HomeMy WebLinkAboutHOME-ARP Staff Recomendations Memo
Date: July 15, 2022
To: Housing and Community Development Commission
From: Erika Kubly, Neighborhood Services Coordinator Cassandra Gripp, Grants Specialist Re: HOME-ARP Staff Funding Recommendations
Summary of Staff Scores & Funding Recommendations for CDBG/HOME:
Agency and Project Score
(300 Points Total) Request Funding Recommendation
Shelter House
Supportive Services for PSH
285
95% $517,742 $517,742
Iowa Legal Aid
Legal Services to Increase
Housing Stability
270
90% $157,500 $157,500
Domestic Violence
Intervention Program (DVIP)
Shelter Construction
258
86% $750,000 $500,000
United Action for Youth
TLP Expansion
215
72% $60,000 $30,000
Reserves
[Justification Below] $316,739
Total $1,485,242 $1,205,242
Staff Comments on Funding Recommendations for HOME-ARP:
General Comments
The City received four submissions for HOME-ARP funds. All four proposals clearly explain how the project will
address a specific goal from the City’s consolidated plan, City Steps 2025 and addresses a need identified in
the HOME-ARP Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis.
The City of Iowa City must certify in the HOME-ARP Allocation plan that all qualifying populations are able to
benefit from HOME-ARP funds. To ensure this, projects which serve all qualifying populations without
prioritization are scored the highest. Projects which prioritize a specific subpopulation are eligible for HOME-
ARP funds, but the prioritization must be demonstrated in the Needs Assessment.
Shelter House – Supportive Services for PSH
Shelter House has a demonstrated history of administering federally funded projects in the City of Iowa City.
The agency is subject to the single audit requirement as they annually expend more than $750,000 in federal
funds each fiscal year. The request utilizes a tiered approach to HOME-ARP funds understanding that the funds
are likely available on a one-time basis and demonstrating significant planning for ensuring ongoing operation of
the program beyond the funded period. As the highest-scoring application, staff recommends full funding be
awarded to Shelter House ($517,742).
Iowa Legal Aid
Iowa Legal Aid has administered federal funds for many years to provide both Homelessness Prevention
services and Rapid Rehousing Services. The agency is subject to the single audit requirement as they annually
expend more than $750,000 in federal funds each fiscal year. Iowa Legal Aid will utilize the funds as a
continuation of an already-existing supportive services program funded by Johnson County, Wells Fargo, and
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the Principal Foundation. As the second-highest scoring application, staff recommends full funding be awarded
to Iowa Legal Aid ($157,500).
Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) – Shelter New Construction
DVIP has undertaken numerous federally funded projects through the City in prior fiscal years including both
public facility improvements and public service activities. The agency is subject to the single audit requirement
as they annually expend more than $750,000 in federal funds each fiscal year. The scope of the proposal is
larger than prior projects, which does present additional risk. The budget submitted in the project proposal also
notes that a large portion of the project funds are not officially committed. Due to the being the 3rd the highest
scoring application, staff recommends two-thirds of the requested funding be awarded to DVIP ($500,000).
However, the agency and HCDC should be aware that any delays in the project timeline could have an impact
on the City’s timeliness status if the federal funds awarded are not expended as scheduled.
United Action for Youth
United Action for Youth has administered the federally funded Transitional Living Program (TLP) for over 20
years. In response to COVID-19, UAY chose to expand the program to include additional units in order to serve
more participants in need. UAY is seeking HOME-ARP funding to ensure the expansion can be maintained
through the federal grant period on the originally funded units. As the lowest scoring application, staff
recommends one-half of the requested funding be awarded to United Action for Youth. While the application and
requested supplemental documentation provides justification for the project in the community, the HOME-ARP
Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis does not specifically identify homeless youth as a subpopulation in
greatest need, however the assessment does specifically indicate a general need for supportive services for
qualifying populations.
Reserves
Iowa Finance Authority has indicated that they are considering the possibility of requiring State HOME-ARP
applicants to leverage Local HOME-ARP funding as match in their future HOME-ARP funding round. On last
consultation with IFA, this decision was not yet made and likely would not be until at least December 2022.
Staff is prepared to proceed with the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan submission process, but do not wish to run the
risk of excluding local nonprofits from being eligible to utilize State HOME-ARP funds. Due to this, staff
recommends holding $316,739 in reserves for a future funding round, to be conducted after the Iowa Finance
Authority has announced their requirements for State HOME-ARP applicants.