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CC:HA - CONSENT ITEM: Approve Entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services to Provide Supportive Services and Case Management Services to Participants in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Foster Youth to Independence Rental Assistance Voucher Program.
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Meeting Date: June 24, 2024
Contact Person/Dept.: Tevis Barnes/ Housing and Human Services
Mona Kennedy/ Housing and Human Services
Phone Number: (310) 253-5780
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness (06/18/2024); Safe Place for Youth (06/18/2024); California Youth Connection (06/18/2024); County of Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (05/30/2024); and (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (06/19/2024).
Department Approval: Tevis Barnes, Housing and Human Services Director (06/03/2024) ____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Culver City Council and Culver City Housing Authority (CCHA) Board approve entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services to provide supportive services and case management services to Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) as part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Rental Assistance Voucher Program.
BACKGROUND:
According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), 92% of homeless youth in Los Angeles County had a fragile social network and more than half (57%) of youth in the Coordinated Entry System (CES) reported to have had some type of contact with the foster care system. Due to these facts, specialized programs have rapidly grown for the Transitional Age Youth (TAY) population along with partnerships with the community college and university system, Probation Department, and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to address the situations TAY often face. DCFS has demonstrated a commitment to helping TAY by seeking out partnership with CCHA.
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a funding opportunity for Public Housing Authorities to assist TAY, ages 18 to 24 years old, through the FYI program. Implementing such a program will invest in local collaborative efforts with DCFS to prevent and end homelessness among transitional-aged youth with a current or prior history of child welfare involvement.
In late 2023, CCHA was approached by A Safe Place for Youth (SPY) and the California Youth Connection (CYC) to apply to HUD under the FYI Voucher Program to support TAY living or associated with Culver City.
On April 8, 2024, the City Council authorized the submittal of a grant application to HUD to fund a FYI Voucher Program that will provide rental assistance for TAY facing homelessness or at-risk of becoming homeless and who have been involved with the Foster Care System. On May 13, 2024, the CCHA was told by the HUD FYI Administrator that the submitted grant application meets all the requirements for a funding award.
As part of the FYI Program, CCHA must enter into a MOU with DCFS. In the staff report presented to Council to approve the submission of the FYI grant application to HUD, it was stated that CCHA staff would return to the Board to seek approval for the MOU with DCFS to administer the FYI Program once approval of the grant award is obtained by HUD.
The MOU prepared by DCFS and presented to CCHA has been reviewed by City legal counsel. Upon City legal counsel review it was noted that the DCFS MOU is standard and there were no concerns with the language contained in the DCFS MOU.
DISCUSSION:
Through the FYI Program, HUD will provide rental assistance voucher to 5 TAY who meet the eligibility criteria. HUD is investing in local cross-system collaborative efforts to prevent and end homelessness among youth with a current or prior history of child welfare involvement. The success of this effort requires that community partners coordinate effectively to identify, target, and connect eligible youth at-risk of becoming homeless or currently experiencing homelessness to housing and related supports such as mental health services and health care needs. This program calls for the collaboration and partnership between CCHA and DCFS.
The youth who are eligible for FYI vouchers must be at least 18 years old and not more than 24 years old who:
§ Left foster care at age 16 or older or will leave foster care within 90 days; and
§ Are homeless; or
§ Are at risk of becoming homeless.
CCHA will administer the FYI in partnership with DCFS who will function as the responsible party for referring TAY to CCHA for determination of eligibility for rental assistance. Once DCFS makes the referral, CCHA will determine whether the youth meet the voucher eligibility requirements and conduct all other processes relating to voucher issuance and administration.
In addition to rental assistance, supportive services to address the youth’s needs beyond the housing stabilization will be provided by DCFS for a period of at least 18 months for which the TAY participates in the program.
All youth who are in the FYI program are eligible to receive the following services from DCFS as needed:
§ Counseling on compliance with rental lease requirements and with Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program participant requirements, including assistance or referrals for assistance on security deposits, utility hook-up fees, and utility deposits.
§ Basic life skills information and counseling on money management, use of credit, housekeeping, proper nutrition concepts, meal preparation, and access to health care (e.g., doctors, medication, and mental and behavioral health services).
§ Job preparation and attainment counseling.
§ Educational and career advancement counseling regarding attainment of general equivalency diploma (GED); attendance and financing of education at a technical school, trade school or college; including successful work ethic and attitude models.
A Safe Place for Youth and CYC will work with CCHA to identify and conduct outreach to attract local property owners to accept the FYI vouchers and to make their units available.
Five TAY individuals either currently living in or with a relationship to Culver City have been identified through SPY and CYC. Staff had the opportunity to meet one such individual who graduated from Culver City High School and is currently attending the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The relationship to Culver City is defined by attending Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD) schools and/or being part of the foster care program while living in Culver City.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The administration of the FYI Program does not impact the City’s General Fund. Funds awarded under the FYI Voucher program will be deposited into CCHA accounts to pay for rental subsidies paid directly to property owners who make their units available for lease to FYI participants. CCHA was awarded FYI funds for 5 TAY households for a 36-month period. Administrative fees are paid by HUD to CCHA based on the number of units under a lease/contract. This administrative fee helps to cover staff costs associated with administering the FYI vouchers.
The supportive services provided to FYI participants through DCFS will be at no cost to the City or CCHA.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
MOTIONS:
That the City Council and Culver City Housing Authority Board:
1. Authorize entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services to provide supportive services and case management services to participants in the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Foster Youth to Independence Rental Assistance Voucher Program; and,
2. Authorize the City Attorney/Housing Authority General Counsel to prepare/review the necessary documents; and,
3. Authorize the City Manager/Executive Director to execute the Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services.