Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Gaudin
Department: Human Services Division: Family Success Administration
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute a funder required Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between Broward County and Areawide Council on Aging of Broward County, Inc., subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, effective February 1, 2022 through January 31, 2027, for coordination of services between the Emergency Home Energy Assistance for Elderly Program (“EHEAP”) and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (“LIHEAP”); authorize the County Administrator to execute Amendments to the MOU that do not impose any financial obligations on the County, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the MOU.
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Why Action is Necessary
Agreements with external agencies require approval by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”).
What Action Accomplishes
The MOU ensures coordination of services between the EHEAP and LIHEAP programs for households that meet low-income guidelines with at least one person sixty years of age or older, avoids duplication of assistance, increases the quality of services provided to elderly participants, and satisfies the requirement that LIHEAP grant recipients maintain an MOU with service area EHEAP providers.
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 MOTION.
This item supports the Commission’s value of "approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable,” and the goal to "deliver evidence-based services to the public and connect customers and their family members to sustainable support, with special emphasis on financial supports.” This MOU satisfies the LIHEAP grant requirement to maintain MOUs with service area EHEAP providers allowing Broward County to continue the provision of financial support and services to eligible residents in assisting with emergency energy needs.
As a designated Community Action Agency, Broward County administers federal funds from the LIHEAP grant awarded through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (“DEO”). LIHEAP funding assists households in Broward County at or below 150% of the federal poverty line with home energy payments to reduce the risk of health and safety problems that may arise from lack of energy or use of unsafe heating and cooling practices.
The EHEAP program provides assistance for home energy emergencies to qualified households that meet low-income guidelines with at least one person 60 years of age or older. The Areawide Council on Aging of Broward County is the service area provider of EHEAP for residents of Broward County. The LIHEAP grant agreement with DEO requires Broward County to enter into an MOU with the service area EHEAP provider. This MOU establishes the procedure for coordinating home energy assistance services for Broward County residents sixty years of age or older to avoid duplication of assistance and increase the quality of service provided to elderly participants. Neither party will receive compensation under this MOU.
The MOU will be reviewed for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney prior to approval and execution by the County Administrator.
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
There are no costs associated with this MOU. Administrative and grant expenses associated with LIHEAP are paid through funds received under the LIHEAP grant.