Planning and Development Services Department
TO: David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM: Margene K. Swarts, Assistant Director, Development Services
CC: Scott McCullough, Director, Planning and Development Services
DATE: September 16, 2009
City staff has received information that the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) is nearing completion of the allocation process for Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program funds (HPRP) for which the City applied in August. Final determination of the funding should be forthcoming from the State within the week. Pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 regulations (of which this program is a part), grant documents will need to be executed by all parties on or before September 30, 2009.
The City may or may not receive funding through this program but due to the fact that the City Commission will not be meeting on September 29, 2009, staff requests that the City Commission authorize the Mayor to sign such grant documents and assurances as may be required for participation in the program by the City.
In the original application, the City partnered with the Lawrence/Douglas County Housing Authority to submit an application for the program that would address homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing in the City as well as the County. The application requested $1,285,750 for Financial Assistance and Housing Relocation and Stabilization Services for Homelessness Prevention and $911,930 for Financial Assistance and Housing Relocation and Stabilization Services for Rapid Re-housing. Additionally, the application included a request for funds for data collection requirements as well as administrative costs for salaries of personnel providing the accounting and reporting of grant funds. A total of $2,253,930 was requested and 20% of the funds are to be utilized specifically for individuals or families residing in or homeless in the County as noted above so the venture will be a comprehensive program for Douglas County and not limited to the City of Lawrence.
KHRC is making approximately $8.3 million available statewide for a thirty month period for this program. The program is targeted and prioritized to serve households that are most in need of this temporary assistance and are most likely to achieve and maintain stable housing after the program concludes.
At such time as the documents become available, staff will prepare them for the Mayor's signature. A future report will be made to the City Commission regarding this program. If you have further questions, please let me know.
Action Requested: Staff requests that the City Commission authorize the Mayor to sign grant documents and assurances as may be required for participation in the HPRP program by the City.