Consideration and Approval of Grant Agreements: Grant agreements between the City of Flagstaff and specific community partners utilizing funding from the Arizona Department of Housing Homeless Shelter and Services Funds in the amount of $756,000.00.

1. Approve grant agreements with the following organizations, utilizing funding from the Arizona Department of Housing Homeless Shelter and Services Funds:
    
   • $61,802.28 to Community Assistance Teams of Flagstaff for the Homeless Mobile Outreach Program
   • $100,000.00 to Catholic Charities Community Services, Inc. for the PATH Outreach and Emergency Shelter Programs
   • $330,337.05 to Flagstaff Shelter Services, Inc. for the Emergency Shelter Program
   • $30,963.06 to Homeless Youth Connection for the Empowering Youth for the Future Program
   • $170,971.48 to Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona for the Homeless Transitional Housing Program 
   • $61.926.13 to Northland Family Help Center for the Emergency Youth Shelter Program
      
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents for all agreements.

Staff is seeking approval of grant agreements in the amount of $756,000.00 between the City of Flagstaff and the community partners listed below, utilizing the City’s award of Homeless Shelter and Services Funds from the Arizona Department of Housing. The funds will be used to provide shelter and services to City of Flagstaff residents experiencing homelessness as listed: 

Agency	Program	People Served*	Funding Request	Final Allocation
Community Assistance Teams of Flagstaff	Mobile Outreach	200 individuals	$99,800.00	$61,802.28
Northland Family Help Center	Emergency Youth Shelter	30 youth	$100,000.00	$61,926.13
Homeless Youth Connection	Empowering Youth for the Future	40 youth	$50,000.00	$30,963.06
Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona	Homeless Transitional Housing	65 households	$276,089.40	$170,971.48
Catholic Charities	PATH Outreach and Emergency Shelter	200 individuals	$144,920.00	$100,000.00
Flagstaff Shelter Services	Emergency Shelter Programs	2,400 individuals	$550,000.00	$330,337.05

* numbers served have been proportionally adjusted to reflect final allocation amounts

In June 2023, the City of Flagstaff received an award of Homeless Shelter and Services Funds (HSSF) from the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) in the amount of $840,000. HSSF are for programs that provide shelter and services to unsheltered persons who are experiencing homelessness. Allowable activities include, but are not limited to, operating support; motel and hotel vouchers; supportive services; and other quick occupancy housing solutions. Awarded applicants are required to report the number of unsheltered persons served monthly. 

The City of Flagstaff issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) on September 20, 2023, for $700,000.00 for HSSF eligible programs.  Applications were due on October 10th and six (6) were received. Housing staff conducted a risk assessment of all six (6) applying agencies and the proposed programs. Additionally, a Ranking Committee comprised of one (1) community representative, one (1) member of the Housing Commission and three (3) City Staff members reviewed and evaluated the received applications, resulting in preliminary funding recommendations. The funding recommendations were presented to the Housing Commission on October 26, 2023. The Housing Commission voted unanimously to forward the allocations presented with a recommendation to City Council for approval. City Council discussed the recommended allocations on December 19, 2023, January 9, 2024, and January 16, 2024. City Council provided direction on final funding allocations at the January 16, 2023 meeting as reflected above.

In June 2023, the City of Flagstaff received an award of $840,000.00 in Homeless Shelter and Services Funds from the Arizona Department of Housing. Ten percent (10%) of the funds will be used for City of Flagstaff indirect costs. Per City Council direction, $756,000.00 has been allocated to community partners for programs addressing the needs of unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness.

This grant and program is not budgeted in the FY2023-24 budget due to the timing of grant award. The budget and appropriation for this grant and these agreements will be covered within account numbers 021-05-107-6103-4 & 021-05-107-6104-4 and 021-05-108-6111-4.

The funding allocations will address multiple policy initiatives and strategies from the City of Flagstaff's 10-Year Housing Plan.

