ORDINANCE approving and authorizing first amendment to Subrecipient Agreement between City of Houston and SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES, to provide up to $702,000.00 in Emergency Solutions Grant – Cares Act Funds to support employees engaged in face-to-face delivery of Rapid Rehousing Case Management Services and Navigation Services to households impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) recommends Council approval of an Ordinance authorizing a First Amendment to the Subrecipient Agreement between the City of Houston (City) and SEARCH Homeless Services (SEARCH), to provide up to $702,000.00 in Emergency Solutions Grant – CARES Act (ESG-CV) funding to support 103 employees engaged in face-to-face client service delivery.
This additional funding will assist direct service staff that continue to take additional personal risks as they deliver essential services for people to obtain and maintain housing, and help the community reduce and prevent the further spread of COVID-19. SEARCH provides outreach services, rapid rehousing case management, and navigation services for Houston’s most vulnerable residents experiencing homelessness or near homelessness that have been affected by COVID-19.
ESG-CV Funding
Amount
Percent
Administrative
$0
0%
Program Costs- Outreach
$176,635.00
25%
Program Costs- Rapid Rehousing
$525,365.00
75%
Total
$702,000.00
100%
As a member of The Way Home Continuum of Care, the City, through HCDD and Harris County (County), through its Community Services Department are participating in the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) to combat the COVID-19 pandemic for Houston’s most vulnerable residents impacted by COVID-19, people experiencing homelessness. Applications for Request for Expression of Interest from Qualified Agencies were accepted on a rolling basis until all City and County CARES Act funding was allocated. SEARCH was recommended by the CCHP partners in this funding. This First Amendment provides ESG-CV funding in addition to the previously allocated and approved Community Development Block Grant-CARES Act (CDBG-CV) funding during the initial term of the Agreement from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2022, as it may be extended.
SEARCH Homeless Services began receiving funding through the City in 2000. As of September 30, 2021, SEARCH served 122% of its client goal and expended 34% of their CDBG-CV funding. There were no findings on the annual compliance monitoring.
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
This item was reviewed by the Housing and Community Affairs Committee on October 19, 2021.
____________________________________________
Keith W. Bynam, Interim Director
Federal Government – Grant Funded
Fund 5000
Roxanne Lawson, Division Manager
Housing and Community Development Department
Phone: (832) 394-6307