Family Self-Sufficiency Grant Application Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 14.
ITEM TITLE: Family Self-Sufficiency Grant Application
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval to submit a grant application to fund
the three existing Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator positions.
RESOLUTION Authorizing the Mayor to execute an application for the
HUD Family Self-Sufficiency Program Grant and authorizing the Director of
Housing and Community Development and the City Manager to approve
the application
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Adopt Resolution(s)
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
❑ FSS Intent to Apply-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
❑ Staff Memo Staff Memo
❑ Resolution Resolutions
THE CITY OF Dubuque
U E I
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Notice of Intent to Apply for Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator Grant
DATE: July 14, 2015
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has published the Notice of
Funding Opportunity for the Family Self-Sufficiency Program Coordinators for HUD's
Fiscal Year 2015.
The Family Self-Sufficiency program promotes the development of local strategies to
coordinate the use of assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program
with public and private resources to enable participating families to increase earned
income and financial literacy, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and
make progress toward economic independence and self-sufficiency. The Family Self-
Sufficiency program supports HUD's strategic goal of utilizing housing as a platform for
improving quality of life by helping HUD-assisted renters increase their economic
security and self-sufficiency. The Family Self-Sufficiency program also supports the
City's goals for a sustainable Dubuque by helping families achieve their economic goals
while increasing opportunities and community partnerships. Research conducted by
HUD finds that the Family Self-Sufficiency program helps families to secure
employment, increase wages and accumulate assets.
The City currently employs three Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinators. One of the three
positions is funded by HUD and two of the positions are funded by general funds. The
current grant application will request renewal funding for the one HUD-funded position
and new funding for the two positions currently supported with general funds.
Housing and Community Development Department Director Alvin Nash recommends
City Council approval to submit a grant application in the amount of$198,638, broken
down as $63,478 for renewal funding for one Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator and
$135,160 to fund the two Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator positions which are
currently funding by general funds.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen'
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Alvin Nash, Housing and Community Development Department Director
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THE CITY OF Dubuque
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Alvin Nash, Housing & CD Director
DATE: July 15, 2015
RE: Notice of Intent to Apply For Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator Grant
INTRODUCTION
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has published the Notice of
Funding Opportunity for the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Coordinators for
HUD's Fiscal Year 2015. The grant is due July 27, 2015. HUD anticipates the award
announcements will take place before September 30, 2015.
The City currently employs three Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinators. One of the three
positions is funded by HUD and two of the positions are funded by general funds. The
current grant application will request renewal funding for the one HUD-funded position
and new funding for the two positions currently supported with general funds.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the FSS program is to promote the development of local strategies to
coordinate the use of assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program
with public and private resources to enable participating families to increase earned
income and financial literacy, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and
make progress toward economic independence and self-sufficiency. The FSS program
supports HUD's strategic goal of utilizing housing as a platform for improving quality of
life by helping HUD-assisted renters increase their economic security and self-
sufficiency. The FSS program also supports the City's goals for a sustainable Dubuque
by helping families achieve their economic goals while increasing opportunities and
community partnerships. Research conducted by HUD finds that the FSS program
helps families to secure employment, increase wages and accumulate assets.
The FSS program provides critical tools that can be used by communities to help
families develop new skills that will lead to economic self-sufficiency. By having an FSS
coordinator whose primary responsibility is to guide and connect participants to needed
training and resources, FSS participants gain access to the support they need in order
to achieve their self-sufficiency goals and move up the economic ladder. Many families
participating in FSS have achieved stable employment which has made it possible for
them to become homeowners or move to other non-assisted rental housing.
An FSS Program Coordinator must: (1) build partnerships with employers and service
providers in the community; (2) prepare Individual Training and Services Plan for the
head of the FSS family and each adult member of the FSS family who elects to
participate in the FSS program; (3) ensure the services included in the participants'
contracts of participation are provided on a regular, ongoing basis and that participants
are fulfilling their responsibilities under the contracts; and (4) monitor the progress of
participants and evaluate the overall success of the program.
In a study conducted by HUD, the report found that FSS program graduates were more
likely to be employed and had higher incomes than non-program participants. Locally
we have found that the average annual income for FSS graduates had increased from
$7,345 to $27,561 . The HUD study reported the average escrow balance of graduates
was $5,294. FSS graduates in the City earn an average escrow of$6,196.
Funds awarded under this Notice may only be used to pay the annual salary and fringe
benefits of FSS program coordinators. The eligibility for funding will be based on the
number of FSS program participants during the target period (June 1 , 2014 through May
31 , 2014), according to a formula that supports one full time position for the number of
participants served. For three positions, 125-174 families must be served during the
target period. According to the HUD reports, the City of Dubuque has served 134
participants.
Due to limited funding available, HUD has identified funding priority categories. Funding
for renewal positions will be capped at the total of the most recent award amount. If
funding was prorated under such NOFAs, funding will be considered as the eligible
amount before any proration. The "Cap on Funding Amount for Renewal Positions" for
the City of Dubuque is $63,478 for one renewal position.
Next HUD has set up "Funding Priority Categories" for new positions. The second
category is for funding increase for applicants that are increasing from a part-time
renewal position to a full-time position. Funding category Three is for new coordinator
positions for eligible applicants. Funding for this category will be determined based on
the applicant's staff-to-client ratio. HUD will fund new coordinator positions under this
category starting with applicants that show the coordinators with the highest caseload
first, provided funding remains after all eligible applicants are funded under Categories
One and Two. We intend to submit the request for two FSS Coordinator positions
under this category in the amount of$135,160.
RECOMMENDATION
We are requesting approval to submit the grant application and the attached resolution
in order to obtain federal funds for the FSS Coordinator positions. The application will
include:
$63,478 Renewal funding for one (1) Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator
$135,160 Additional funding for two (2) existing Family Self-Sufficiency
Coordinator positions currently supported by general funds.
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RESOLUTION NO. 246-15
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN APPLICATION FOR
THE HUD FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM GRANT AND AUTHORIZING
THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE CITY
MANAGER TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION
Whereas, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has published a
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Family Self -Sufficiency Program to be
utilized for the salaries of program coordinators combining the funding for the FSS
coordinators that serve Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) participants and/or Public
Housing (PH) participants for Calendar Year 2016; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque has administered Project Self -Sufficiency since
September 1987 that became the Family Self -Sufficiency (FSS) Program in July 1994;
and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque has received funding for an FSS coordinator
continuously since 1994; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque proposes to continue administering the FSS program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE IOWA:
Section 1: That the Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to submit an application
for the HUD FSS program grant.
Section 2: That the Director of Housing and Community Development and the City
Manager are hereby authorized to approve the application that is submitted to HUD.
Section 3: That the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to forward said
application and resulting standard executed contract to the respective agencies in a
timely fashion and as required by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
Passed, approved and adopted this 20th day of July, 2015.
Attest:
allOP
Kevin S. Firnstahl, City Clerk
Roy D. Buol, Mayor