Programs : Housing & Community Development Activities

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Service levels increased in the CDBG Public Service activities due to the fast pace economy in the Bay Area creating a housing crisis for low-income households and the homeless populations. Public services reported strong demand for target populations such as seniors and the disabled on fixed incomes. Although economic development activities slowed through the most of the fiscal year, there was a late surge in unemployment generating large numbers of unemployed starting new businesses. As the economy weakened late last year, non-profits reported a somewhat improving outlook for hiring and a general trend towards providing more comprehensive case management services and strengthening of referral networks.

RESPONSIBLE ORGANIZATION

The Housing and Economic Development Division has primary oversight for monitoring non-profit organizations providing supportive housing programs funded under the Community Development Block Grant program, as well as the primary responsibility for monitoring organizations receiving funding during this program year. Staff conducted reviews of the Subrecipient's administrative capacity and compliance with contract conditions.

The Park and Recreation, Community Services Division (Fair Oaks Community Center) is the primary agency addressing social service needs and programs funded under the Human Services Assistance Program and those funded with General Funds. The Fair Oaks Community Center, the City's social service center, provides in-kind office space for many of the service providers and provides a day to day network for the same.

The Redwood City Human Services Network, comprised of approximately 30 non-profit service providers, collaborates to pool resources and meets quarterly to redefine priorities and changing needs.

Non-profit and private for-profit agencies continues to be involved in the implementation of this housing strategy since both groups have the potential to create new housing opportunities. The primary negotiator to facilitate such projects will lie within the City's Redevelopment Agency.

FUND SOURCES

The following three fund sources comprise the 1.8 million dollars available this next year's Fiscal year allotment. The CDBG and HOME dollars are received from the federal government while the HSFA is allocated from the City's funds. The City of Redwood City is seeking proposals from qualified organizations for programs and services, please see the Notice of Funding Availability or download the applications.

The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) funds additional supportive housing programs under the public service activity category:

· case management for persons disabled by HIV/AIDS;
· shared housing;
· transitional housing for youth, families, persons with mental disabilities, and battered spouses;
· adult daycare;
· intervention programs for youth; and
· supported employment for persons with disabilities.

Other funding for some of these programs are provided through the County of San Mateo. Both CDBG and Human Services Financial Assistance Program (HSFA) funded service programs are required to have matching funds to leverage federal dollars. The CDBG allocation for a public service activity cannot exceed 20% of the program’s total program budget. No more than 20% of HSFA funds can be used for administration and the remaining 80% must be spent on services. HSFA funded agencies are also required to leverage City funding through such sources as private donations, foundation grants, United Way contributions, and other state and federal funds.

Primary funding for supportive housing programs and services is from the City's General Fund for the HSFA. The City Council allocated funds during FY 2000-2001 to providers to carry out services for the disabled, supportive housing, seniors, emergency assistance, and youth services including child care.

The Human Services Financial Assistance (HSFA) Program allocated funding to non-profit service providers operating programs addressing the needs of low-income elderly, youth, single parents, disabled, and families as well as homeless, at-risk of homelessness, emergency needs, supportive housing, and services to special needs populations, all of whom are low and very low-income. Specific programs include:
·        intervention in the form of emergency assistance and to prevent homelessness,
·        intervention for at-risk youth and seniors, and
·        housing services for all target groups.

The goal of these various programs includes, but is not limited to, bridging gaps between supply and demand of supportive service programs for low and very low-income households with various special needs. The primary location of households benefiting from these activities is concentrated in Census Tract #'s 6102, 6104, 6107 and 6109. These services are also available to eligible households on a citywide basis.

The HOME Partnership funds expended during the program year were used for the following purposes:

1. Administrative expenses supported staff costs to promote affordable housing in general, to monitor construction of the Rolison Road replacement housing project and to carry out a plan development and site relocation related to the El Camino Housing site ($72,274.88).
2. Acquired a new site for affordable housing. HOME expenditures totaling $413,057 will produce 25% of the development as HOME eligible units.
3. Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) funds for Operating Expenses assisted the CHDO to operate Self Sufficiency Program ($12,959.78),
4. Allocated $166,076 to 2 non-profit organizations to finance improvements on residential group housing for special needs populations (developmentally disabled and frail elderly).

Unexpended HOME funds are committed for a local CHDO to acquire and rehabilitate units to be held as affordable housing. The CHDO has work underway to rehabilitate 36 units, of which 11 will be HOME assisted units. The units are currently occupied, however, if vacancies arise, affirmative marketing outreach activities will be undertaken by the CHDO to solicit and select HOME eligible tenants for the Redwood Oaks project. Affirmative Marketing efforts will include outreach to various media sources, including Spanish newspapers and television station, churches, social service agencies, service clubs and organizations, and holding orientation sessions in locations with concentrated populations of low-income and minority households.