June 11, 2002

 

 

SUBJECT

Authorization to Apply for a Grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to Address the Impact of the Economic Downturn by Providing Emergency Assistance to Low-Income Families.

REPORT IN BRIEF

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation recently issued a solicitation for proposals and will award grants to local agencies to provide emergency funding for low-income families whose primary wage earners have been laid-off. These funds would help our One-Stop centers provide a better network to individuals who are connected to community service agencies, while at the same time providing emergency support for dislocated workers looking for training and/or work. NOVA has prepared a plan and scope of services to meet the requirements of this grant opportunity as well as meeting the needs of these struggling families.

 

Staff recommends that the Sunnyvale City Council concur with the NOVA Workforce Board and approves the submission of a proposal to the David and Lucile Packard Foundation for funding in the amount of $250,000.

BACKGROUND

 

Helping to balance economic disparity in Silicon Valley requires the commitment, investment, and participation of a range of community partnerships. Only a combination of efforts will help assure the continued protection of Silicon Valley's most vulnerable: displaced working poor families.

 

With the sharp reduction in entry-level jobs over the past year, many formerly "working poor" families are finding themselves unable to make the rent or utilities. Unemployment benefits are limited, and few community service organizations have the resources available to provide the needed assistance. Without emergency assistance, many of Santa Clara County's laid-off, low-income individuals with dependent children are going to be faced with an agonizing decision: either find a friend, relative or neighbor to live with and help cut expenses, or move to an area with a lower cost of living rate. Given the current unemployment climate, struggling families cannot afford to wait for the job opportunities to return.

 

At the Workforce Board retreat in January it became clear that building a foundation of strong community partnerships and effective networks is a fundamental first step toward helping people get jobs, keep jobs and get better jobs with higher wages. Supplementing this obligation is a need to provide the necessary support services that include childcare, transportation, housing assistance, and health care. In the past, people were in poverty and receiving financial aid. Today, more people are in poverty - yet are still working. There was a consensus among the NOVA Workforce Board members that leading people to a network of community services and offering insurances such as emergency financial aid and support, are critical components to maintaining people in jobs - and ultimately out of poverty.

 

EXISTING POLICY

 

The proposed activities are consistent with the City of Sunnyvale’s Socio-Economic Goal 5.1F: Provide job training and employment services, within constraints of operative Federal regulations and available Federal funding to address the locally-determined employment and training needs of economically disadvantaged residents and others with special needs.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The goal of Project Bac-Pack (Basic Assistance to Clients - Packard Foundation) is to provide emergency funding to low-income families whose primary wage earners were laid off due to the recent economic downturn. Another goal of the project is to enhance the local social service network and strengthen partnerships within that network. Project Bac-Pack will be carried out through a collaborative community partnership consisting of the workforce investment boards of NOVA and San Jose/Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Network, in partnership with community service agencies such as Sacred Heart Community Service, St. Joseph’s Family Center, Sunnyvale Community Services, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, County of Santa Clara Social Service Agency, and United Way Silicon Valley. The project will bring emergency funding to needy families in Santa Clara County, enabling them to cover their most basic expenses until new employment or other social service support can be found.

 

NOVA and the San Jose/Silicon Valley WIN and their satellite One-Stops will serve as the evaluating entities for Project Bac-Pack, confirming the eligibility of the families seeking emergency financial assistance. Clients will arrive at the One-Stops through a multitude of sources, including referrals from partner community service centers, religious organizations, self-referral and word-of-mouth.

 

Career Counselors at the One-Stops will determine eligibility according to the following factors:

·      Lay-off information

·      Family circumstances (family income and size, expenses, etc.)

·      Evidence of need for emergency financial services (doctor’s bill, mortgage or rent late notice, utility late notice, etc.)

 

When a client has been designated by the counselor as an appropriate candidate for Project Bac-Pack, the counselor will look for ways to expedite the client's enrollment into other programs and services (career counseling, skill assessment, resume preparation, job development, support services, etc). Once their need for emergency funding has been authorized, the counselor will issue the client a voucher for a specified amount. The counselor will refer the client to the local community service center (Sacred Heart, St. Joseph’s, Sunnyvale) in order to redeem the voucher.

 

The community service center representative will meet with the client, advising them of other support services available, and will define the emergency payment to be made. Upon completion of the paperwork (with a goal of within 3 days) and a background security check to assess the validity of the client’s claims, the community service center will issue a check to the appropriate third party (landlord, utility company, car loan holder, etc.) The community service center will invoice NOVA for reimbursement. NOVA will issue the reimbursement claim within 30 days, and will maintain records for both audit purposes and reporting purposes to the Packard Foundation and to the partners.

 

The NOVA Workforce Board approved the submission of a proposal to the Packard Foundation at its meeting of May 22, 2002.

FISCAL IMPACT

 

There will be no fiscal impact to the City because funds needed to support the activities outlined in this program would be provided by the grant from the Packard Foundation to the City of Sunnyvale. Project Bac-Pack resources are primarily intended to provide support services. In addition, 5% of the funding will cover project administration costs for NOVA and the community service centers. Staffing costs for assessment (estimated at 1 hour each for approximately 300 clients) will be covered by NOVA's Workforce Investment Act grants as a universal service.

 

PUBLIC CONTACT

1.    Public meeting of the NOVA Workforce Board on May 22, 2002

2.    Posting of Council Agenda

3.    Copies of this report are available to the public upon request in the Library and on the City’s Internet home page

 

ALTERNATIVES

 

1.    Concur with the NOVA Workforce Board and authorize staff to submit a proposal to the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

2     Modify or reject this request, or send the issue back to the NOVA Workforce Board for additional consideration.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

Staff recommends that the Sunnyvale City Council, on behalf of the seven-city NOVA consortium, concurs with the NOVA Workforce Board and authorizes staff to submit a proposal to the David and Lucile Packard Foundation for funding in the amount of $250,000. If an award is granted, staff recommends that the City Manager be authorized to execute an agreement with the Packard Foundation.

 

 

Prepared by: 
Sally Personett , Administrative Aide

Department of Employment Development

 

Reviewed by:   
Jeanette Langdell, Employment Training Manager
Department of Employment Development

 

Michael J. Curran, Director
Department of Employment Development

 

 

 

Approved by:

Robert S. LaSala

City Manager