Agenda Item # 2
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
07/08/2014
Agenda Report # 02
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Support for Continuum of Care
INITIATED BY: David Arrington, Deputy City Manager
Recommendation: Authorize a resolution in support of the City participating in
the establishment of a local Continuum of Care in accordance with the Homeless
Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Continuum of Care Program
as adopted in 24 CRF Part 578.
Background: The City has participated in a Continuum of Care Program in
previous years. This organization has primarily served as a mechanism to apply
for federal funds for local agencies providing services to the homeless or
disadvantaged families. Local agencies have received in excess of $1 million
annually in funding through this program in the past. The adoption of the
HEARTH Act codifies in law the Continuum of Care planning process, by providing
greater coordination in responding to the needs of the homeless and directs HUD
to promulgate regulations for these new programs and processes. Under the new
regulations the Continuum of Care program is designed to promote community wide
goals to end homelessness: provide funding to quickly rehouse homeless
individuals and families while minimizing trauma and dislocation to those
persons; promote access to, and effective utilization of, mainstream programs;
and optimize self sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing
homelessness. The program is composed of transitional housing, permanent
supportive housing for disabled persons, permanent housing, supportive
services, and reporting through the Homeless Management Information System
(HMIS).
Analysis: The new regulations require communities to have established a
Continuum of Care Program and have a Board of Directors in place by August 30,
2014 and to meet other regulatory deadlines later in the year in order to
maintain eligibility to apply for grant funding of the Continuum. The City
has actively participated in the past with the Continuum by providing funding
through the Homeless Resource Network to manage the local HMIS reporting and
application for Continuum funding to local agencies. The local Continuum of
Care will be guided by a Governance Charter created by local providers and
stakeholders.
Financial Considerations: There is no direct financial impact to the City but
failure to comply with the regulations will result in numerous local agencies
not receiving federal funds to provide services to the homeless and
disadvantaged families.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: None
Legal Considerations: None
Recommendations/ Actions: Authorize a resolution in support of the City
participating in the establishment of a local Continuum of Care in accordance
with the Homeless Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Continuum
of Care Program as adopted in 24 CRF Part 578.
A RESOLUTION
NO. ______
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY PARTICIPATING IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HOMELESS ASSISTANCE AND RAPID
TRANSITION TO HOUSING CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM AS ADOPTED IN 24 CFR PART 578.
WHEREAS, Congress adopted the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid
Transition to Housing (HEARTH Act): Continuum of Care Program in 2009
consolidating three separate homeless assistance programs administered by HUD
under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act into a single grant program;
and,
WHEREAS, the HEARTH Act also codifies in law the Continuum of Care planning
process, by providing greater coordination in responding to the needs of the
homeless and directs HUD to promulgate regulations for these new programs and
processes; and,
WHEREAS, the Continuum of Care program is designed to promote community wide
goals to end homelessness: provide funding to quickly rehouse homeless
individuals and families while minimizing trauma and dislocation to those
persons; promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs;
and optimize self sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing
homelessness. The program is composed of transitional housing, permanent
supportive housing for disabled persons, permanent housing, supportive services
and HMIS; and,
WHEREAS, the City has participated with local agencies in a Continuum
Program in the past that was primarily a reporting and grant application
mechanism to secure federal funds for local service providers. The local
Continuum Program does not meet the regulatory requirements as outlined under
the HEARTH Act which are required to maintain eligibility for federal funds and,
WHEREAS, the Continuum of Care is responsible for making application to HUD for
funding of programs to local agencies providing services to the homeless.
Locally, agencies have received in excess of $1 million annually in funding
through this program in the past; and,
WHEREAS, the regulations require communities to have established a Continuum of
Care Program and have a Board of Directors in place by August 30, 2014 and to
meet other regulatory deadlines later in the year in order to maintain
eligibility to apply for grant funding of the continuum; and,
WHEREAS, the City must take a leadership role in establishing the Continuum of
Care Program in accordance with the federal regulations and based on a
Governance Charter created by local agencies and stakeholders to insure the
community maintains eligibility for funding of our local service provides and
to promote coordination of a community wide effort to reduce and prevent
homelessness.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager is hereby authorized to coordinate the establishment of a
local Continuum of Care Program in accordance with the Homeless Assistance and
Rapid Transition to Housing Act and in accordance applicable HUD regulations.
___________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held
the _________ day of _____________, 2014 and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_____________________________
_________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor
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