Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Family Success Administration
Information
Requested Action
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A. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution within the Community Services Block Grant (“CSBG”) Fund, to appropriate revenue in the amount of $1,600,891, for the provision of financial stability services to eligible Broward County residents.
ACTION: (T-10:52 AM) Approved Resolution No. 2024-424.
VOTE: 7-0. Commissioner Geller and Commissioner McKinzie were not audible during the vote.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution within the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (“LIHEAP”) Fund, to appropriate revenue in the amount of $5,356,653, for the purpose of providing home energy assistance to eligible households in Broward County.
ACTION: (T-10:52 AM) Approved Resolution No. 2024-425.
VOTE: 7-0. Commissioner Geller and Commissioner McKinzie were not audible during the vote.
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Why Action is Necessary
Section 129.06(2)(d), Florida Statutes, requires a budget resolution to recognize revenue.
What Action Accomplishes
Budgeting these grant funds ensures continuation of services provided by Broward County’s Community Action Agency (“CAA”) through the CSBG and LIHEAP grants. CSBG provides a range of services for residents at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines that focus on increasing financial economic stability and have a measurable impact on poverty in Broward County. LIHEAP provides home energy assistance to households in Broward County that are at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE FAMILY SUCCESS ADMINISTRATION DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
These items support the Commission’s value of "building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives,” and the goal of "delivering human services that holistically address the whole person collaboratively and compassionately.” This funding allows Broward County’s Family Success Administration Division (“FSAD”) to provide financial support and services to eligible residents to assist with emergency needs and increase financial self-sufficiency.
The CAA program is administered through FSAD. Utilizing federal funds from the CSBG and LIHEAP grants, Broward County’s CAA program has ensured a safety net for low-income individuals and families in Broward County while creating opportunities for people to move from poverty to financial stability. The CAA utilizes self-sufficiency case management for low-income residents to promote the agency’s anti-poverty goals through two federally funded grant programs, CSBG and LIHEAP.
Funds for these two grant programs originate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are awarded to the Florida Department of Commerce (“Commerce”), and then are awarded as pass-through funding through one combined “umbrella” agreement. The Agreement authorizes the use of Notice of Funding Awards to obligate and release funds for each grant. The current Umbrella Agreement was amended and restated effective July 1, 2024, and may be renewed annually for up to three years. It is Commerce’s practice to release funds annually and make at least one mid-year adjustment. Commerce allows unspent funds to be rolled over and spent the following year. Additionally, Commerce will make year-end adjustments to reallocate unutilized funds from one recipient to another with the capacity to utilize the funds. Broward County is often a recipient of these reallocated funds.
During fiscal year 2023, CSBG served 388 households with average assistance of $1,146, providing case management, employment placement or retention, educational and training opportunities, emergency assistance payments, facilitated the completion of educational goals, and provided childcare assistance for participants. During fiscal year 2023, LIHEAP processed 6,341 payments for energy assistance at an average of $887 to stabilize Broward County residents in need.
Funding is retroactive for services provided as of July 1, 2024. The Amended and Restated Agreement was not received until the end of June 2024, and while execution authority for this amendment was authorized by the Commission on May 18, 2021 (Item No. 5), and restated on June 14, 2022 (Item No. 11), the above Motions are requested to continue financial stability services provided through Broward County’s CAA programs during the extended agreement period for eligible Broward County residents.
Source of Additional Information
Natalie D. Moffitt, Director, Family Success Administration Division, (954) 357-6367
Kristi Hill, Assistant Director, Family Success Administration Division, (954) 357-6367
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
These programs are 100% federally funded. No Broward County match is required. The CSBG matching requirement was discontinued in 2018. Broward County has continued to provide $26,000 annually from general funds to maintain the level of services provided through the CSBG program. These matching funds are located within the general fund budget.