Housing Authority of the City of Columbia, Missouri Board

							            Housing Authority of the City of Columbia, Missouri

                            Board Resolution Staff Memo

To:    Board of Commissioners

From: Phil Steinhaus, CEO

Date: May 19, 2009

RE:   Resolution 2408: To Authorize the Submission of a Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-
      Housing Grant Application to the State of Missouri for Housing and Homeless Prevention
      Funds available through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act


Title XII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, created funding for
homelessness prevention, referred to by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) as the "Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program
(HPRP)". The HPRP will provide financial assistance and services to either prevent individuals
and families from becoming homeless or help those who are experiencing homelessness to be
quickly re-housed and stabilized.

The State of Missouri will receive $27 million in HPRP funding from HUD. Five communities that
met HUD formula requirements will receive $15 million directly from HUD. The Department of
Social Services will allocate the remaining $12 million across the state. The following
communities will receive funds directly from HUD:
   • Kansas City $ 3,628,139
   • Springfield $ 551,673
   • St. Joseph $ 727,371
   • St. Louis City $ 8,156,188
   • St. Louis County $ 2,188,751
   • Remainder of State $12,011,262

Distribution of Funds
Prior to developing the draft Substantial Amendment to the Consolidated Plan, representatives of
the State met with individuals with expertise and involvement in homelessness and housing and
drafted the following guiding principles.

Guiding principles for the effective use of HPRP resources to prevent and end homelessness:
   1. Resources should be targeted to households with the highest likelihood of becoming
       homeless.
   2. Programs should provide just enough assistance to prevent or end an episode of
       homelessness stretching resources as far as possible.
   3. Distribution of funds should achieve maximum access for needy Missourians while
       minimizing administrative costs as much as possible.
   4. Other federal, state and local funds, including other ARRA funds must be coordinated.
   5. HPRP funds should supplement and compliment existing programs. Subgrantees should
       have the infrastructure, capacity and experience to distribute funds rapidly to Missourians
       with housing needs that have been caused by the down turn in the economy.

These guiding principles were used by the State as the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-
Housing Program was designed.
The State of Missouri has allotted $10,666,047 in funding for Category 3 applicants from the
Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program fund.

Category 3 is a separate Request for Proposals (RFP) to be issued after HUD approval of the
State’s plan to spend funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). The
activities will focus solely on beneficiaries at 50% of LMMI and below. By virtue of the statute
design, the activities directed at this target audience may include, but not be limited to: rental
housing, shelters, and where feasible, homeownership.

Because the planning and expenditure of these funds is moving rather quickly, many program
details have not been finalized including application deadlines, category funding amounts, and
regional allocations. CHA will monitor this program closely and determine how best to apply for
funding through this program to meet community need.

CHA has been in close contact with our Basic Needs Coalition, the City/County Department of
Health and Human Services, the City Department of Planning and Development, and the
Balance of State Continuum of Care Committee to determine how best to apply for and utilize
any funding available through this program.


Staff Recommendation: Approve Resolution 2408 authorizing the Chief Executive Officer to
prepare and submit a Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing grant application to the State
of Missouri for rental housing, shelters, and possibly homeownership.
            Housing Authority of the City of Columbia, Missouri

                                    Board Resolution

                                     Resolution 2408
 To Authorize the Submission of a Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-
   Housing Grant Application to the State of Missouri for Housing and
Homeless Prevention Funds available through the American Reinvestment
                          and Recovery Act
       WHEREAS, the Housing Authority of the City of Columbia, Missouri, has the primary
purpose of developing affordable housing by providing decent, safe, and sanitary housing
opportunities for lower income households; and
      WHEREAS, the funding for homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing services is
made available to various categories of applicants through the Recovery Act of 2009; and
       WHEREAS, the Housing Authority of the City of Columbia is seeking additional housing
assistance resources; and
      WHEREAS, the Housing Authority of the City of Columbia, Missouri, is eligible under
Category 3 to make application to the State of Missouri for additional housing assistance funds;
and
        WHEREAS, The Housing Authority of the City of Columbia, Missouri, desires to
continue to provide as many families with assistance as financially possible, while prudently
administering assistance programs in this time of increased assistance payments based on
lower family incomes, tight economics and increased unemployment; and
        WHEREAS, The Housing Authority of the City of Columbia, Missouri, has the opportunity
to increase the funding support for housing assistance through a grant application with the State
of Missouri for such Recovery Act funds; and
       WHEREAS, The Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of
Columbia, Missouri authorizes the Chief Executive Officer to prepare and submit documents
which are necessary in applying for funding through the Rapid Rehousing and Homelessness
Prevention program; and
       NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners of the
Housing Authority of the City of Columbia, Missouri, hereby adopts Resolution 2408 authorizing
the submission of a Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Grant Application grant
application to the State of Missouri as a Category 3 applicant for additional housing assistance
funds.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing
Grant application should be approved, Resolution 2408 also authorizes the execution of all
applicable grant contract award agreements and the implementation of the programs and
projects as described in the grant application.



_________________________________
Marvin Kinney, Chairman


_________________________________
Phil Steinhaus, Secretary

Adopted May 19, 2009