SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Consider the request from Religious Community Services (RCS) for an increase in the amount of $25,000 for operations and staffing needs of RCS Grace House, as part of the city's homeless initiative.
Body
SUMMARY:
In an effort to address the root causes of homelessness, the City of Clearwater (City) established its homeless initiative program in the summer of 2012. In order to accomplish its mission and provide homeless individuals and families with access to comprehensive services, the City partnered with several local social service providers. One of those valued providers is RCS, located at 503 S. Martin Luther King Jr., Clearwater.
The mission of RCS is to direct resources to people facing hunger, homelessness, domestic violence and basic needs. RCS Grace House is an emergency shelter for homeless families with children. The program works one-on-one with families through case management and residents can stay there for up to two months. The facility consists of 14 fully-furnished apartments.
The City has allocated $25,000 to RCS for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 from General Funds in the Economic Development and Housing Department budget. These funds can be used to support several primary types of activities, including but not limited to transitional housing of homeless families, delivery of case management, and operational costs.
On October 29, 2014, RCS requested an additional $25,000, bringing the grand total to $50,000 for the current fiscal year. The budgetary reasons for this request are:
· Homeless families with children are the fastest growing subset of homeless populations in Pinellas County; and
· Expansion of RCS Grace House services.
During Fiscal Year 2013-2014, RCS Grace House assisted 82 homeless/at risk individuals (25 families) from Clearwater. Based on the program needs and the overall countywide efforts to reduce homelessness among families with minor children, staff recommends that the City Council consider an increased funding commitment for fiscal year 2014-2015, the level of which is to be determined by the City Council. Depending on the increased level of funding, a budget amendment will be brought forward as part of first quarter budget amendments.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
0010-09216-581000-552-000-0000 - $25,000
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS:
If approved, funding for this contract will be provided by a first quarter budget amendment allocating General Fund reserves in the amount approved up to $25,000 to Economic Development cost code 010-09216-581000-552. The balance in General Fund reserves is approximately $17.9 million, or 15.3% of the 2014/15 General Fund operating budget. A total of $1,151,214 of General Fund reserves has been used to date to fund expenditures in the 2014/15 operating budget.