CC 2018-04-10_12a Funding Request_Warming Center_5Cities Homeless Coalition
MEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: TERESA MCCLISH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
BY: KELLY HEFFERNON, ASSOCIATE PLANNER
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO ALLOCATE $7,500 FROM THE
CITY’S GENERAL FUND TO THE 5CITIES HOMELESS COALITION TO
ASSIST WITH 2017-18 WARMING CENTER OPERATIONS
DATE: APRIL 10, 2018
SUMMARY OF ACTION:
Consideration of a $7,500 contribution from the City’s General Fund to the 5Cities
Homeless Coalition (5CHC) to assist with warming center operations for the remainder
of the 2017-18 winter season.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
Granting the request will reduce the General Fund by $7,500.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the City Council consider appropriating $7,500 from the City’s
General Fund unappropriated fund balance to the 5Cities Homeless Coalition to assist
with their 2017-18 warming center operations.
BACKGROUND:
In 2009, the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation received a bequest of
approximately $1.5 million for the purpose of providing shelter and other services to the
homeless not otherwise provided by public or other benefits, with emphasis placed on
the immediate relief and needs of the homeless in the Five Cities area. Since then,
5CHC has been providing a variety of services to the homeless community, serving as
the area’s referral center for South County and providing assistance for immediate
needs and housing (see Attachment 1 for the 2017 5CHC Program Report).
One of the services 5CHC provides is an overnight warming center, which offers a safe,
warm and dry place for homeless adults to find shelter during the winter on nights with
predictions of temperatures at or below 40ºF, or during stormy weather (with rain
forecast at 50% or greater) November 1st through April 30th.
Over the past four (4) years, the City has allocated a total of $30,294 to the 5CHC
through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, the City’s Jim Guthrie
Item 12.a. - Page 1
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO ALLOCATE $7,500 FROM THE CITY’S
GENERAL FUND TO THE 5CITIES HOMELESS COALITION TO ASSIST WITH 2018
WARMING CENTER OPERATIONS
APRIL 10, 2018
PAGE 2
Community Service Grant Program (JGCSGP), a grant program through the Arroyo
Grande Police Department and the City’s General Fund (see Table 1).
Table 1: City of Arroyo Grande Funding Allocated to 5CHC
Year Amount Funding Source
Purpose of Funds
2018 $7,294 CDBG (pending
HUD approval)
Subsistence payments for eviction
prevention and security deposits.
2018 $2,500 JGCSGP Referral and client support services,
and subsistence payments for
eviction prevention and security
deposits.
2017 $2,500 JGCSGP Referral and client support services
to families in crisis.
2017 $7,500 General Fund Warming shelter.
2017 $7,000 AG Police Dept.
Grant
Homeless youth outreach program.
2016 $2,000 JGCSGP Housing and other transitional
assistance for the homeless.
2015 $1,500 JGCSGP Housing and other transitional
assistance for the homeless.
Total: $30,294
The CDBG and JGCSGP funding that the City allocated this year to 5CHC was for
referral and client support services, eviction prevention and security deposits, totaling
$9,794. None of these funds were specifically for the warming center.
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
5CHC resumed operation of its warming center for the 2017-18 winter season at Hillside
Church, located on Newport Avenue in Grover Beach. In previous years, the warming
center was held in the County’s Social Services office on East Grand Avenue in Arroyo
Grande. Operations of the warming center began on November 1, 2017 and will likely
operate through April 30, 2018.
During the 2016-17 winter season, the warming center was open a total of 69 nights
and provided shelter to roughly 250 individuals. The operation for last season finished
with a deficit of $3,066. So far this winter season, the warming center has been open
33 nights and provided shelter for 783 individuals. At this time, 5CHC expects to have a
larger deficit than last year.
