Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Housing Options Solutions and Supports
Information
Requested Action
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A. MOTION TO APPROVE funding increases for agreements between Broward County and the service providers identified in Exhibit 1, effective November 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, to be executed in accordance with the terms of the agreements; authorize the Human Services Department Director to execute the contract adjustments; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the agreements as amended.
B. MOTION TO APPROVE waiver of conflict under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, for the following Broward County advisory board member holding an employment or contractual relationship with an entity receiving funds for the performance of services under this agenda item: Mikal Cartier.
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Why Action is Necessary
A. Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) approval is required for agreements with external agencies.
B. A waiver of conflict arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, requires two-thirds approval by the Commission.
What Action Accomplishes
Approval of Motion A enables the reallocation of funds to maximize the provision of services and best meet the community’s needs.
Approval of Motion B waives the existence of any conflicts arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, as authorized under applicable law.
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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 increased funding will ensure the most effective and efficient use of currently budgeted resources for homelessness prevention services and to complete the Continuum of Care Program’s Point-in-Time Count in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) grant requirements. It will also allow the service providers to address the current needs of the clients served.
On September 5, 2024 (Item No. 9), the Commission approved Resolution No. 2024-373, authorizing the appropriation and disbursement of Fiscal Year 2024-2025 funds for agreements with nonprofit organizations and governmental entities to provide various services. Based on additional funding provided by the Commission for homelessness prevention services in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget and the HUD-required Point-in-Time Count to occur in January 2025, the Housing Options, Solutions, and Supports Division (“HOSS-D”) is recommending to reallocate funds. HOSS-D recommends reallocating funds to agreements to meet the current community needs (Exhibit 1). This action will allocate funds to Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Inc. (“LAS”), to provide legal assistance to families facing eviction. LAS will offer these services to non-seniors and will subcontract with Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, Inc., for an eviction prevention program for seniors (60+). This action will also reallocate funds to Taskforce Fore Ending Homelessness, Inc., to help coordinate the HUD-required Point-in-Time Count to be conducted in January 2025. Upon Commission approval, the Human Services Department Director may execute the contract adjustments increasing the agreement amounts in accordance with the “Compensation” article of the agreements. Commission approval is required because the requested increases in funding exceed the threshold authorized by the terms of the agreements. HOSS-D has received a letter of support from the Homeless Continuum of Care Board supporting the HOSS-D recommendation (Exhibit 3).
Approval of this item would give rise to certain employment conflicts under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, which provides that “no public officer… shall have or hold any employment or contractual relationship with any business entity… which is… doing business with an agency of which he or she is an officer or employee.” In accordance with Section 112.313(12), Florida Statutes, Commission approval is required to waive any conflict of interest arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes. An effective waiver requires two-thirds vote of the Commission after disclosure of the conflicting relationship (Motion B) in accordance with Section 112.313(12), Florida Statutes. Form 4A, Disclosure of Business Transaction, Relationship, or Interest, is attached to this report as Exhibit 2 and constitutes full disclosure of any existing conflicts.
Source of Additional Information
Patrice Paldino, Director, Housing Options, Solutions, and Supports Division
(954) 357-5686
Alex Morales, Assistant Director, Housing Options, Solutions, and Supports Division
(954) 357-5136
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Funds are allocated in the Human Services Department Housing Options, Solutions, and Supports Division budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.