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Regular Agenda Item 2. J.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	03/05/2024
Submitted For:	Josh Beck	Submitted By:	Kayle Lathrop, Director
Department:	Community Services

Information

Request/Subject

Authorization to submit a Grant Application for $240,000 to the Arizona Department of Housing for Housing Insecurity Flex Funding.

Background Information

In FY24, the State of Arizona approved approximately $150 million in Arizona State Housing Trust Funds to fund affordable housing projects and housing assistance programs throughout Arizona. In the fall, ADOH issued a Request for Information (RFI) to the public to identify the greatest housing and homeless service needs in the state. Based on the RFI responses, it was determined to allocate approximately $5 million in funding for proposals from qualified entities to expand housing instability prevention services to meet the objectives and goals described in this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). The goal of this NOFA is to further the reach of existing prevention efforts by providing flexible funding that helps expand the effectiveness of current housing stability and homelessness prevention approaches.

This NOFA will provide funding to organizations to implement or expand prevention activities, including flexible funding to qualified households ‘at risk’ of homelessness but who are able to demonstrate that they will be able to maintain housing after the assistance. Qualified households are defined as households with a maximum income of 80% of Area Median Income (AMI).

Examples of eligible activities include:

Past due or future rent (i.e., up to 1 month of rent)
Past due and/or future utilities, and utility deposits.
Move-in assistance (movers, furniture, kitchenware, welcome boxes); rental application fees, inspection/processing/admin fees, security/rental deposits, storage costs
Pet deposits; one-time pet fees. Legal fees/expenses, prior judgments. Car repair, car payment.
Insurance payment. ID costs/expenses.
Relocation to another community (pending confirmed housing opportunity).
Clothing, including work uniforms and work supplies.
Employment-related expenses (starting job costs) 4.
Housing search/placement.
Air conditioning (repair/replacement).
Legal aid, credit repair.
Landlord engagement/mediation.

In order to ensure the effective use of the flexible funding, the maximum assistance per household is capped at $2,000. The implementing agency must use progressive engagement to ensure that the least amount of funds possible are being used to prevent the household from losing their housing. Implementing organization(s) should also assess and triage for eligible resources (such as unemployment insurance or emergency rental assistance) thus enabling these flexible funds to be used as an option of last resort. Financial assistance should be a one-time payment of funds and cannot be used for ongoing assistance.

Evaluation

This grant will allow up to an additional $2,000 in assistance per household for those individuals or families who may be facing homelessness.

Conclusion

Approval of this application will allow the Public Health & Community Services Department to further assist qualified individuals and families who may be facing homelessness throughout Gila County.

Recommendation

It is the recommendation of the Public Health & Community Services Department Director that the Board approved this request to submit a Grant Application to the Arizona Department of Housing for Housing Insecurity Flex Funding.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to authorize the Public Health & Community Services Department to submit a Grant Application to the Arizona Department of Housing for Housing Insecurity Flex Funding in the amount of $240,000. (Joshua Beck)

Attachments
Preventing Housing Insecurity FY 2024 Notice of Funding Availability