ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Director of Community Development with a Request to APPROVE an AMENDMENT to the AGREEMENT with PHOENIX COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Regarding the Emergency Solutions Grant - COVID (ESG-CV) Funding.
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BACKGROUND: In May of 2022, the City Council approved agreements for ESG-CV funds based on the needs of the nonprofit providers. Phoenix Community Development Services (Phoenix CDS) received funding for rapid rehousing, which is rental assistance for individuals experiencing homelessness who are pulled from the Continuum of Care's coordinated entry list.
In discussions with the City, Phoenix outlined the challenges they are experiencing in spending rapid rehousing money including a lack of landlords willing to rent to individuals from the coordinated entry list due to a variety of factors.
In consultation with the Executive Director of the Home for All Continuum of Care (CoC), Phoenix CDS proposed an amendment to their agreement to allow for expending funds under the Emergency Shelter component to pay for operations and essential services at the Haven, formerly known as Veterans Haven, and extending the agreement through September 2023. Due to the outstanding job of our community in almost eliminating homelessness for veterans, the number of veterans utilizing this group home was only one or two individuals. In January 2023, Phoenix CDS opened the eligibility for this option to unsheltered individuals who have been living in encampments or other unsheltered locations. They have seen success in these individuals utilizing this low barrier group home and seek the remaining funds from rapid rehousing dollars be reallocated to support this ongoing effort.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: An amended agreement would allow the remaining $70,500.61 in ESG-CV funds to be expended under the Emergency Shelter Component by Phoenix Community Development Services
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: The program will continue to...
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