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Agenda Item
ASR
Control 23-000982 |
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MEETING
DATE: |
01/23/24 |
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legal entity taking action: |
Board
of Supervisors |
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board of supervisors district(s): |
All
Districts |
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SUBMITTING Agency/Department: |
OC
Community Resources (Approved) |
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Department contact person(s): |
Dylan
Wright (714) 480-2788 |
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Julia
Bidwell (714) 480-2991 |
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Subject: Safe
Homes for OC Seniors
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ceo CONCUR |
County Counsel Review |
Clerk of the
Board |
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Concur |
No Legal Objection |
Discussion |
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3 Votes Board Majority |
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Budgeted: Yes |
Current
Year Cost: $200,000 |
Annual
Cost: FY 2024-25 $600,000 |
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Staffing
Impact:
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No |
#
of Positions: |
Sole
Source: N/A |
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Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A
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Prior Board Action: 7/16/2019 #29 |
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RECOMMENDED
ACTION(S):
Approve “Safe
Homes for OC Seniors,” a housing rehabilitation program to provide assistance
to low-income seniors in Orange County unincorporated communities starting in
Calendar Year 2024, utilizing up to $800,000 in previously approved Community
Development Block Grant Housing Rehabilitation funds and authorize OC Community
Resources Director or Designee to implement program per Program Description and
Guidelines as described in Attachment A.
SUMMARY:
Establishing the
Safe Homes for OC Seniors housing rehabilitation program will assist low-income
seniors in the unincorporated communities of Orange County in making basic
health, safety and welfare-related home repairs to enable them to continue
living safely in their own homes.
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION:
On July 16, 2019,
the Board of Supervisors (Board) directed OC Community Resources (OCCR) to
create the Safe Homes for OC Seniors housing rehabilitation pilot program and
return to the Board within 120 days to seek approval of a plan to establish an
ongoing program for low-income seniors in unincorporated communities as part of
the County of Orange's (County) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
program and identify any other available funding sources.
On September 25,
2019, a status report was submitted to the Board requesting additional time to
research other funding opportunities that could contribute to the Safe Homes
for OC Seniors pilot program beyond the already identified CDBG funding.
OCCR reviewed all
available funding sources for housing rehabilitation programs and submitted a
status report to the Board on January 13, 2020. While reviewing the potential
funding sources for this pilot program, OCCR applied for and was awarded
$200,000 per year from CDBG funds through the Annual Action Plans for program
years 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24, for a total of $800,000. Each
award must be expended within six years of funding from the program year. To
ensure the timely drawdown of the funding, OCCR is recommending utilizing
$400,000 for the first year and adding funding to the program as needed up to
the $800,000 available. Future award(s) or adjustments will be approved with
the CDBG Annual Action Plan, subject to funding amounts from HUD and will be
brought to the Board for approval in April or May of each year.
Attachment A
outlines the program description and guidelines for the Safe Homes for OC
Seniors housing rehabilitation program. If approved, OCCR will utilize an
initial $400,000 of CDBG funds in the first year, up to $800,000 in total, to
assist up to 40 households whose head of household is 62 years or older, whose
income is at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income and resides in
Orange County unincorporated communities with grants up to $20,000 per
household for eligible housing rehabilitation repairs or improvements.
OCCR will continue
to explore potential partnership opportunities with County programs and other
State and Federal programs that align with assisting senior homeowners.
OCCR selected a
consultant through a professional services Request for Proposal (RFP) process
to assist with implementation of the program. On October 28, 2021, OCCR issued
an RFP, which was advertised on the County online bidding system. One proposal
was received and deemed responsive. The evaluation panel consisting of three
(3) subject matter experts, two (2) from OCCR/OC Housing & Community
Development and one (1) from OC Health Care Agency, scored the responsive
proposal and provided its recommendation for selection of a consultant to
assist in implementing the program. If the recommended action of this agenda
staff report is approved by the Board, OCCR will implement the program in
accordance with Attachment A in early 2024.
Compliance
with NEPA:
As defined under the National Environmental Policy Act per 24 CFR 58.34 (a)(3),
the proposed activity is exempt.
Compliance
with CEQA: This
action is not a project within the meaning of CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 and
therefore not subject to CEQA, since it does not have the potential for
resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a
reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The
approval of this agenda item does not commit the County to a definite course of
action in regard to a project since it includes approval of Safe Homes for OC
Seniors, a Housing Rehabilitation pilot program to help low-income seniors in
the unincorporated communities of Orange County. This proposed activity is
therefore not subject to CEQA. Any future action connected to this approval
that constitutes a project will be reviewed for compliance with CEQA.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Appropriations and
revenue for this program are included in Budget Control 15G FY 2023-24 budget
and any remaining funds will be included in the budgeting process for future years.
Initial funding is 100% federal CDBG funds. Additional funding for a successor
program or programs in future years may come from federal, state or local
sources.
STAFFING IMPACT:
N/A
REVIEWING
AGENCIES:
Office of Care Coordination
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment A - Program Description
and Guidelines
Attachment B - Memo September 25, 2019
Attachment C - Memo January 13, 2020