DEPARTMENT MAKING REQUEST
Human Services
Title
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Housing and Financial Stability Program (HFSP) Budget Adjustment
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REQUESTED MOTION/ACTION
recommendation
Recommended Action:
Approve the proposed budget adjustment for the Housing and Financial Stability Program (HFSP).
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budget
Budgeted Action:
No action needed. Budget for this item comes from savings in other account lines in the Human Services General Fund as approved in the FY24 budget process.
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BACKGROUND (Why is this Action Necessary, and What Action will be accomplished)
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Background:
The Housing and Financial Stability Program (HFSP) provides temporary assistance to eligible households, to include: homeless prevention assistance (rent, mortgage, and utilities); homeless diversion assistance (travelers' aide, assistance to host families); minor home repairs that address health and safety concerns; educational and employment supports (tuition, books, transportation, dependent care); and emergency inclement weather shelter for vulnerable populations. HFSP is often used to supplement/offset other programs with caps insufficient to meet the household crisis. It is also in place to assist households who may not meet more strict eligibility criteria of other programs. It is designed to meet unmet needs.
Current policy allows for a maximum award of $1500. Due to increased need resulting from a community that in recent years has been impacted by a global pandemic and catastrophic hurricane, and above all, rising housing costs in general, manager over-rides of this maximum award are routinely granted (permitted in policy). While typically, spending in this program is less than budgeted, in fact, current expenditures for FY23-24 are nearly double what they were in FY22-23. Policy changes are in development to address the depth of need presented by applicants.
In order to meet this continuing unmet need for the remainder of this fiscal year, the department requests that $20,00...
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