Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Keith D. Bostick (Deputy Director)
Department: Human Services Division: Community Partnerships
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between North Broward Hospital District d/b/a Broward Health (“BH”) and Broward County (subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney), in the amount of $75,000, effective upon the date of execution by both parties to March 31, 2021, to provide COVID-19 testing at homeless shelters and isolation housing vouchers to COVID-19 positive or exposed individuals experiencing homelessness; authorize the County Administrator to execute amendments to the MOU (subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney) that do not increase the MOU amount; and to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the MOU.
ACTION: (T-10:25 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Rich voted in the affirmative telephonically. Commissioner Sharief was not present.
ACTION: (T-10:30 AM) Commissioner Sharief requested being shown voting in the affirmative.
VOTE: 9-0.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2020-528 within the Contract Fund in the amount of $75,000 for Fiscal Year 2020-2021, recognizing revenue received from BH to provide isolation housing vouchers to COVID-19 positive or exposed individuals experiencing homelessness.
ACTION: (T-10:25 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Rich voted in the affirmative telephonically. Commissioner Sharief was not present.
ACTION: (T-10:30 AM) Commissioner Sharief requested being shown voting in the affirmative.
VOTE: 9-0.
body
Why Action is Necessary
A. Board of County Commissioners of Broward County (“Commission”) approval is required for agreements with external agencies.
B. Section 129.06(2)(d), Florida Statutes, requires Commission approval for unanticipated revenue.
What Action Accomplishes
A. Provides funding for isolation housing vouchers for individuals experiencing homelessness who are COVID-19 positive or were exposed to the virus.
B. Adoption provides funding for isolation housing vouchers to individuals experiencing homelessness who are COVID-19 positive or who have been exposed to the virus.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
These actions support the Commission value of “approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately with special emphasis on the most vulnerable” and the goal to “collaborate with public and private partners to find creative, equitable, and responsible solutions to systemic community problems, especially permanent supportive housing for persons experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness." Funding provides additional resources to support the containment of COVID-19.
The MOU provides for BH to perform up to 1,000 COVID-19 tests for individuals at four homeless shelters. BH will refer COVID-19 positive or exposed individuals to the County for housing isolation, case management and support. BH will also ensure medical follow up via telemedicine for the eligible individuals. Additionally, BH will provide $75,000 to the County for temporary isolation housing vouchers to be distributed to individuals experiencing homelessness who are COVID-19 positive or who have been exposed to the virus. This project is a partnership between Broward County Human Services Department (“HSD”) and BH to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the homeless shelters. Project expenses will be covered by BH’s funding and the County’s previously approved Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act (P.L. 116-136) priorities in the amount of $120,000.
These services to support the containment of COVID-19 are funded by BH with funds under the CARES Act, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) Fiscal Year 2020 Expanding Capacity for Coronavirus Testing award. Funds must be expended by March 31, 2021.
The MOU will be reviewed for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney prior to execution by the County Administrator.
Source of Additional Information
Darrell Cunningham, Director, Community Partnerships Division, (954) 357-6398
Silvia Beebe, Assistant Director, Community Partnerships Division, (954) 357-6396
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Funds from BH in the amount of $75,000 to provide isolation housing will be available in the Contract Fund.
On June 16, 2020 (Item No. 100), the Commission approved CARES Act recommended funding priorities and set aside $120,000 to address these expenses for Fiscal Year 2020-2021.