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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2307-17369.Accept the Human Relation Commission’s Recommended Contingency Plan for the Distribution of $200,000 in Additional Funding for the FY2024-25 Human Services Resource Allocation Process Recipients; CEQA status – not a project. City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR Lead Department: Community Services Meeting Date: September 11, 2023 Report #:2307-1736 TITLE Accept the Human Relation Commission’s Recommended Contingency Plan for the Distribution of $200,000 in Additional Funding for the FY2024-25 Human Services Resource Allocation Process Recipients; CEQA status – not a project. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that City Council: 1. Approve the Human Relations Commission’s contingency plan for the distribution of $200,000 in additional funding; 2. Authorize the City Manager, or their designee, to execute contract amendments with HSRAP recipients as necessary to implement the additional funding. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Human Relations Commission (HRC) is bringing forth its recommendation for the distribution of $200,000 in additional funding Council approved for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 as part of the Human Services Resource Allocation Process (HSRAP). The recommendation will provide funding to twenty- two (22) human services providers serving Palo Alto residents for the period July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025. BACKGROUND The Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Operating Budget included $651,035 in HSRAP funding recommendations from the HRC to 22 human services organizations1. During budget deliberations, an additional $200,000 was added to HSRAP. This included $50,000 in supplemental funding included in the Proposed FY24 budget and an additional $150,000 1 City of Palo Alto Proposed Operating Budget Fiscal Year 2024, CSD Human Service Contracts: Human Services Resource Allocation Process Contracts, Pages 222-223. https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/administrative-services/city-budgets/fy-2024-city- budget/proposed/city-of-palo-alto-proposed-operating-budget_final.pdf proposed by Council during deliberations; for a total funding investment of $851,035 for FY24. The Council was aware that the HRC had created a contingency plan in the event that additional HSRAP funding was added during budget deliberations, but since the funding allocation spreadsheet was not presented for their consideration, Council requested that it come before them at a later date for approval. ANALYSIS As referenced above, the HRC recommended a contingency plan (Attachment A) if Council approved additional HSRAP funding in amounts of $100,000 or $200,000 annually. HSRAP grants are not unrestricted organizational grants, but funding for specific programs and services as proposed by the applicant. The initial contingency allocation recommendation came from the ad hoc HSRAP Review Committee (Reviewers) who met and re-visited the proposal scores and notes taken from the initial round of HSRAP recommendations. The Reviewers carefully reviewed and analyzed the merits of the funding requests submitted and made recommended allocations based on the established evaluation criteria2 in the Request for Proposal (RPF) as well as other factors including the number of Palo Alto residents served, past performance (if a past HSRAP recipient), strength of program impact indicators included in the proposal, among others. Reviewers then made recommended allocations for the contingency plan using the following methodology: •Increased many current HSRAP grantees to the level they were getting in FY23 or asked for in FY24; if that funding amount was not in the original allocation. •Added an allocation to two of the applicants who did not get a funding recommendation in the original allocation. •Added additional funding to new applicants or current grantees that submitted well- crafted applications meeting a critical need but were not awarded their requested amount. •Maintained funding levels of those new applicants and current grantees that were awarded a substantial increase in the original allocation. The contingency plan was amended and approved at the April 27, 2023, HRC meeting3. There was general agreement with the draft contingency plan, except for the recommended 2 Human Services Resource Allocation Process (HSRAP) Evaluation Criteria. https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/community-services/human-services/grant-programs/hsrap- fy2425/hsrap-evaluation-criteria-fy24.pdf 3 Human Relations Commission, April 27, 2023, Item 3. https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/community-services/human-relations-commission/agendas/4- 27-23/4-27-23-hrc-agenda.pdf distribution to Ada’s Café, which was discussed and increased from $6,000 to $10,000. To be able to do this, distribution amounts to four other recipients were decreased by $1,000 each. Recommended funding allocations range from $6,000 to $91,000, with seven of the 22 recipients recommended to receive funding in the amount of $11,000 or less. Since that time, additional funding became available, which increased several grantees allocations as described in the following paragraph. Since the HRC’s recommendation, Palo Alto Renters’ Association (PARA) and Counseling and