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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: |
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