SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Consider request from the Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. (HEP) for an increase in the amount of $50,000 for operations, capital improvements, and staffing needs, 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 HEP, located at 1120 N. Betty Lane, Clearwater.
The mission of HEP is to provide homeless individuals and families with housing, food, clothing, and support services necessary to obtain self-sufficiency and improved quality of life. HEP assists 400 men, women and children each day. In 2013, they helped 1,398 adults and 76 families (127 children), including 508 veterans; they served 95,091 meals; and the HEP Dental Clinic performed 3,993 free procedures for their residents, valued at over $525,000.
The City has allocated $50,000 to HEP for FY 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 housing of homeless individuals and families, delivery of case management, transportation services to veterans to the Bay Pines VA, and operations costs.
On October 15, 2014, HEP requested an additional $50,000, bringing the grand total to $100,000 for the current fiscal year. The budgetary reasons for this request are:
· More homeless people accessed the Emergency Shelter than the previous year;
· Emergency Shelter bathroom upgrades and floor replacement;
· Increased staffing and personnel needs.
Between October 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014, HEP assisted 553 homeless individuals and 14 families from Clearwater, and they accepted 44 referrals from the Clearwater Homeless Street Outreach Team. Based on the number of homeless people that they assisted and the program needs, 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:
010-09216-581000-552-000-0000 - up to $50,000
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 $50,000 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 $1,101,214 of General Fund reserves has been used to date to fund expenditures in the 2014/15 operating budget.