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CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF A 2012 CONTINUUM OF CARE PLANNING GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 TO BE USED FOR THE COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS, APPROVAL OF CONTRACT K-1314-100, AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION.
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BACKGROUND: As a component of the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year 2012 for the Continuum of Care Program Competition, Collaborative Applicants were encouraged to apply for a Planning Grant for Homeless Activities in the amount of $10,000. Nation-wide, the Continuum of Care Competition funds approximately $1.7 billion for assisting sheltered and unsheltered homeless people by providing the housing and/or services needed to help individuals move into transitional or permanent housing, with the goal of long term stability. The City of Norman is the designated Collaborative Applicant for the Cleveland County Continuum of Care (OK504); funding for the actual execution of the programs is directly appropriated to the funded agencies.
Annually the NOFA is published and the Collaborative Applicant is required to coordinate documentation regarding the effectiveness of the funded projects as well as how the partnering agencies are addressing homelessness within the Continuum. The Cleveland County Continuum of Care has been very successful in this competition and because of the effectiveness of our efforts has increased the available funding from the formula allocation of $269,453 to $362,238. The 2012 funding cycle is the first time these Planning Grant funds have been available to offset the costs for planning and administration activities associated with the responsibilities of being the designated Collaborative Applicant.
DISCUSSION: In the 2012 competition, the Cleveland County Continuum of Care scored 105.3 which was substantially above the funding line of 97 and was awarded a Planning Grant in the amount of $10,000. The application indicated that if awarded, the funds would be utilized for general planning and coordination of activities related to homelessness whether performed by the City of Norman or by contract with a qualified consultant. Potential activities could include strategic planning activities for development of a central system for intake and associated activities related to the establishment of a Homeless Services Center as well as offsetting the costs for the general administration.
Establishment of an effective date of the contract will be made by HUD after execution by the City of Norman. This grant will be administered on a reimbursement basis.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends acceptance of the grant from the Housing and Urban Development and approval and execution of contract K-1314-100 in the amount of $10,000 with funds to be appropriated from the Community Development Fund Balance (account 021-0000-253.20-00) to COC Planning Grant (account 021-4090-463.40-09) for this purpose. Upon reimbursement, the funds will be deposited into Revenue-COC Planning Grant (account 021-0000-331.13-85).