Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

A. MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2019-123 of the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County, Florida, authorizing appropriation and disbursement of United States Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") grant funds in the amount of $7,963,227 and a Broward County match of $885,135 for a total amount of $8,848,362 for Fiscal Years 2019 and 2020, to provide housing and services to families and individuals experiencing homelessness; approving funding to specified service providers; authorizing the County Administrator to execute agreements with the service providers and the appropriate grant agreements with HUD; approving revisions to the HUD Addendum to the approved Unit of Service Form Agreement; authorizing the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the agreements; and providing for severability and an effective date.

ACTION:  (T-10:45 AM)  Approved.

VOTE:  9-0.  Commissioner Geller and Vice-Mayor Holness voted in the affirmative telephonically.

B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2019-124 in the HUD Continuum of Care Fund in the amount of $8,848,362 for supportive services, housing and rental assistance for families and individuals in Broward County who are experiencing homelessness in addition to operational expenses and administrative expenses.

ACTION:  (T-10:45 AM)  Approved.

VOTE:  9-0.  Commissioner Geller and Vice-Mayor Holness voted in the affirmative telephonically.

C. MOTION TO APPROVE waivers of conflict under Section 112.31(7)(a), Florida Statutes, for the following Broward County advisory board members holding an employment or contractual relationship with an entity receiving funds for the performance of homeless services under this agenda item.

 

A. Broward County Administrative Code 23.7 requires Board approval for the appropriation and disbursement of funds to external agencies and resolutions authorizing the County Administrator to execute the appropriate agreements and amendments.
 

B. In accordance with Section 129.06(2)(d), Florida Statutes, Board approval is required to provide for revenue.

 

C. A waiver of conflict arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, requires two-thirds approval by the Board.

Approval of Motions A and B provide for continued funding of 754 beds and supportive services for families and individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as providing funding for focused and coordinated strategic planning to reduce and prevent homelessness in Broward County.

Approval of Motion C waives the existence of any conflicts arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, as authorized under applicable law.

None.

THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
 

These actions support the Commission Value of "Approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately, with special emphasis on persons and families experiencing homelessness" and the Goal to "Collaborate with public and private partners to find creative, equitable, and responsible solutions to systemic community problems, especially permanent supportive housing for persons experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness." Funding will provide housing and related supportive services for Broward County families and individuals experiencing homelessness.

On September 25, 2018 Broward County applied for twenty-four HUD projects; twenty-three were awarded (Exhibit 3). The new Salvation Army Rapid Rehousing project was not funded. Nineteen of the funded projects, for a total of $7,963,227, are either directly administered by the County or are distributed by the County to subrecipients (Exhibit 1, Attachment A). The remaining four projects, with awards totaling $2,238,589, do not pass through Broward County and are as follows: Broward I with Volunteers of America, Inc. ($412,384); Shelter Plus Care (S+C) Permanent Housing 100 Units with the Broward County Housing Authority ($1,123,831); Rights of Passage with Covenant House Florida, Inc. ($179,418); and Red Shield Lodge/Plymouth Colony with The Salvation Army ($522,956). HUD projects currently awarded to the Broward Continuum of Care ("CoC") total $10,201,816 (Exhibit 3). The start dates identified on Exhibit 1, Attachment A, vary due to the HUD Notice of Funding Availability award dates from previous years. As a result, the HUD awards span two separate County Fiscal Years, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.
 
Broward County is responsible for providing HUD-required match for the following projects: Broward Partnership Housing IV, CoC Planning Project, Homeless Management Information System ("HMIS"), HART & Home and Newhart (Exhibit 1, Attachment A).

Broward County sponsored projects met 85% of the performance outcomes. The projects that did not meet the outcomes are identified in Exhibit 4. The County will continue to measure client benefits and the effectiveness of its programs.

Staff will utilize the applicable Board-approved form agreement for these projects and the revised HUD Addendum (Exhibit 1, Attachment B). The agreements and addenda will be reviewed and approved by the Office of the County Attorney prior to execution by the County Administrator.

Approval of this item would give rise to certain employment conflicts under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, which provides that "no public officer...shall have or hold any employment or contractual relationship with any business entity...which is doing business with an agency of which he or she is an officer or employee." In accordance with Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, Board approval is required to waive any conflict arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes. An effective waiver requires two-thirds vote of the County Commission after full disclosure of conflicting relationship (Motion C). Forms 4A attached hereto as Exhibit 6 constitute full disclosure of any existing conflict.

Darrell Cunningham, Director, Community Partnerships Division, (954) 357-6398
Rebecca McGuire, Administrator, Homeless Initiative Partnership Section, (954) 357-5686