Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Community Development
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): ALL
Appropriate $200,000 from the Reserve for Appropriation to the DeKalb County Community Development Department for housing and services for individuals who cannot be served through federally funded homelessness assistance programs.
Body
Information Contact: Allen S. Mitchell
Phone Number: (404) 371-2438
PURPOSE:
To request that the BOC appropriate $200,000 from the Reserve for Appropriation (totaling $259,030.07 before appropriation and originating from DFACS rental income, 9/1/13 to 6/30/18) to the DeKalb County Community Development Department for housing and associated services for individuals who cannot be served through federally funded homelessness assistance programs.
NEED/IMPACT:
Allocating the funds will facilitate the provision of bridge housing and associated services for approximately 150 individuals for one year.
Our records indicate that more than 500 homeless and at-risk households are not served annually because funds have been exhausted or households do not satisfy eligibility criteria associated with existing funding sources. The Community Development Department receives approximately $427,000 from HUD for the provision of Homelessness and at-risk services. In addition to being highly restrictive, these funds are not sufficient to support demand.
DeKalb County Homelessness Continuum of Care agencies receive approximately $5 million annually from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide housing and case management for individuals who are residing in shelters, living places not intended for human habitation, or fleeing domestic violence (without resources to obtain housing). This funding is highly restrictive and prohibits serving more than 500 of the requests for assistance that are received.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No Cost to the County
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
Approve the appropriation of $200,000 from the Reserve for Appropriation (totaling $259,030.07 before appropriation and originating from DFACS rental income, 9/1/14 to 6/30/18) to the DeKalb County Community Development Department for housing and associated services for individuals who do not qualify for federally funded homeless assistance.