Presentation Outline

Presentation Outline • Background • Program Requirements • Orange County HPRP Plan • HPRP Timeline • Action Requested

Background Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program • The American Recovery Act of 2009 created the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) • The Act provides $1.5 billion for grants to help persons who have recently become homeless or at risk of becoming homeless • Funding allocated for Orange County is $2,523,982.00

Background • HPRP requires an amendment to Orange County’s 2008-09 Action Plan for federal programs • Focus of HPRP is housing stabilization by providing temporary financial assistance and services to eligible households • HPRP is not a mortgage assistance program

Program Requirements Citizen Participation Process • Public Notice published in the Orlando Sentinel on April 5, 2009 • Public Comment Period from April 5, 2009 to April 17, 2009 • Draft Plan available for review at: www.ocfl.net/housing

Program Requirements Citizen Participation Process • Stakeholder meeting held on April 17, 2009 included United Way and Non-profit agencies providing homeless prevention services • Consultation with Orange County’s Division of Mental Health and Homeless Issues • Presentation to the Housing Committee of the Regional Commission on Homelessness

Program Requirements Expenditures and Reporting Deadlines • HPRP requires that 60% of the allocation must be spent within 2 years of grant execution • 100% of allocation must be spent within 3 years of grant execution • Clock begins when HUD signs the Grant Agreement • Quarterly reporting requirements

Orange County HPRP Plan Outline of the Plan • Describes the purpose of HPRP program • Addresses the distribution and administration of funds • Identifies the process to select participating agencies • Describes the plan for ensuring effective and timely use of HPRP

Orange County HPRP Plan Objective • To provide financial assistance and housing stabilization services for eligible Orange County residents • Funds are intended to serve persons who: • - Would be homeless but for the HPRP assistance • - Most likely to maintain stable housing after assistance from the HPRP program concludes

Orange County HPRP Plan Target Population • Orange County residents • Very low income (max. 50% AMI) • Unemployed or underemployed • Households likely to obtain stabilization after completion of the program

Orange County HPRP Plan Distribution and Allocation of Funds Two strategies • Financial Assistance • Financial Assistance to include rental assistance, utility assistance and security deposits • Short term assistance (up to 3 months) and mid-term assistance (up to 12 months) • Assistance goes directly to vendors, not the client

Orange County HPRP Plan Distribution and Allocation of Funds 2. Housing Relocation and Stabilization Services • - Case management that includes crisis intervention, budgeting, re-housing services, information and referral to supportive services • - Clients must commit to housing stabilization services in order to receive financial assistance

Orange County HPRP Plan Proposed Budget

Orange County HPRP Plan Participating Agency Criteria • Identify agencies through existing delivery models • - Agency must have experience in administering financial assistance programs • - Strong accountability and financial controls • - Ability to meet aggressive timelines for payment and delivery of services • - Ability to leverage funds with private sector and other non- federal resources

Orange County HPRP Plan Participating Agency Criteria • - Case management capacity (funds to expand current capacity, not for new services) • - Public access (ability to offer case management at diverse geographic locations across Orange County) - Systems in place to ensure proper tracking and reporting of all program activities - Agency must utilize the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) software for reporting

Orange County HPRP Plan Existing Program Models • Exploring collaboration with United Way • - Centralized Information and Referral (2-1-1) • - Affiliated agencies offering case management • - Ability to leverage $2 million in private funds for financial assistance and case management • - Adequate financial controls • - Tracking and reporting capabilities

Orange County Government Participating Agency (Case Management) Administrative Agency (i.e. United Way Model) HPRP Client/Household Financial Assistance Payments To Vendors (Landlords, Utility Companies) Orange County HPRP PlanHPRP Program Delivery Model

Orange County HPRP Plan Program Design Benefits • One centralized administrative system ensures prompt disbursement of assistance and tracking of program activities • Utilization of an existing successful program model will not require extensive efforts to recreate • Technology and monitoring tools will be used to meet accountability requirements • Ability to serve a larger number of clients

HPRP Timeline

Action Requested Approval of an Amendment to the 2008-2009 Action Plan to include the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP); approval of required application and certifications for federal assistance.

Presentation Outline