Item 12.a. - Page 2
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO ALLOCATE $7,500 FROM THE CITY’S
GENERAL FUND TO THE 5CITIES HOMELESS COALITION TO ASSIST WITH 2018
WARMING CENTER OPERATIONS
APRIL 10, 2018
PAGE 3
5CHC is seeking financial assistance to help cover the costs of operating the warming
center this winter season, which increased this year due to several factors, including:
A $150 facility charge per night (there was no charge for the County Social
Services office used in previous years);
A warming center coordinator has been hired; and
Staff has increased during the late-night hours and morning cleanup and
breakdown due to the increased size of the facility and the number of individuals
served.
Although some cost saving efforts have occurred by involving more volunteers,
receiving in-kind food and cleaning supplies, and switching from sleeping bags to
blankets and sheets to save laundry costs, it is expected that a larger deficit than last
year will occur by the end of this winter season, or by April 30th.
For the 2017-18 winter season, the following government agencies have provided
financial support for the warming center:
County of San Luis Obispo - $20,000
City of Pismo Beach - $10,000
City of Grover Beach - $5,000
The City of Grover Beach will consider a $5,000 request on April 16, 2018 for the 2018-
19 winter season. Table 2 provides a summary of other government agency funding for
various 5CHC homeless prevention programs since 2015.
Table 2: Other Government Agency Funding for 5CHC
Year Agency Amount Purpose of Funds
2018 Pismo Beach $10,000 Warming Center
2018 Pismo Beach $10,000 Warming Center
2017 Pismo Beach $4,000 Housing Support
PB Total: $24,000
2018 Grover Beach $5,000 Warming Center (pending)
2017 Grover Beach $80,000 Homeless Prevention Housing Support (CDBG)
2017 Grover Beach $7,500 Homeless Youth Outreach Grant
2017 Grover Beach $5,000 Warming Center
GB Total: $97,500
2018 County of SLO $25,000 Housing Support (pending federal grant)
2018 County of SLO $58,000 Housing Support (pending federal grant)
2018 County of SLO $181,000 Housing Support
2018 County of SLO $20,000 Warming Center
2017 County of SLO $1,300 Empty Bowls
2017 County of SLO $1,750 Volunteer Recognition
2017 County of SLO $20,000 Warming Center
Item 12.a. - Page 3
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO ALLOCATE $7,500 FROM THE CITY’S
GENERAL FUND TO THE 5CITIES HOMELESS COALITION TO ASSIST WITH 2018
WARMING CENTER OPERATIONS
APRIL 10, 2018
PAGE 4
Year Agency Amount Purpose of Funds
2017 County of SLO $146,388 Housing Support
2017 County of SLO $57,811 Housing Support
2017 County of SLO $25,000 Benefit Advocate, Case Management
2016 County of SLO $1,200 Empty Bowls
2016 County of SLO $15,000 Homeless Respite, Case Management
2016 County of SLO $10,000 Detox
2015 County of SLO $7,000 Dental Support
2015 County of SLO $15,000 Homeless Respite, Case Management
County Total: $584,449
All Other Agency Total: $705,949
ADVANTAGES:
Appropriating $7,500 from the City’s General Fund to assist 5CHC with their warming
center operations will help the overall program be successful and help prevent a
program deficit. Other jurisdictions in the Five Cities area have made comparable
contributions, and the City’s contribution would illustrate similar good faith.
DISADVANTAGES:
The requested appropriation will reduce the General Fund balance by $7,500.
ALTERNATIVES:
The following alternatives are provided for the Council’s consideration:
1. Approve a $7,500 appropriation from the General Fund to the 5CHC warming
center program;
2. Do not approve a $7,500 appropriation from the General Fund to the 5CHC
warming center program;
3. Approve a different appropriation from the General Fund to the 5CHC warming
center program; or
4. Provide other direction to staff.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The allocation of General Fund revenues to a non-profit organization is not considered a
project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The Agenda was posted at City Hall and on the City’s website in accordance with
Government Code Section 54954.2.
Attachments:
1. 2017 5CHC Program Report
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