The Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) recommends Council approval of a Third Amendment to the Subrecipient Agreement between the City of Houston (City) and the Houston Housing Authority, providing up to $3,000,000.00 in HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) funds, and $300,000.00 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to permanently house up to 200 homeless households as the Financial Assistance Intermediary (FAI) in The Way Home homeless system.
The FAI assists homeless households achieve immediate and long-term housing stability by providing short- to medium-term rental assistance, rental and utility deposits, and utility payments, as needed. This funding will assist up to 200 of the most vulnerable individuals and families, living on our streets and in shelters, move into permanent housing. The Houston Housing Authority will provide the following program services:
(1) Management of the Houston/Harris County Continuum of Care Rapid Rehousing Collaborative financial assistance funds, and
(2) Operation of direct rental and utility assistance to a minimum of 200 chronic or near chronic homeless clients.
The City is providing less than 59% of the budget for this program, and the remaining 41% is from other federal funding sources. It should be noted that support services, including case management, will be provided to those served by several nonprofits through The Way Home program.
The initial contract period was July 20, 2017 – June 30, 2018. To avoid a gap in services pending availability of State Homeless Housing and Services Program funds, HCDD administratively extended the contract through February 29, 2020. The second contract amendment provided funding through December 31, 2020. This third contract amendment provides funding through December 31, 2021.
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
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Tom McCasland, Director