To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Michelle Bushnell
Agenda Section: Time Certain Matter
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
11:15 AM - Update on Habitat for Humanity December 20, 2022 Earthquake Recovery Effort (Supervisor Michelle Bushnell)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive a presentation from Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF)
DISCUSSION:
On Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Humboldt County. Following the initial earthquake, the county experienced over 200 aftershocks, one of which being a 5.4 magnitude on New Year’s Day. More than 350 structures located in the City of Rio Dell were deemed unsafe to occupy due to earthquake-related damage following these earthquakes.
To assist Humboldt County and Rio Dell residents experiencing earthquake-related displacement, on Jan. 10, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved and authorized staff to create a locally funded Earthquake Recovery & Assistance Program with $1 million from the county’s allocation from the federal Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF).
On Jan. 21, 2023, the Board authorized the County Administrative Officer to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (Attachment 1) with Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter, Inc. (Habitat for Humanity) to exchange and share information in order to explore and potentially facilitate an ongoing relationship related to disaster recovery for the period of beginning Jan. 20, 2023 and ending June 30, 2025.
In April 2023, Habitat for Humanity executed the Humboldt County - Rio Dell Area Disaster Relief Professional Services Business Agreement (Attachment 2). Funds provided by the county for this agreement consist of $250,00 from the LATCF that the Board previously allocated for the local Earthquake Recovery & Assistance Program.
Since April, Habitat for Humanity has worked with local long term earthquake recovery partners to provide assistance and support, including LATCF-funded supplemental grants, to displaced low-income renters and rental property owners seeking repairs for property damage directly related to the earthquakes.
Additionally, Habitat for Humanity has served as the intermediary for communications with the county, the City of Rio Dell, contractors, property owners and partnering agencies representing clients including Arcata House Partnership, Changing Tides Family Services, Pay It Forward Humboldt and the Eel River Long Term Recovery Group.
Today, the team from Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter will present a report on their progress and next steps.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
Initial funding for this program totaling $25,000 has been provided to Habitat for Humanity from the county’s allocation from the federal LATCF.
The Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF)
The LATCF was established by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. The act appropriated $2 billion to the LATCF across fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to provide payments to eligible revenue sharing counties and eligible Tribal governments for use on any governmental purpose, except for a lobbying activity. Humboldt County was allocated $1.598 million in each of those years, or $3.196 million in total.
The purpose of the LATCF is to serve as a general revenue enhancement program. As outlined in the Guidance for the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (Attachment 3), recipients have broad discretion on uses of funds and may treat these funds in a similar manner to how they treat funds generated from their own local revenue. For instance, programs, services, and capital expenditures that are traditionally undertaken by a government are considered to fulfill a “governmental purpose.” However, as stated above and outline further in the Ineligible Use section of the guidance document, LATCF funds may not be used for lobbying activities.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
Staff remain engaged with Habitat for Humanity and other local long term earthquake recovery partners to help guide certain parts of the program, however, by having Habitat for Humanity administer services they are able to expend funds more quickly and staff do not have to engage in writing contracts and other administrative tasks related to granting funding to those impacted by the Dec. 20, 2022 earthquakes.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Framework.
Core Roles: Protect vulnerable populations
New Initiatives: Facilitate public/private partnerships to solve problems
Strategic Plan: 4.1 - Identify synergies between all county departments and cities to increase efficiency and effectiveness
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
City of Rio Dell, Changing Tides Family Services, Arcata House Partnership, Pay it Forward Humboldt, McLean Foundation, Humboldt Area Foundation, Humboldt Eel River Valley Long Term Recovery Group
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to receive this report. This is not recommended as the Board has not received an update from Habitat for Humanity since it authorized the County Administrative Officer to execute any and all subsequent amendments or agreements with Habitat for Humanity, after review and approval by County Counsel and Risk Management on January 10, 2023.
ATTACHMENTS:
MOU with Habitat Humanity Yuba/Sutter
Rio Dell Area Disaster Relief Professional Services Business Agreement
LATCF Guidance
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: January 24, 2023 and January 10, 2023
File No.: 23-105 and 23-10