Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Family Success Administration
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE Federally Funded Subgrant Umbrella Agreement No. E2265 between the Florida Department of Commerce and Broward County, in the anticipated amounts of $2,016,000 for the Community Services Block Grant and $3,500,000 for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, effective from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with up to three renewal options, to provide economic self-sufficiency services and home energy assistance benefits to eligible households; authorize the County Administrator to execute renewals, amendments, and modifications to the Subgrant Agreement that do not impose any additional financial obligations or material risks on the County, subject to legal sufficiency review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the Subgrant Agreement.
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Why Action is Necessary
Section 20.31(b)(3), Broward County Administrative Code, requires that the Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) approves all state and federal grant agreements.
What Action Accomplishes
Approval of Subgrant Agreement No. E2265 ensures receipt of block grant funds for the continuation of the Community Services Block Grant (“CSBG”) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (“LIHEAP”) to provide economic self-sufficiency and home energy assistance to eligible households.
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Previous Action Taken
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Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE FAMILY SUCCESS ADMINISTRATION DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports 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.” Funding supports economic self-sufficiency and home energy assistance to eligible Broward County residents.
Designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Florida Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) is the funding recipient and pass-through entity in Florida to distribute CSBG and LIHEAP block grant funds to local subrecipients. Broward County’s Community Action Agency (“CAA”), administered through the Family Success Administration Division, has been designated as subrecipient for Broward County by Commerce to receive funding under this Subgrant Agreement. This funding allows the CAA to ensure a safety net for low-income individuals and families in Broward County while creating opportunities to move from poverty to economic stability.
The CSBG program helps individuals and families, living in households at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (“FPG”), increase their economic self-sufficiency by providing emergency rent or mortgage assistance, employment referrals, educational and training programs, childcare, food vouchers, and bus passes, as well as connections to a wide range of other community programs that help them achieve economic self-sufficiency. LIHEAP assists low-income households, at or below 150% of the FPG, with electric bill payments to reduce the risk of health and safety problems that may arise from a lack of energy or the use of unsafe heating and cooling practices.
The Subgrant Agreement does not specify a funding amount but authorizes the use of Notice of Funding Awards (“NFAs”) to obligate and release funds for each grant. During Fiscal Year 2026, Broward County received $1,551,082 in CSBG funding, serving 399 households with average assistance of $1,044 per household. LIHEAP received $1,751,621 in funding for administrative cost & outreach managed by CAA, plus $6,157,836 in funding for direct client assistance, managed by Commerce’s third-party vendor. LIHEAP served 8,823 households with average assistance of $675 per household.
For Fiscal Year 2027, funding for Subgrant Agreement No. E2265 is retroactive for services provided as of July 1, 2026, ending on June 30, 2027. Retroactive approval is sought because Commerce provided an extension to the Fiscal Year 2026 Subgrant Agreement No. E2227 expiring on June 30, 2026.
Subgrant Agreement No. E2265 may be renewed annually for up to three years at Commerce’s sole and absolute discretion. For each program award, NFAs will be issued through Commerce’s financial management information system after the Subgrant Agreement is executed. Fiscal Year 2027 funding in the anticipated amount of $3,500,000 for LIHEAP specifically covers administrative and outreach expenses, including processing clients for eligibility. Additional funding for LIHEAP includes funding in the anticipated amount of $7,453,707 in direct client assistance funding that will be administered on the subrecipients’ behalf by a third-party vendor determined by Commerce.
The Subgrant Agreement (Exhibit 1) is in the form required by the funding agency. The Subgrant Agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the County Attorney’s Office.
Source of Additional Information
Efrem H. Crenshaw, Director, Family Success Administration Division, (954) 357-5003
Kristi Hill, Assistant Director, Family Success Administration Division, (954) 357-6403
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
CSBG and LIHEAP are 100% federally funded. Since 2018, a Broward County match has not been required for CSBG; however, Broward County has continued to provide $26,000 annually from General Funds to maintain the level of services provided through the CSBG program. NFAs will be issued by Commerce upon execution of the Subgrant Agreement. Funding for CSBG and LIHEAP is included in the Broward County Fiscal Year 2027 Adopted Budget.