To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Departmental
SUBJECT:
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Provide an Update on the General Relief Vendor Voucher Program, and Rescind the General Relief Vendor Program
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
RecommendationRecommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive an update on the General Relief Vendor Voucher Program;
2. Rescind the General Relief Vendor Voucher Program;
3. Authorize issuance of General Relief funds through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards; and
4. Delegate Authority to the Social Services Division to implement any necessary policies regarding the issuance of EBT cards for General Relief funds.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund. (Fund 1110 General Relief Budget Unit 525)
DISCUSSION:
The General Relief (GR) Program proposes transitioning issuing GR benefits to clients for living expenses from two-party vendor voucher checks to cash onto an EBT card.
General Relief (GR) has a maximum allotment of $303 per month, per client. The monthly allotment is broken down as follows:
? Housing - 50.8% - $153
? Utilities - 5.7% - $18
? Living Expenses - 43.5% - $132
GR first issues payment to rental and utility companies as a check directly to the landlord/utility company, next a maximum of $30 in cash to the customer, and the reminder of the $303 allotment is issued to vendors that have contracted with the county.
The GR Vendor Voucher Program was affirmed by the Board on Aug. 25, 2009 mandating two-party vouchers to be issued for living expenses with the intent for customers to demonstrate responsibility for their finances. Two-party vouchers are checks written to the customer and a vendor of their choice to meet their needs.
The GR program is responsible for signing on vendors that sell items of basic need for customers to purchase. The vendors must enter into an agreement with the county which includes items that cannot be purchased and a maximum amount of cash-back...
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