Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Gaudin
Department: Human Services Division: Family Success Administration
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO ACCEPT grant award from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency for Phase 39 of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, in the amount of $54,000 effective from November 1, 2021, through April 30, 2023, 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.
ACTION: (T-10:29 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Ryan was not present.
B. MOTION TO ACCEPT grant award from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency for Phase ARPA-R of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, in the amount of $264,000 from November 1, 2021, through April 30, 2023, 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.
ACTION: (T-10:29 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Ryan was not present.
C. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution appropriating revenue within the Emergency Food and Shelter Grant Fund in the amount of $54,000 for Emergency Food and Shelter Program (“EFSP”) Phase 39 for the purpose of providing rent, mortgage, hotel, or motel assistance to eligible in-crisis Broward County residents.
ACTION: (T-10:29 AM) Approved Resolution No. 2022-278.
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Ryan was not present.
D. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution appropriating revenue within the Emergency Food and Shelter Grant Fund in the amount of $264,000 for EFSP Phase ARPA-R for the purpose of providing rent, mortgage, hotel, or motel assistance to eligible in-crisis Broward County residents.
ACTION: (T-10:29 AM) Approved Resolution No. 2022-279.
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Ryan was not present.
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Why Action is Necessary
Acceptance of grant funds and Budget Resolutions to recognize unanticipated revenue require Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) approval.
What Action Accomplishes
Acceptance of these grant awards ensures continuation of federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program (“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.
These items support the Commission’s 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, 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 Worldwide. 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 $758,122 to the local jurisdiction to award local agencies for the Phase 39 expenditure period November 1, 2021, through April 30, 2023. Broward County was awarded $54,000 (Exhibit 1).
Additionally, EFSP received supplemental funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”). The national EFSP board allocated $2,343,176 of the ARPA appropriation to the local jurisdiction for the supplemental Phase ARPA-R expenditure period to run concurrently with Phase 39 from November 1, 2021, through April 30, 2023. Broward County was awarded $264,000 for Phase ARPA-R (Exhibit 2).
Broward County has received EFSP funding for every annual phase since the inception of the program in 1983, making this the 39th year that Broward County residents will benefit from these grant-funded services.
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.
Typically, the national board announces the planned availability of funds for the next grant cycle several months after the conclusion of the current grant. Phase 38 ended October 30, 2021. The national board announced Phase 39 and Phase ARPA-R funding on December 15, 2021, with a start date of November 1, 2021. The local board advertised availability of these funds on February 20, 2022. The application for funding was made available on February 22, 2022, with a due date of March 4, 2022. The award notices were received by the agency on March 28, 2022.
The funder does not provide an agreement for execution by the recipient but publishes 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 funder allows only one contact from each organization to receive program communication and submit documentation. All documentation is 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, subject to prior review for legal sufficiency as applicable.
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 39 is funded in the amount of $54,000 and Phase ARPA-R in the amount of $264,000. No Broward 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’s general fund emergency assistance program.