TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Kelly Olivera, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cauley, MPA - Economic and Community Development Director
Albert A. Baker - Community Relations Manager
DATE: November 14, 2022
RE:
Title
Housing for People with AIDS (HOPWA) Contract with Robeson County Health Department (through Dogwood Health Care Network) for Housing Support Services
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All Council Districts and the Fayetteville/Cumberland Metropolitan Statistical Area
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
GOAL IV: The City of Fayetteville will be a highly desirable place to live, work and recreate.
4.6: To reduce poverty and homelessness
Executive Summary:
City Council is asked to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with the Robeson County Health Department (through Dogwood Health Care Network) to provide housing stability and support services to qualified populations within the Fayetteville/Cumberland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The amount of the contract will be $534,528 and is funded through the Economic and Community Development Department’s (ECD) Annual Action Plan (AAP) through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Background:
City Council authorized the AAP at the June 27, 2022 regular City Council meeting. This is the first time the City of Fayetteville has become an entitlement community for the HOPWA grant. The HOPWA program aims to ensure affordable housing options and related housing services are available to low-income persons with HIV/AIDS and their families. Achieving and maintaining housing stability helps avoid homelessness and improves access to and engagement in HIV/AIDS treatment and care. Effective July 1, 2022, the MSA includes Cumberland, Harnett, and Hoke counties. The federal grantee for the region is the City of Fayetteville.
Issues/Analysis:
On August 1, 2022, the City of Fayetteville requested qualifications from qualified firms to provide supportive housing services, short-term rental, mortgage, and utility assistance, along with tenant-based rental assistance services for persons with HIV/AIDS within the MSA. The request closed on August 31, 2022 and two responses were received. The ECD appointed an evaluation committee whose responsibilities included performing independent technical evaluations of each qualified statement and making selection recommendations based on the criteria above. The review panel included the Director of the Cumberland County Health Department, the Chair of the Cumberland County AIDS Task Force, the Chair of the Fayetteville Redevelopment Commission, the Housing Program Manager, and the City’s Homeless Response Analyst.
The City reviewed each qualified statement based on the flowing criteria:
• Overall experience with working with the identified at-risk population,
• Specific experience with housing support services, short-term rent, mortgage and utility assistance, and tenant-based rental assistance
• Ability to provide supportive services to include: permanent housing placement, housing case management and mental health services
• Ability to provide payment and submit reimbursement
• Demonstration of program collaboration with area agencies
• Sponsor capacity
Budget Impact:
The amount of the contract will be $534,528 and is funded through the Program Year 2022 Annual Action Plan. No matching funds are required.
Options:
• Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with the Robeson County Health Department (through Dogwood Health Care Network) to provide housing stability and support services to qualified populations within the Fayetteville/Cumberland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
• Do not authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with the Robeson County Health Department (through Dogwood Health Care Network) to provide housing stability and support services to qualified populations within the Fayetteville/Cumberland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
• Direct staff to some other action.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that City Council move to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with the Robeson County Health Department (through Dogwood Health Care Network) to provide housing stability and support services to qualified populations within the Fayetteville/Cumberland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
Attachments:
None