DEPARTMENT: Social Services
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Submit Grant Application To Minnesota Housing Finance Agency For Family Homelessness Prevention And Assistance Program Funds, Accept Grant Funds, Execute Grant Agreement And Related Contracts, And Amend 2025 Social Services Budget
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize submission of a Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) grant application to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, and, if awarded, authorize acceptance of grant funds, execution of the grant agreement and related contracts, and amendment to the 2025 Social Services Budget.
SUMMARY
The Minnesota Legislature established FHPAP in 1993 to assist families with children, youth and single adults who are homeless or are at imminent risk of homelessness. By Minn. Stat. § 462A.204, FHPAP grant funding must be administered by counties in the metro area who, in turn, may sub-grant some or all funds to other entities. Funding is awarded through a competitive grant application process with predetermined criteria in four categories: planning, project design, program capacity/performance and need.
Minnesota Statute also requires the establishment of an advisory committee to assist in preparing the project proposal and the design, implementation, and evaluation of the project. The Dakota County Affordable Housing Coalition (AHC) acts as the FHPAP Advisory Committee, and a community-based subcommittee has been established by the AHC to help inform project direction and priorities.
Dakota County has received FHPAP grant funds for the past 20 years. By Resolution No. 23-164 (April 25, 2023), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved submission of an application for a FHPAP grant in an amount up to $5,200,000, and, if awarded, authorized subcontracting with three vendors for a combined total of up to $5,200,000 for Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Scott-Carver-Dakota Community Action Partnership Agency (CAP) and with 360 Communities for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025.
A request for proposals for subcontractors was issued on February 7, 2023, as required by county procurement policies. Three responses were received and three subgrantees, CAP, 360 Communities and the YMCA were selected to serve homeless and at-risk families, single adults, and youth (Attachment: Solicitation Summary).
For the upcoming biennium, staff requests authorization to submit a grant application to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the FHPAP grant in the amount up to $4,500,000. This amount includes up to $4,500,000 for the three recommended contracted subgrantees and up to 15 percent for administrative costs for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027.
If awarded, staff recommends execution of contracts with the YMCA, CAP and 360 Communities for a combined total amount not to exceed $4,500,000, for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027.
OUTCOMES
See Attachment: Outcomes, for details
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends that the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorizes submission of a FHPAP grant application to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, and, if awarded, authorizes acceptance of grant funds, execution of the grant agreement and related contracts for services in the not to exceed contract amounts listed in the Resolution, and an amendment to the 2025 Social Services Budget.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
There is a $0 net County cost anticipated as a result of this action. Authorization is requested to amend the 2025 Social Services Budget by $4,500,000 to reflect the revenues and expenses associated with the grant.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☒ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature established Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) in 1993 to assist families with children, youth and single adults who are homeless or are at imminent risk of homelessness; and
WHEREAS, by Minn. Stat. § 462A.204, FHPAP grant funding must be administered by counties in the metro area who, in turn, may sub-grant some or all funds to other entities; and
WHEREAS, funding is awarded through a competitive grant application process with predetermined criteria in four categories: planning, project design, program capacity/performance and need; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statute also requires the establishment of an advisory committee to assist in preparing the project proposal and the design, implementation and evaluation of the project; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota County Affordable Housing Coalition (AHC) acts as the FHPAP Advisory Committee and a community-based subcommittee has been established by the AHC to help inform project direction and priorities; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County has received these grant funds for the past 20 years; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 23-164 (April 25, 2023), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved submission of an application for a FHPAP grant in an amount up to $5,200,000, and, if awarded, authorized subcontracting with three vendors for a combined total of up to $5,200,000 for Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Scott-Carver-Dakota Community Action Partnership Agency (CAP) and with 360 Communities for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025; and
WHEREAS, a request for proposals for subcontractors was issued on February 7, 2023, as required by county procurement policies; and
WHEREAS, three responses were received and three subgrantees, CAP, 360 Communities and the YMCA were selected to serve homeless and at-risk families, single adults and youth; and
WHEREAS, for the upcoming biennium, staff requests authorization to submit a grant application to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the FHPAP grant in the amount up to $4,500,000; and
WHEREAS, this amount includes a combined total up to $4,500,000 for the three recommended contracted subgrantees and up to 15 percent for administrative costs for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027; and
WHEREAS, if awarded, staff recommends execution of contracts with the YMCA, CAP and 360 Communities for a combined total amount not to exceed $4,500,000, for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the submission of a Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) grant application to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency in the amount of $4,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That, if awarded, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to accept grant funds and execute a grant agreement with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency in the amount awarded for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That unless the grant program requirements change, the Community Services Director is hereby authorized to amend the grant to extend the grant term up to two years after initial expiration date, accept additional grant funds, and continue grant-funded full-time equivalents, consistent with County contracting policies, and inclusion of grant funds in future yearly Recommended and Approved Budgets, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That, if awarded, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute contracts with the Young Men’s Christian Association, the Scott-Carver-Dakota Community Action Partnership Agency, and with 360 Communities in a combined total not to exceed $4,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Community Services Director is hereby authorized to amend said contracts, consistent with the amount budgeted, to alter the contract amounts and the contract terms up to one year after initial expiration date, consistent with County contracting policies, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the contracts shall contain a provision that allows the County to immediately terminate the contracts in the event sufficient funds from county, state, or federal sources are not appropriated at a level sufficient to allow payment of the amounts due; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That, if awarded, the 2025 Social Services Budget is hereby amended as follows:
|
Expense |
|
Social Services Budget |
$4,500,000 |
|
Total Expense |
$4,500,000 |
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
FHPAP Grant |
$4,500,000 |
|
Total Revenue |
$4,500,000 |
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
23-164; 4/25/23
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Solicitation Summary
Attachment: Outcomes
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Emily Schug
Author: Rebecca Bowers