title
SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION BY THE CITY OF NORMAN TO THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $145,657 FOR EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT-CR 2020.
Body
BACKGROUND: The Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC) received $5,743,528 of Emergency Solutions Grant - Corona Virus (ESG-CR) Funds as a result of the CARES Act. The City of Norman is not an Entitlement Community for ESG funding and all funding is passed thru the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the seven rural Continuum’s of Care. Oklahoma City and the City of Tulsa, as Entitlement Communities, receive a direct formula allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The ESG-CR funds were allocated to these seven rural Continuum of Care entities utilizing a formula which included the number of COVID-19 cases, the unemployment rate, the number of uninsured, as well as population. The Norman/Cleveland County Continuum of Care was allocated a total of $326,657.
Food and Shelter, Inc. and Thunderbird Clubhouse are preparing applications for these funds to assist their agencies in addressing the COVID-19 crisis. Their applications total $181,000 and are focused on operations and housing-based solutions. The City of Norman is applying for the remaining $145,657 to be utilized for the operation of a winter Warming Shelter and enhanced street outreach. Currently the Council Ad-Hoc Committee to Address Homelessness and Staff are pursuing potential locations and policies for the shelter.
Due to the timing of the Request for Applications (RFA) and the deadline for submittal of the application in the OKGrants System, Council review of the application in advance of submittal is not possible. However, a copy of the RFA is attached for Council’s review.
DISCUSSION: To address the potential spread of COVID-19 within the homeless community, as well as the larger Cleveland County population, the City of Norman is proposing to operate a Winter Warming Shelter from late October 2020 thru mid-March 2021. In addition to providing overnight respite to individuals who are street homeless, the Shelter will concentrate on social distancing, temperature screening, as well as isolation where warranted. The Winter Warming Shelter will be a permanent housing solution-based shelter operated in a similar manner as the 2019-2020 shelter.
The proposed application from the City of Norman is in the amount of $145,657 and is a reimbursable grant by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The application will be reviewed for completeness and accuracy by staff and the Continuum of Care prior to submittal.
RECOMMENDATION: Approval and ratification of the City of Norman application for Emergency Solutions Grant-CR 2020 funding.