Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Keith D. Bostick (Deputy Director)
Department: Human Services Division: Family Success Administration
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO ACCEPT grant award in the amount of $79,674 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency for Phase 37 of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program for March 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021, to provide rent, mortgage, hotel, or motel assistance to eligible in-crisis Broward County residents; authorize the Family Success Administration Division Director to submit certifications and reports as the single program contact; and authorize the County Administrator to take all administrative and budgetary actions necessary to implement the grant.
(A member of the public pulled this item.)
ACTION: (T-2:04 PM) Approved. (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Rich voted in the affirmative telephonically. Commissioner Sharief was out of the room during the vote.
B. MOTION TO ACCEPT grant award in the amount of $133,874 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency for Phase CARES of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program for March 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021, to provide rent, mortgage, hotel, or motel assistance to eligible in-crisis Broward County residents; authorize the Family Success Administration Division Director to submit certifications and reports as the single program contact; and authorize the County Administrator to take all administrative and budgetary actions necessary to implement the grant.
(A member of the public pulled this item.)
ACTION: (T-2:04 PM) Approved. (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Rich voted in the affirmative telephonically. Commissioner Sharief was out of the room during the vote.
C. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2020-496 appropriating revenue within the Emergency Food and Shelter Grant Fund in the amount of $79,674 for Emergency Food and Shelter Program (“EFSP”) Phase 37 for the purpose of providing rent, mortgage, hotel, or motel assistance to eligible in-crisis Broward County residents.
(A member of the public pulled this item.)
ACTION: (T-2:04 PM) Approved. (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Rich voted in the affirmative telephonically. Commissioner Sharief was out of the room during the vote.
D. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2020-497 appropriating revenue within the Emergency Food and Shelter Grant Fund in the amount of $133,874 for EFSP Phase CARES for the purpose of providing rent, mortgage, hotel, or motel assistance to eligible in-crisis Broward County residents.
(A member of the public pulled this item.)
ACTION: (T-2:04 PM) Approved. (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Rich voted in the affirmative telephonically. Commissioner Sharief was out of the room during the vote.
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Why Action is Necessary
A. and B. Section 20.31(b)(3), Broward County Administrative Code, requires that the Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) approves all state and federal grant agreements.
C. and D. Section 129.06(2)(d), Florida Statutes, requires Commission approval for unanticipated revenue.
What Action Accomplishes
Acceptance of these grant awards ensures continuation of federal EFSP grant funds for the provision of rent, mortgage, hotel, or motel assistance to eligible in-crisis Broward County residents.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE FAMILY SUCCESS ADMINISTRATION DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
This item supports the Commission value of "approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately with special emphasis on the most vulnerable,” and the goal to "effectively advocate for and acquire municipal, state, and federal financial support to equitably address health and human services needs of the entire community, through a truly coordinated system of care." This funding allows the Family Success Administration Division (“FSAD”) to continue to provide additional financial support to eligible residents experiencing an economic crisis.
The EFSP was established in 1983 as part of the Jobs Stimulus Bill, Public Law 98-8, to supplement and expand the work of local social service agencies to help people with economic emergencies that are not disaster related. EFSP is governed by a national board, chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”), which includes representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, The Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities, and United Way of America. Local boards, modeled after the national board, select agencies in the community to receive and redistribute funding allocated by the national board to local jurisdictions. In the local jurisdiction of Broward County, Gateway Community Outreach, Inc. provides administrative support for the local board and communicates the decisions of the local board to the local recipient organizations and the national board.
The national EFSP board allocated $667,902 to the local jurisdiction to award local agencies for the Phase 37 expenditure period March 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021. Broward County was awarded $79,674 (Exhibit 1). Broward County has received EFSP funding for every annual phase since the inception of the program in 1983, making this the 37th year that County residents will benefit from these grant-funded services.
Additionally, EFSP received supplemental funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The national EFSP board allocated $952,237 of the CARES Act appropriation to the local jurisdiction for the supplemental Phase CARES expenditure period to run concurrently with Phase 37 from March 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021. Broward County was awarded $133,874 for Phase CARES (Exhibit 2).
FSAD will utilize these awards to increase services throughout its centers and expand ongoing efforts to assist eligible residents experiencing an economic crisis and in need of assistance with rent, mortgage, hotel, or motel payments.
The funder does not provide an agreement for execution by the recipient but published a responsibilities and requirements manual and requires certification that the recipient will comply with the terms of the manual. This manual includes the standard, non-negotiable grant agreement compliance articles for all U.S. Department of Homeland Security federally funded grants, financial terms and conditions detailing the methods required to receive funds and manage payments, as well as the EFSP program operating guidelines. The Office of the County Attorney has reviewed the documents for legal sufficiency. The funder allows only one contact from each organization to receive program communication and submit documentation. All documentation is now required to be signed and submitted electronically utilizing DocuSign. To ensure essential program communication reaches the recipient agency timely, FSAD recommends that the Division Director, as the single program contact, be delegated authority to submit certifications and reports.
Source of Additional Information
Ismael A. Martinez, Director, Family Success Administration Division, (954) 357-6367
Natalie M. Beasley, Assistant Director, Family Success Administration Division, (954) 357-6367
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
These programs are 100% federally funded. Phase 37 is funded in the amount of $79,674 and Phase CARES in the amount of $133,874. No County match is required. Administrative costs are not paid from this grant as the program is administered through the same process and by the same personnel who coordinate FSAD general fund emergency assistance program.