19E - HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RAPID RE-HOUSING PRGM

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Substantial Amendment to the Consolidated Plan 2008 Action Plan for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) 4. Describe the grantee's plan for ensuring the effective and timely use of HPRP grant funds on eligible activities, as outlined in the HPRP Notice. Include a description of how the grantee plans to oversee and monitor the administration and use of its own HPRP funds, as well as those used by its subgrantees (limit 500 words). Response: Following City Council approval of the substantial amendment, the City will develop and issue a RFP. Appropriate and timely use of HPRP resources is critical to both the City and HUD. To this end, the City will implement several key actions: ^ Create a grant application that clearly outlines HPRP-eligible uses. Applicants that propose ineligible activities will be rejected (the City reserves the right to allow application modifications). ^ Only organizations with experience providing HPRP-type services for the homeless and persons at risk of homelessness will be eligible for funding. Applicants must also have experience administering HUD (or other federal) grant funds. These requirements will help reduce the lead-time before services are provided to clients. ^ Subgrantee agreements will contain language that holds aperson/organization to a higher standard with respect to the accuracy of information. For example, self-certifications, other forms used to obtain client data, and Subgrantee reports will include a statement attesting that information is provided under penalty of perjury. The use of strong language aims to discourage abuse of HPRP-funded assistance. Finally, the City will be prepared to aggressively prosecute any person that knowingly provides false or misleading information for the purpose of wrongfully obtaining financial assistance. ^ At least once per year, Staff will conduct on-site monitoring of all HPRP subgrantees for the purpose of verifying appropriate use of funds and proper documentation of persons assisted. ^ Each HPRP agreement will contain a Scope of Work that will include a grant expenditure plan and service goals with specific performance milestones and output/outcomes measurements. The City will consider entering into 12- month contracts with subgrantees with an option to renew for an additional 18 to 24 months. At the end of the initial term, the City will evaluate the milestones, goal attainment and expenditure rates of subgrantees to ascertain if performance and expenditure goals will be met. A 12-month term will provide the City with a window in which to take corrective action, especially if it appears unlikely that the required two-year/60% grant expenditure rate will not be met. If a Subgrantee is on track to meet goals at the end of the initial term, an additional 18 to 24-month term may be awarded; however, the City will reserves the right to reallocate HPRP funds as it deems necessary to meet all HPRP program deadlines. ^ The City will require all recipients to utilize the regional Homeless Management Information System (HMIs). Using HMIs will help ensure 6 4/28/09 HUD-40119 19E-9