REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Al Zelinka, City Manager
VIA: Travis K. Hopkins, Assistant City Manager
PREPARED BY: Shannon Levin, Council Policy Analyst
Subject:
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Approve and accept a notice of award/grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) to receive $500,000 for the Be Well Huntington Beach Mobile Crisis Response program; approve the appropriation and expenditure of funds into the FY 2022-2023 Budget for program operations
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Statement of Issue:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently awarded a $500,000 federal earmark grant to the City of Huntington Beach as a Fiscal Year 2022 Congressional Directive Spending Project sponsored by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. This $500,000 grant will support the Be Well Huntington Beach Mobile Crisis Response program and help offset its overall operational costs.
In order to accept and expend grant funds, the City Council must approve and accept a notice of award/grant agreement with SAMHSA and approve the appropriation of grant funds into the FY2022-23 Operating Budget, per Budget Resolution 2022-28.
Financial Impact:
If the notice of award/funding agreement is approved, $500,000 in grant funds from SAMHSA would be budgeted to Account No. 128130101.69300 for use towards Be Well Huntington Beach operational expenses.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
A) Approve and accept the notice of award/grant agreement between SAMHSA and the City of Huntington Beach for $500,000; and,
B) Authorize the City Manager or his designee to fulfill the requirements of the SAMHSA grant; and,
C) Approve appropriations and estimated revenue source in the amount of $500,000 into the FY2022-23 Budget to support the implementation of the Be Well Huntington Beach program.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Since the Be Well Huntington Beach Mobile Crisis Response program launched in August 2021, the City Manager’s Office and the Intergovernmental Relations Committee (IRC) have reached out to various state and federal legislators to request outside funding that will support the continued implementation of this citywide program. During its first year of operations, Be Well responded to 2,040 calls for service related to mental health crises, substance abuse, homeless outreach, welfare checks, and other similar issues. The service is available free of charge to any resident, regardless of their location in the City, income level, housing status, insurance status, or other qualifier. Furthermore, Be Well crisis counselors provide follow-up calls to clients who may need additional support or referrals to obtain the long-term care they may need.
Following the City’s outreach to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Office, the Senator submitted a $500,000 federal funding request for the Be Well Huntington Beach program. The City was then notified in March 2022 that the request was approved and would be administered through SAMHSA .
Following the completion of a formal grant application process with SAMHSA, staff was provided a formal notice of award for $500,000 (see Attachment 1). These funds must be expended between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023 and will be applied towards our annual contract with Mind OC, which administers the Be Well program. The grant will cover approximately 40% of the annual contract and the remaining 60% will be funded with Permanent Local Housing Asset entitlement funds.
To accept and expend grant funds, City Council is requested to approve the notice of award, which serves as the formal grant agreement between SAMHSA and the City. City Council is also requested to approve the appropriation of $500,000 into the current fiscal year budget.
Environmental Status:
Not applicable.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Homelessness Response
Attachment(s):
1. SAMHSA Notice of Award/Grant Agreement