Support Services for Youth (CASSY) informed staff that they will be declining their grants, leaving a total of $40,796 to be reallocated. Staff re-allocated this funding in a proportional manner to all grantees not already receiving their full requested amount. This is the standard protocol used by staff for re-distributing funds. FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT Funding in the amount of $200,000 was approved as part of the FY24 Operating budget and is reflected in the Community Services Department Budget. If the Council does not approve the HRC recommendation and chooses to increase funding allocations for any of the applicants, the Council may provide direction to offset that increase with decreased funding to applicants or may direct staff to offset with a draw on the Budget Stabilization Reserve (BSR) as a funding source. Use of the BSR and changes to appropriation levels would require a subsequent action by the City Council. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT The HSRAP contingency plan was discussed at the April 27, 2023 meeting of the Human Relations Commission. Meeting information was both publicly noticed and sent out to all HSRAP funding applicants. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Approval of this action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per CEQA Guidelines 15061(b)(3). ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Proposed HSRAP Allocations FY24-25 APPROVED BY: Kristen O'Kane, Community Services Director Proposed HSRAP Allocations FY24-25 Agency Program Descriptions FY23 Funding FY24 Agency Request FY24 Budget* FY24 Proposed Contingency Additional $200,000 AbilityPath Adult Services for people with developmental disabilities $66,047 $69,988 $58,725 $69,988 Ada's Café Employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities n/a $75,000 $0 $12,442 Adolescent Counseling Services ASAT Adolescent substance addiction treatment program for Middle and High School students n/a $30,000 $0 $7,465 Adolescent Counseling Services OUTLET Support and empowerment for LGBTQIA+ youth $51,282 $50,000 $44,457 $50,000 Alta Housing Academic support and skill-building opportunities to low-income students and increase food and financial resiliency for families $39,750 $43,725 $35,344 $43,725 Counseling and Support Services for Youth (CASSY)*** Individual and group therapy for students to increase social-emotional wellbeing, self- regulation, and coping strategies $56,342 $40,000 $35,566 n/a Children's Health Council Provide transportation to access in-person therapy, basic food needs, and clinician recommended therapy supplies for families with children ages 5-22 with Medi-Cal n/a $12,500 $5,230 $7,751 Dowtown Streets Team Work experience program that empowers and supports individuals experiencing homelessness $11,330 $50,557 $20,921 $38,473 DreamCatchers After-school tutoring and mentorship program for low-income middle school students $33,114 $60,000 $29,443 $55,256 Health Trust Meals on Wheels; fully-prepared meals delivered to vulnerable seniors $12,669 $21,600 $19,205 $21,600 Heart and Home Collaborative Winter shelter for women experiencing homelessness n/a $50,000 $28,463 $40,442 Kara Comprehensive grief support, crisis intervention and education to individuals and families facing grief and loss $28,326 $28,000 $24,896 $28,000 Karat School Project Distribution of education and essential item packages, and participation in a nature equity education camp for low-income families living in RVs $5,665 $23,310 $10,852 $13,503 La Comida Provides nutritious and affordable lunches to seniors while creating a socially stimulating atmosphere $55,956 $60,000 $49,753 $60,000 LifeMoves Provides critical food services for individuals experiencing homelessness $95,218 $92,893 $82,595 $92,893 Palo Alto Renters' Association (PARA)**Train renters in every neighborhood to counsel fellow tenants and navigate rights. n/a $12,000 $5,230 n/a Parents and Advocates of Remarkable Children and Adults (PARCA) On-site support services for developmentally disabled adults living in a residential program.n/a $20,000 $10,460 $13,015 Peninsula Healthcare Connection Provide basic needs through community-based services that target the immediate health needs of hard to reach individuals experiencing homelessness $7,931 $61,087 $26,151 $38,759 Ravenswood Family Health Network Provides health care acces to vulnerable residents to ensure they receive patient- centered health care services $53,024 $75,000 $47,145 $75,000 Senior Adults Legal Assistance Provides a wide range of legal services, from advice/referrals to comprehensive legal representation, for adults aged 60 and older $19,448 $20,500 $17,291 $20,500 Vista Center Provide visually impaired seniors with the skills and support necessary to remain independent, safe, employed and mobile $48,266 $47,209 $41,976 $47,209 WeHOPE Provide showers, laundry, and case management services through the Dignity on Wheels mobile trailer n/a $112,640 $14,645 $63,014 YMCA Palo Alto Senior fitness programming and financial assistance for senior memberships n/a $10,000 $8,891 $10,000 Youth Community Service Youth well-being and leadership program services through community service projects $38,008 $42,000 $33,795 $42,000 TOTALS $622,376 $1,108,009 $651,034 $851,035 *Budget approved at the City Council June 19, 2023, meeting **PARA declined the award on 7/20/23 ***CASSY declined the award on 8/7/23