September 16, 2003

REPORT IN BRIEF

In a joint solicitation, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), has made $2.5 million dollars available for up to four grants for the purpose of increasing and improving employment opportunities for individuals who are chronically homeless, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has made available $10 million to provide housing for these individuals. DOL funds will be awarded to local workforce investment boards that are lead entities in a collaborative partnership of public and private entities. Proposed programs will focus on implementing customized employment strategies, including necessary supportive services, for homeless individuals with disabilities. Funds awarded will be supported by grant funds awarded to local housing authorities from HUD in order to provide permanent housing for the target population.

Staff recommends that the Sunnyvale City Council, on behalf of the seven-city NOVA consortium, authorize the submission of a proposal in the amount of $625,000 to provide customized employment services for chronically homeless individuals through the CONNECT! Job Seeker Center and other one-stop centers in Santa Clara County. It is further recommended that, should the funds be awarded, NOVA and the City of Sunnyvale be authorized to enter into a collaboration with the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara and the Emergency Housing Consortium in order to jointly provide services under both grants.

BACKGROUND

In its 1999 Olmstead decision, the Supreme Court required states to place individuals with mental disabilities in community settings rather than institutions whenever appropriate. In 2001, President Bush issued Executive Order 13217, which requires states to extend Olmstead to all Americans with disabilities. In a 2002 report by the Department of Health and Human Services, several federal agencies noted that successful planning and implementation efforts of integrating individuals with disabilities into society must include competitive employment and employment-related supports. DOL has been called upon to assist governors in their implementation of Olmstead and is therefore funding up to four demonstration programs to end chronic homelessness by creating innovative approaches locally to foster economic self-sufficiency for this population.

In partnership with this DOL award, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Special Needs, has made funds available to supplement each funded DOL effort with a grant award to support permanent housing for the target population. The HUD monies, proposed at $1,980,600 for this project, will in this case be administered by the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara, which has authorized the Emergency Housing Consortium to direct operations of the HUD grant.

According to the Emergency Housing Consortium, there are currently an estimated 1,081 chronically homeless individuals living in Santa Clara County. The majority of these are single Caucasian males between the ages of 45 and 58, almost all have some form of mental illness or substance abuse issue, and all, reportedly, have some type of medical condition requiring immediate attention. The proposed “Off the Streets” Project will pool the collective expertise and resources of a number of appropriate agencies and organizations from throughout the county in order to reach out to this overlooked and difficult-to-serve population.

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 proposed “Off the Streets” Project is designed to alleviate chronic homelessness within Santa Clara County with a two-pronged approach: services provided directly to the target population and enhancement of the existing one-stop service system.

NOVA, in partnership with the Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Network (WIN) and a variety of community service organizations, proposes to provide customized employment services to a set number of chronically homeless individuals within Santa Clara County. The funds provided through Department of Labor will be used to hire two primary case managers, a half-time nurse, and a half-time entitlements coordinator, as well as to fund an existing staff person to serve as project coordinator. Once participants have been identified and placed in permanent housing (funded through the HUD grant), these individuals will be assessed for supportive services needs, including primary health care, mental health care, and other issues requiring immediate attention. Assessments will also be made of the participants’ job readiness and vocational skills and interests. From these assessments, the primary case managers, in coordination with NOVA, WIN, and other organizations who have experience serving this population, will determine individualized employment strategies and implement them utilizing the pooled resources of a variety of public and private agencies.

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) requires a delivery system in which multiple programs and agencies that serve to assist the public in obtaining and retaining employment are accessible to the public in a one-stop environment. In addition to direct services, funds from this grant would be utilized to enhance and strengthen the one-stop system within the county to better meet the needs of the homeless population. Staff of the four one-stop centers that are located within the NOVA and WIN workforce investment areas will be trained in how to effectively work with and how best to serve chronically homeless individuals.

Fiscal Impact

There will be no fiscal impact to the City, because funds received will offset program expenditures.

PUBLIC CONTACT

1.    Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City’s web page and the availability of the report in the Library and City Clerk’s Office.

ALTERNATIVES

1. Council approves submission of a proposal to the U. S. Department of Labor to serve chronically homeless individuals and approves the collaboration with the Housing Authority of Santa Clara County and Emergency Housing Consortium to jointly provide services.

2. Council rejects submission of the proposal to the U. S. Department of Labor and rejects the collaboration.

3. Other action as determined by Council.
   

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended by staff that the Sunnyvale City Council, on behalf of the NOVA seven-city consortium, adopt Alternative 1: Council approves submission of a proposal to the U. S. Department of Labor to serve chronically homeless individuals and approves the collaboration with the Housing Authority of Santa Clara County and Emergency Housing Consortium to jointly provide services. It is further recommended that should the grant be funded, the City Manager or his designee be authorized to execute the Memorandum of Agreement, which sets forth the details of the collaboration, as well as the necessary grant agreement.