Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Housing Options Solutions and Supports
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution in the Fair Housing Assistance Program Fund in the amount of $51,700 for operational cost associated with investigating cases against housing discrimination.
B. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to submit grant applications to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) for an estimated aggregate amount of $21,000,000 for (1) the Fiscal Year 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants NOFO and (2) the Youth Homelessness NOFO for Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025, for services including housing, rent assistance, and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, continuum of care planning, homeless management information system costs, and administrative services; authorize the County Administrator to execute the resulting HUD grant agreements, subject to legal sufficiency review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office; authorize the County Administrator to execute amendments to the HUD grant agreements, subject to legal sufficiency review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, that do not impose any additional financial obligations on the County above the County’s additional match requirement; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the grant agreements.
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Why Action is Necessary
A. Section 129.06(2)(d), Florida Statutes, requires a budget Resolution to recognize revenue.
B. Section 20.31(b)(3), Broward County Administrative Code, requires that approval by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) be obtained for submittal by the County Administrator of grant applications that will become a binding contract or obligation upon award.
What Action Accomplishes
Approval of Motion A provides continued funding for the Fair Housing Assistance Program, which investigates housing discrimination cases for individuals and families who believe their rights have been violated.
Approval of Motion B allows the submittal of the grant applications to HUD for the Fiscal Year 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants NOFO and the Youth Homelessness NOFO for Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025, and will enable Broward County to apply for federal funding to continue to provide housing, rental assistance, supportive services, and coordinated entry and assessment services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, Homeless Management Information System (“HMIS”) services, planning and evaluation services, and administrative services.
Goal Related Icon(s)
YES County Commission
N/A Go Green
N/A MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSING OPTIONS, SOLUTIONS, AND SUPPORTS DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
These actions support the Commission’s value of “building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives” and the goal of “delivering accessible human services that holistically address the whole person collaboratively and compassionately.”
The Housing Options, Solutions, and Supports Division’s Human Rights Section in collaboration with HUD uses the Fair Housing Assistance Program Fund to support the operational costs associated with investigating housing discrimination cases.
Securing federal grant funding will facilitate the provision of needed services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Broward County. Broward County has received annual funding from HUD for the Homeless Continuum of Care System since 2011. In 2023, HUD awarded $13,541,709 to the Broward County Homeless Continuum of Care system. Broward County and subrecipients provided cash and in-kind funds in the total amount of $3,885,427. In 2024, HUD awarded $15,338,149 to the Broward County Homeless Continuum of Care system. Broward County and subrecipients provided cash and in-kind match funds in the total amount of $3,834,538.
Broward County’s Fiscal Year 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants NOFO application to HUD in the estimated amount of $19,000,000 will provide continued funding for housing, rental assistance, supportive services, and coordinated entry and assessment services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, HMIS services, planning and evaluation services, and administrative services. Historically, Broward County has met the federally mandated award conditions, including ensuring unexpended grant funds are below 7% of the total grant award annually.
Broward County’s Youth Homelessness NOFO for Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025 application to HUD in the estimated amount of $2,000,000, will provide new funding for housing and supportive services for individuals aged 18 to 24 experiencing homelessness.
Approval of this item will authorize the County Administrator to submit applications for the Fiscal Year 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants NOFO and the Youth Homelessness NOFO for Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025 in the estimated aggregate amount of $21,000,000.
Source of Additional Information
Patrice Paldino, Director, Housing Options, Solutions, and Supports Division, (954) 357-5686
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Funding for the Fair Housing Assistance Program is included in the Broward County Fiscal Year 2026 Adopted Budget in the amount of $237,000. This action budgets the unanticipated revenue in the amount of $51,700 (Exhibit 1) for an aggregate amount of $288,700. Upon award of HUD’s Fiscal Year 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homeless Demonstration Program funding, the match amount is estimated to be $4,630,432. Upon award of HUD’s Youth Homelessness NOFO funding, the match amount is estimated to be $500,000. Broward County and subrecipients will provide the required cash and in-kind match funding. Broward County uses currently budgeted employee salaries and services to meet the cash and in-kind match requirements.