Item 09 - Modification to Fiscal Year 2023-24 Annual Action Plan and Budget for ESG Program

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Modification to Fiscal Year 2023-24 Annual Action Plan and Budget for ESG Program August 15, 2023 Page 2 3 6 5 5 through a tailored package of assistance that may include the use of time-limited financial assistance and targeted supportive services. Rapid rehousing programs help families and individuals living on the streets or in emergency shelters solve the practical and immediate challenges to obtaining permanent housing while reducing the amount of time they experience homelessness. Rapid rehousing also helps families and individuals avoid a near-term return to homelessness and links them to community resources that enable them to achieve housing stability in the long-term. Rapid rehousing is an important component of the City’s response to homelessness. A fundamental goal of rapid rehousing is to reduce the amount of time a person is homeless. Homeless prevention activities under the ESG Program involves eviction prevention and may include: •Financial Assistance: Providing short-term financial assistance to individuals and families at risk of losing their current housing due to an eviction, foreclosure, or utility shutoff. This assistance can help cover rental arrears, security deposits, utility bills, or other housing-related costs. •Mediation and Legal Services: Offering mediation services or legal assistance to tenants facing eviction, with the aim of resolving disputes and preventing homelessness. •Rental Assistance: Providing ongoing rental subsidies to households that are at risk of homelessness to ensure they can maintain stable housing. Rental assistance may be time-limited or provided on a longer-term basis, depending on the specific program design. •Case Management: Offering case management services to help households assess their needs, set goals, and develop a plan to achieve and maintain housing stability. •Housing Counseling: Providing housing counseling services to individuals and families, including financial literacy education, budgeting assistance, and landlord-tenant mediation. •Credit Repair Services: Offering credit repair assistance to individuals and families who may have credit issues that are hindering their ability to secure housing. •Utility Assistance: Providing financial assistance to help households pay utility bills and prevent disconnection of essential services. Following Mercy House’s decision to decline the City’s award of ESG funds, staff recommends a reallocation of $100,000 in ESG funds to the Illumination Foundation as the City’s emergency shelter provider. The $100,000 includes $75,000 for rapid rehousing activities and $25,000 for homeless prevention activities (Exhibit 2 and 3). Illumination Foundation has proven to be a leading nonprofit that serves our most vulnerable individuals in the City of Santa Ana. Relative to the procurement for these services, there are a very limited number of homeless service providers that administer federal ESG funds in the City of Santa Ana. Under the federal regulations and guidance, a non-competitive procurement may be