ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and the Community Development Director with a Request to APPROVE the Award of HUD CDBG FUNDS to DREAM CENTER PEORIA, in the Total Amount of $400,000.00. (Council District 1)
Body
BACKGROUND: As approved in the 2017 HUD Annual Action Plan (7/25/2017 item # 17-231), the City released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) in 2018 for homeless shelter renovations located within the City of Peoria, with $400,000 available.
This funding is in response to recent changes in the homeless services in Peoria. The Salvation Army Peoria had operated a day drop-in center where homeless individuals could receive services during the daytime hours since the early 1990s. Because overnight shelters required people to exit their premises in the morning and return in the evening, the drop-in center provided a safe, temperate place for homeless individuals when other shelters were not accessible to them. In 2016, the day drop-in center did not receive funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) due to a change in federal homeless policy, causing the center to close its doors. This development left homeless individuals in our community with no dedicated location to go during the day, and many began to populate surrounding locations such as the library or were forced to stay outside in inclement weather.
A few months later, a partnership was formed with community groups, including the City of Peoria, Peoria County, the United Way, the Continuum of Care, and other local homeless providers, to re-establish the drop-in center as a temporary solution. The City of Peoria contributed funding to this effort and committed to continuing the discussion for a permanent solution.
Community partners continued the conversation around how to best provide services to this vulnerable population. This conversation led both the Salvation Army and the Dream Center to revamp their services and hours, becoming facilities that are open 24/7 to homeless individuals. OSF Healthcare provided additional funding to provide more case management workers at the Salvation Army, in an effort to increase the number of people finding permanent housing.
The move to 24/7 operations meant large changes in operations for both shelters. The change in operations also led to increased need for shelter beds as well as for other alterations to the facilities to allow for additional gathering spacing and food service. In order to assist in these changing needs, the City of Peoria approved approximately $400,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in its 2017 Annual Action Plan to be used for shelter renovations.
In the fall of 2018, the City of Peoria released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for CDBG funding for shelter renovations that included an increase in the number of shelter beds. The NOFA received one response, from Dream Center Peoria. Dream Center Peoria requested funds to remodel the third and fourth floors of their building, allowing for a greater number of beds and additional gathering rooms to accommodate residents at all times of day. In addition, Dream Center Peoria will expand their dining area, allowing more residents to be served meals at a given time. The total project is estimated to cost $958,000, with $400,000 allocated from CDBG funds.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: $400,000 in CDBG funds will be allocated from project 17PF00 to Dream Center Peoria.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Public hearing and comment periods are held per HUD grant requirements each year. Environmental reviews are completed to ensure environmental regulatory compliance. Dream Center Peoria addresses other neighborhood concerns by providing needed services for Peoria homeless residents.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: CDBG funds will be awarded to Dream Center Peoria. With the funds, this organization will be able to provide a greater number of beds in their homeless shelter, serve more people meals in their dining area at a given time, and offer a larger space for skills training.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Dream Center Peoria may be unable to complete the aforementioned renovations and/or would be forced to seek alternative funding possibilities to complete the renovations.
ALTERNATIVES: None identified at this time
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: Dream Center Peoria: 03015-190630
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Safe Peoria
2. Financially Sound City
3. Choose an item.
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
2. Choose an item.
3. Choose an item.
DEPARTMENT: Community Development