CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                  CITY COUNCIL AGENDA



   Agenda Date:        September 8, 2020

   Action Required:    Approval and Appropriation

   Presenter:          Kaki Dimock, Director, Human Services

   Staff Contacts:     Kaki Dimock, Director, Human Services

   Title:              Virginia Housing Solutions Program Grant Award ($539,333)


Background:

The Department of Human Services in coordination with the Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for
the Homeless (T.J.A.C.H.) and the Service Provider Council (S.P.C.), applied for and received a
grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The Virginia
Housing Solutions Program award is $539,333 and is a renewal contract for the program for July
1, 2020 – June 30, 2021.

Discussion:

The City of Charlottesville has staff from the departments of Human Services and Social
Services taking leadership roles in the governance of T.J.A.C.H. V.H.S.P. is an important
resource in our community’s efforts to end homelessness. The grant provides services in several
points along the local continuum of services:

    1. Coordinated Assessment: The Haven serves as the physical front door to the
       homelessness system of care, using an evidence-based tool for determining priority
       access to available resources.

    2. Emergency Low Barrier Shelter P.A.C.E.M. provides a low-barrier shelter for adults
       using rotating local churches for support.

    3. Rapid Re-Housing & Housing Navigation: The Haven screens and administers rapid
       re-housing assistance and housing navigation to households experiencing homelessness.
    4. Case Management: The Haven provides supportive services including crisis
       intervention, case management and service referrals.

    5. Homeless Management Information System(H.M.I.S.): The City of Charlottesville as
       the award recipient will ensure that H.M.I.S. data is complete through an agreement with
       T.J.A.C.H. to have the Executive Director ensure data quality. Our Continuum of
       Care(C.O.C.) has a well-populated database for individuals experiencing homelessness.
       HMIS collaboration provides real-time monitoring of the needs and progress of
       individuals and households facing homelessness. Collaborative use of H.M.I.S. among
       T.J.A.C.H. Continium of Care Service Providers expedites communication and reduces
       the need to interface disparate documentation systems.

   6. Coalition Coordination: The Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless
      provides leadership and coordination for the required local homelessness continuum of
      care.

   7. Administration: The City of Charlottesville as the award recipient is eligible for an
      administrative fee. Staff proposes that we pass these dollars through to T.J.A.C.H. in
      recognition of staff time spent processing checks and managing this grant process.

Community Engagement:

This grant and plan are the product of extensive engagement of the service provider community
for persons experiencing homelessness. This partnership is reflective of the new governance
model for T.J.A.C.H. and the priority requests of the Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by
Congregations Together (IMPACT).

Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan:

This grant advances the City of Charlottesville’s Strategic Plan Goal #1 of an inclusive
community of self-sufficient residents. Specifically, it will facilitate the objective of increasing
affordable housing options.

Budgetary Impact:

This grant will be entirely State, and Federal pass-through funds. No local match is required.
There is no budget impact for the City of Charlottesville. All funds will be distributed to sub-
recipients for service provision.

Recommendation:

Staff recommends approval and appropriation of grant funds.

Alternatives:

Council may elect to not accept the funds and the community will not have the capacity to
administer the following services to persons experiencing a housing crisis:. Emergemcy low-
barrier shelter, coordinated assessment, rapid rehousing, H.M.I.S., coalition coordination and
administration.

Attachments:

Sub Grant agreement and amendment are attached.
                                    APPROPRIATION
                     Virginia Housing Solutions Program Grant Award
                                         $539,333


       WHEREAS, The City of Charlottesville, through the Department of Human Services,
has received the V.H.S.P. Grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community
Development in the amount of $539,333.

       NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of
Charlottesville,Virginia that the sum of $539,333 is hereby appropriated in the following
manner:


Revenues
$455,982       Fund: 209      IO: 1900370           G/L: 430110 State Grant
$83,218        Fund: 209      IO: 1900370           G/L: 430120 Federal Pass-Thru State



Expenditures
$539,333     Fund: 209        IO: 1900370           G/L: 530550 Contracted Services




      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this appropriation is conditioned upon receipt of
$539,333 in funds from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.