Title
Adopt a Resolution to Approve Recommendations from the City of San Leandro Human Services Commission for Community Assistance Program (CAP) Grants for Fiscal Years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025
Staff report
COUNCIL PRIORITY
• Homelessness
SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATIONS
The CAP is a grant program that the City administers to support non-profit organizations that provide human services to San Leandro residents. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the recommendations provided by the City’s Human Services Commission for the Fiscal Years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 Community Assistance Program (CAP), in an amount not to exceed $160,000 per fiscal year.
BACKGROUND
As part of a long-standing process, every two years the Human Services Commission (HSC) invites non-profit organizations to submit written proposals for funding, and then reviews those proposals, assesses the City’s need for the program or proposed services, and makes funding recommendations to the City Council. To help inform that process, the Commission and City staff review applications through the lens of current needs and the 2017 Human Services Gap Analysis. According to the Gap Analysis Implementation Plan, the City’s current priorities are as follows:
• severe/high-level mental and behavioral health,
• development of food security programs or services,
• domestic and intimate partner violence services and job development,
• income support, and
• employment services
Analysis
On December 6, 2022, the Human Services Department issued a Request for Funding Applications (RFA). In response to the RFA, the HSC received a total of five (5) grant applications for CAP grants. Those applications were subsequently discussed at a publicly-noticed HSC meeting on April 4, 2023, and funding recommendations were made at the conclusion of the meeting.
The City’s Community Development Department also submitted their recommendations to the HSC, but only for how Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant applicants should be funded. CDBG funded public service programs are not included in this staff report and will be brought forward to City Council by the Community Development Department separately at this meeting.
Because funding is limited, grants were recommended for the most essential services using the priorities identified in the Human Services Gap Analysis identified above.
The Commission recommends the following CAP allocations:
AGENCY FY2023-24 FY2024-25
East Bay Agency for Children (EBAC) $35,000 $35,000
Family Violence Law Center (FVLC) $41,000 $41,000
Seneca Family of Agencies $35,000 $35,000
Ruby’s Place $31,000 $31,000
Safe Alternatives from Violent Environments (SAVE) $18,000 $18,000
TOTAL $160,000 $160,000
Proposed Scope of Services for each requesting agency identified above:
1. EBAC: Resource case management for food security, family violence prevention services, counseling etc.
2. FVLC: Free legal services for persons fleeing violence (restraining orders, custody/support orders, etc.).
3. Seneca Family of Agencies: Counseling services, case management, family crisis intervention, respite stay services and parenting workshops.
4. Ruby’s Place: Shelter and services for domestic/intimate partner violence.
5. SAVE: In partnership with the San Leandro Police Department, provide services to prevent and reduce domestic violence, along with support to victims and their children.
Legal Analysis
Staff consulted with the City Attorney throughout the grant program process and followed the City Attorney’s guidance regarding the public vetting and approval process.
Financial Impacts
The proposed Fiscal Years 2023-24 and 2024-25 budgets include $160,000 in account number 010-63-014-8513 for Community Assistance Program grants.
ATTACHMENT
• Attachment A: Resolution to Approve Recommendations from San Leandro Human Services Commission for CAP Grants for Fiscal Years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 and to authorize the City Manager to enter into corresponding agreements with relevant service providers
PREPARED BY:
Pedro Naranjo, Human Services Manager and
Eric Engelbart, Deputy City Manager / Acting Human Services Director