEMORANDUM City of Springfield Date: 11/10/2021 To: Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) members From: Erin Fifield, Community Development Analyst BRIEFING Subject: CDBG-CV RFP update MEMORANDUM Summary Springfield recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for $185,000 in Community Development Block Grant coronavirus funds (CDBG-CV funds). The RFP was targeted toward local non -profits to provide direct services and resources for the unhoused as a response to the coronavirus. The City received two responses from local non -profits that currently work with the unhoused population in Springfield: Catholic Community Services of Lane County requested $60,000 to rent a shower trailer for 1 year to serve local unhoused families as part of the OASIS program. Carry It Forward requested $185,000 to put toward various activities, many of which are not eligible through this RFP but could still be funded if administered by Lane County Human Services Division. The CDAC's purpose is to review these two proposals and make a recommendation to City Council on how to allocate the CDBG-CV funds. Background In Spring 2021, City Council put forward a draft allocation of $366,652 in CDBG-CV funds. Part of this draft allocation included $185,000 toward street outreach. Lane County Human Services Division is the local regional lead on human services and had identified a need for dedicated outreach in Springfield to build relationships with the unhoused and connect them to local services, including shelter and housing. The CDAC met on June 9, 2021 to hold a public hearing on the draft allocation. At that meeting, Carry It Forward requested funding to continue its work with the unhoused population in Springfield, namely by renting and staffing a shower trailer, paying for food, port -a -potties, and other direct resources. After discussion, the CDAC recommended Council fund Carry It Forward's requested amount for direct services, instead of Lane County's request for street outreach. During its meeting on June 28, 2021, City Council agreed with the CDAC's recommendation for direct services, though opted to put the funds forward as a Request for Proposals in order to allow for the due diligence required of an agency receiving federal funds. Summary of Proposals Received (see also Attachment 1: Staff Review of Proposals) Catholic Community Services of Lane County (CCSLC) — CCSLC is requesting funds to rent a shower trailer for one year to be used by homeless families with children in its OASIS program. In 2021, CCSLC was awarded CDBG funds to build a permanent space Attachment 2, Page 1 of 2 MEMORANDUM 11/3/2021 Page 2 for the OASIS program, which would include shower facilities. The shower trailer would bridge the gap until the permanent facilities are built. Shower facilities at the Willamalane swim center have reopened and are available for OASIS families, though COVID remains a concern. Carry It Forward (CIF) — CIF's request ultimately differed from its public testimony in the spring as different needs and funding opportunities shifted. The requests from CIF that tie directly to this RFP and Action Plan are for inclement weather resources (specifically hotel rooms) and RV troubleshooting. The other requests either do not fall under the strategy allocated by Council, and/or fall under Lane County's efforts to serve the unhoused. Specifically, CIF's request for outreach and resource staff, case management, and resource supplies fall under Lane County's efforts for street outreach. Funding Recommending Options for the CDAC The CDAC can choose to recommend all, none, or some of the CDBG-CV funding to the proposals received. If the CDAC wants to recommend funding street outreach in Springfield, those funds would need to be awarded to the County in order to not duplicate services and to be administered as part of the regional effort. To note: There are unused funds from last year's CDBG-CV allocation that could also be used to address the needs identified below. The City would need to amend the Action Plan in a separate public process to re -allocate those funds. Any funds not awarded as part of the $185,000 available through this RFP can be combined with these carryover funds to fund eligible activities. Based on the proposals received, the following activities are eligible to fund, all of which would benefit unhoused persons in Springfield: Eligible Activity to Fund Agency to Fund Amount Shower trailer for homeless Catholic Community Services $ 60,000 families with children of Lane County Inclement Weather hotel rooms Carry It Forward $ 20,400 and staff to administer Staff costs to troubleshoot non- Carry It Forward $ 17,680 working RVs on the street in order to get them moving Street outreach staff, case Lane County (as the lead $ 118,400 management, and resources agency for street outreach) TOTAL eligible to fund $ 216,480 TOTAL available to allocate $ 185,000 Attachment 2, Page 2 of 2