To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Administration
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Memorandum of Understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt Regarding the Referral of Eligible Individuals to the Mainstream Voucher Program
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize and the Department of Health and Human Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute, the attached memorandum of understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt regarding the referral of eligible individuals to the Mainstream Voucher Program for the period of April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2026;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached memorandum of understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to provide the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit with one certified copy of the Board Order regarding the attached memorandum of understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
N/A
DISCUSSION:
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Mainstream Voucher Program provides additional housing choice vouchers to public housing authorities that are set aside for families that include at least one non-elderly person with a disability. The Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt recently applied for and received a number of these vouchers, and approved a preference for individuals who have been participating in a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) or Rapid Rehousing (RRH) program with a Continuum of Care participating agency who have been housed for at least 1 year without written warnings or notices of lease violations.
The attached memorandum of understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt will allow the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to refer eligible individuals to the Mainstream Voucher Program so that they can be prioritized for the receipt of housing choice vouchers for the period of April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2026. The waiting list for a housing choice voucher may be 2 years or longer. The Mainstream Voucher Program is intended to reduce the length of time that PSH and RRH program participants receive rental assistance from DHHS programs prior to transitioning to rental assistance provided by the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt. It should be noted that the attached memorandum of understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt comes to the Board after the start date thereof due to inadvertent delays that occurred during the contract development process.
Accordingly, DHHS recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the DHHS Director, or a designee thereof, to execute the attached memorandum of understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt regarding the referral of eligible individuals to the Mainstream Voucher Program for the period of April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2026. Staff also recommends that the Board authorize the DHHS Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached memorandum of understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid any unnecessary delays in the referral of eligible individuals to the Mainstream Voucher Program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There are no costs associated with the attached memorandum of understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt. As a result, approval of the attached memorandum of understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations, creating opportunities for improved health and safety, supporting the self-reliance of citizens and providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve the attached memorandum of understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt regarding the referral of eligible individuals to the Mainstream Voucher Program. However, this alternative is not recommended since it will increase PSH and RRH program participants’ reliance on DHHS housing programs.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Memorandum of Understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt regarding the referral of eligible individuals to the Mainstream Voucher Program
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A