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Item 1.C.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 11/22/2021 |
| Title: | Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Billings and The Continuum of Care |
| Presented by: | Chris Kukulski, City Administrator |
| Department: | Finance |
| Presentation: | No |
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council approval of the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Billings and The Continuum of Care.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
Yellowstone County Health Officer John Felton signed a Health Order in October 2020, providing signed authorization to open a Non-Congregate Shelter that could be reimbursed by FEMA funds. Under the Housing Authority of Billings, it was determined that the most reasonable Non-Congregate Shelter would be at the Off the Street Shelter run by the Continuum of Care.
FEMA pre-approved the application to open a Non-Congregate Shelter which ran from November 23, 2020 until March 31, 2021 according to the state and local health emergency status. The shelter provided 20 rooms available to high-risk individuals over the age of 65, those requiring quarantine while awaiting test results, or those positive cases of COVID-19 without any other options for shelter. The individuals in quarantine and isolation would remain in their rooms 24/7 until cleared to leave by healthcare or public health officials. Off the Streets Shelter provided rooms, food, security, cleaning, and other incidentals at a total expense of $325,643.04.
The FEMA application must be applied for through a local government entity on behalf of the shelter because a private entity is unable to apply alone. If the Memorandum of Understanding is approved by City Council, the City will apply for reimbursement of funds for the shelter. Once reimbursement is approved and received through FEMA, the City will remit the funds to the shelter.
FEMA pre-approved the application to open a Non-Congregate Shelter which ran from November 23, 2020 until March 31, 2021 according to the state and local health emergency status. The shelter provided 20 rooms available to high-risk individuals over the age of 65, those requiring quarantine while awaiting test results, or those positive cases of COVID-19 without any other options for shelter. The individuals in quarantine and isolation would remain in their rooms 24/7 until cleared to leave by healthcare or public health officials. Off the Streets Shelter provided rooms, food, security, cleaning, and other incidentals at a total expense of $325,643.04.
The FEMA application must be applied for through a local government entity on behalf of the shelter because a private entity is unable to apply alone. If the Memorandum of Understanding is approved by City Council, the City will apply for reimbursement of funds for the shelter. Once reimbursement is approved and received through FEMA, the City will remit the funds to the shelter.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Approve the Memorandum of Understanding with Continuum of Care to apply to FEMA for reimbursement; or,
- Not Approve the Memorandum of Understanding with Continuum of Care to apply to FEMA for reimbursement
FISCAL EFFECTS
Other than administrative staff time reviewing the application for reimbursement, no expenses will be incurred by the City. The expenses have already been incurred by the CoC and reimbursement, if approved by FEMA, will flow through the City as a pass-thru agency.