Title
Resolution to Approve Funding Recommendations for $250,000.00 to a Supportive Housing Pilot Project as Part of the Joint Integrated Funding Initiative
Memorandum
Attached for your review and action is a resolution to approve allocation of $250,000.00 for the community's Joint Integrated Funding process to fund a two-year supportive housing services pilot project.
The City of Ann Arbor's commitment is 26% of the total budget of $980,000.00 to fund eight local nonprofit agencies to provide supportive housing services to 101 households for two years. These services will be provided at an average unit cost of $5,000.00 per household in units specifically associated with implementing the Blueprint to End Homelessness 500 Unit Plan for Permanent Supportive Housing.
These projects have been recommended by the recently established Joint Integrated Funding Planning Team, the Washtenaw Housing Alliance Operations Committee and Board of Directors, and affirmed by the Joint Integrated Funders' Committee.
In May 2007 the Washtenaw Housing Alliance Board of Directors approved the creation of a Joint Integrated Funding (JIF) process, based on the work and recommendations of the Joint Integrated Planning Team, which included public and private funding bodies and nonprofit membership. This new funding process is built on the following core principles, including:
A structure that enables a joint funding decision-making committee that includes WHA Board members and representatives of key funding organizations;
Focus on projects that advance the Blueprint's plan to create 500 new opportunities for affordable housing with services for persons experiencing homelessness;
Focus on projects that advance the Blueprint's plan to create 500 new opportunities for affordable housing with services for persons experiencing homelessness;
A process where collaborative funding proposals will be developed and recommended through direct provider collaboration - with clearly defined outcomes, standards and data collection methods driving the effort.
The pilot JIF process is focused exclusively on piloting the provision of up to two years of supportive housing services (using a $5,000/unit/year average as a target funding figure) in units specifically associated with implementing the Blueprint's "500 Unit Plan" for Permanent Supportive Housing. Additionally:
Funding in this round is to be linked directly to housing units associated with the "500 Unit Plan" that are either currently in operation or are fully funded and "in the pipeline". Activities retroactive to January of 2008 are eligible.
All projects must agree to accept and adopt the Blueprint Quality and Service Standards as approved by the Washtenaw Housing Alliance Board of Directors.
All projects must agree to utilize the Washtenaw Homeless Management Information System to capture services, demographic, and assessment data prescribed - including but not limited to Housing Risk Assessment, Self-Sufficiency Matrix, and Critical Incident Indicators.
All projects must agree to capture data necessary to measure common community outcomes, and to participate in any research/evaluation of pilot project activity conducted under the auspice of the Blueprint process.
The WHA and Office of Community Development have been charged with jointly staffing the JIF process, and released a Request for Proposals to local service providers to pilot two-year supportive housing services projects. Eight agencies submitted applications proposing to provide supportive housing. These proposals were reviewed and recommended by the WHA Operations Committee, approved by the WHA Board of Directors, endorsed by the JIF Funders' Committee, and are now being recommended for approval by Council.
These agencies and their specific projects include:
Agency and Project Name # of HH Served
Avalon Housing - Carrot Way 30
Avalon Housing - Third Street 6
Interfaith Hospitality Network - Scattered Site 7
Michigan Ability Partners - Whispering Creek 5
Michigan Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative - Scattered Sites 20
Ozone House - SOLO/Scattered Sites 5
SafeHouse/Avalon - Survivors of Domestic Violence 4
SOS Community Services - Scattered Sites 24
If approved by Council, JIF funding will be provided to the above agencies/projects to provide 101 households with two years of supportive housing services, aimed at improving housing stability for individuals and families who are formerly homeless.
Staff
Sponsored by: Councilmember Briere
Prepared by: Mary Jo Callan, Community Development Director
Reviewed by: Jayne Miller, Community Services Administrator
Body
Whereas, In May 2007 the Washtenaw Housing Alliance Board of Directors approved the creation of a Joint Integrated Funding (JIF) process, based on the work and recommendations of the Joint Integrated Planning Team, which included public and private funding bodies and nonprofit membership;
Whereas, This new funding process is built on the core principles of: collaboration and a decision-making model based on highly integrated collaboration between funders and providers in the context of common standards and outcomes, and advancing the Blueprint's plan to create 500 new opportunities for affordable housing with services for persons experiencing homelessness;
Whereas, The WHA and Office of Community Development have been charged with jointly staffing the JIF process, and released a Request for Proposals to local service providers to pilot two-year supportive housing services projects;
Whereas, The following agencies and projects were submitted and reviewed, including:
Agency & Project Name # of HH Served
Avalon Housing - Carrot Way 30
Avalon Housing - Third Street 6
Interfaith Hospitality Network - Scattered Sites 7
Michigan Ability Partners - Whispering Creek 5
Michigan Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative - Scattered Sites 20
Ozone House - SOLO/Scattered Sites 5
SafeHouse/Avalon - Survivors of Domestic Violence 4
SOS Community Services - Scattered Sites 24
Whereas, These projects have been recommended by the recently established Joint Integrated Funding Planning Team, the Washtenaw Housing Alliance Operations Committee and Board of Directors, and affirmed by the Joint Integrated Funders' Committee, and are now being recommended for approval by City Council; and
Whereas, $250,000 are in the FY 09 General Fund budget for the Joint Integrated Funding Project;
RESOLVED, That Council approve $250,000.00 for the community's Joint Integrated Funding process to fund a two-year supportive housing services pilot project to provide supportive housing services to 101 households for two years; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator, or his designee, is authorized to take necessary administrative actions and to execute any documents necessary to complete this transaction and to implement this resolution.