• Connect people to equitable housing solutions.
  • Connect 1: Reduce homelessness in the Flagstaff community and seek creative solutions to foster housing permanency for all.
    • Connect 1.3 Continue to support and develop Coordinated Entry as a meaningful process that provides linkages to healthcare, behavioral health, and housing
  • Connect 2: Implement a framework for centering equity in proposed and existing housing practices, policies, and programs.
    • Connect 2.1 Evaluate housing policies and strategies in City of Flagstaff planning documents through an equity lens.
    • Connect 2.2 Encourage community organizations such as local Continuum of Care to continue to integrate equity into programs and policies.
  • Connect 3: Integrate healthcare into housing programs, and housing into healthcare programs, as appropriate.
    • Connect 3.3 Work in partnership with the community to develop and promote community health measurement data collection into housing services when viable
    • Connect 3.2 Encourage neighborhoods, housing types and building practices that increase health.
    • Connect 3.1 Raise awareness of housing security as a social determinate of health

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives

•  Safe & Healthy Community
  • Support social services, community partners & housing opportunities
  • Provide alternative responses, resources & programs, inclusive of mental health & other services
     
•  Inclusive & Engaged Community
  • Advance social equity & social justice in Flagstaff by supporting social services
  • Facilitate & foster diversity & inclusivity, including support of anti-racist policies & practices
     
•  Sustainable, Innovative Infrastructure
  • Support the community’s social infrastructure needs; assist those partner organizations that provide services the City does not
     
•  Robust Resilient Economy
  • Support & strengthen a more robust, diverse, & sustainable economy in ways that reflect community values & provides for affordable housing opportunities
  • Enhance understanding between the development community, the City & Flagstaff residents
     
•  Livable Community
  • Support regional partners which provide equitable & inclusive educational opportunities for Flagstaff residents of all ages
     
•  Environmental Stewardship
  • Implement, maintain & further the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) with awareness of social inequities

Regional Plan

• Goal NH.5. Eliminate homelessness.
  • Policy NH.5.1. Provide adequate resources for families with children experiencing homelessness.
  • Policy NH.5.2. Provide adequate resources for individuals experiencing homelessness.
  • Policy NH.5.3. Support and expand programs that prevent homelessness.
  • Policy NH.5.4. Make transitional housing resources available to populations experiencing homelessness

Carbon Neutrality Plan

• Community Resilience
  • CR-2: Strengthen existing community systems to create resilience to both short-term shocks and long-term change.
     
• Equitable Systems
  • ES-2: Proactively engage community members on an ongoing basis
  • ES-4: Actively seek to recognize past harms, repair trust, and build deeper relationships with community members.

On December 19, 2023, staff presented the Ranking Committee's funding allocation recommendations, as approved by the Housing Commission - with $700,000.00 in HSSF funding available for allocation.

On January 9, 2024, staff recommended lowering the amount for grant administration to 10% of the overall award, resulting in an additional $56,000 available to be allocated to the proposed projects. 

On January 16, 2024, City Council provided direction as to final funding recommendations utilizing a formula based on a percentage of requested funds to total available funds, with the exception of Catholic Charities. 

1. Approve Grant Agreements as presented, utilizing the award of Homeless Shelter and Services Funds from the Arizona Department of Housing.
    
2. Approve some, but not all, of the Grant Agreements; or
    
3. Do not approve the Grant Agreements and direct staff to conduct an additional solicitation. This will jeopardize the required spending deadlines and risk having to return the money to ADOH.

In June 2023, the City of Flagstaff received an award of Homeless Shelter and Services Funds (HSSF) from the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) in the amount of $840,000.00. HSSF are for programs that provide shelter and services to unsheltered persons who are experiencing homelessness. Allowable activities include, but are not limited to, operating support; motel and hotel vouchers; supportive services; and other quick occupancy housing solutions. Awarded applicants are required to report the number of unsheltered persons served monthly. 

The City of Flagstaff issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) on September 20, 2023, for $700,000.00 for HSSF eligible programs.  Applications were due on October 10th and six (6) were received. Housing staff conducted a risk assessment of all six (6) applying agencies and the proposed programs. Additionally, a Ranking Committee comprised of one (1) community representative, one (1) member of the Housing Commission and three (3) City Staff members reviewed and evaluated the received applications, resulting in preliminary funding recommendations. The funding recommendations were presented to the Housing Commission on October 26, 2023. The Housing Commission voted unanimously to forward the allocations presented with a recommendation to City Council for approval. City Council discussed the recommended allocations on December 19, 2023, January 9, 2024, and January 16, 2024.

If funded as detailed in this Staff Summary, these projects will provide shelter and services to 3,000 unduplicated, unsheltered, residents of Flagstaff, including 70 youth under the age of 21. 

In addition to issuing a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the public to respond to, the Housing Commission discussed and approved the funding recommendations resulting from a ranking committee with resident involvement. City Council discussed the HSSF awards at three meetings: December 19th, 2023, January 9th, 2024, and January 16, 2024. These meetings were held in accordance with Open Meeting Law and included a public participation process allowing for public comments.