Title
Joint resolution approving a substantial amendment to the 2011 Annual Action Plan to incorporate new requirements for the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG).
Staff Summary
· The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 (HEARTH Act) amended the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act resulting in the new ESG program.
· To implement the changes and in order to access new funds, HUD is requiring ESG recipient jurisdictions such as Lake County to complete a substantial amendment to its 2011 Action Plan.
· The substantial amendment consists of two primary parts: 1) Use of New ESG Funds; and 2) Written Standards for Provision of ESG Assistance.
· New ESG funds will be used for activities that are newly eligible under the HEARTH Act such as Homeless Management Information Systems and Homeless Prevention.
· Grantees for these activities will be selected at a later date through the standard Community Development Commission application process.
· Written standards for provision of ESG assistance were developed in consultation with the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless, and are designed to ensure consistency among all grantees for eligibility and service.
· The Community Development Commission recommended approval of the amendment at its April 25 meeting.
· This resolution authorizes the Chairman to execute all necessary documents to execute the amendment.
Body
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the submission of an Annual Action Plan in order to receive Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding; and
WHEREAS, the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 (HEARTH Act) amended the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, including changing the Emergency Shelter Grants program to the new Emergency Solutions Grants program; and
WHEREAS, to implement the changes, HUD is requiring ESG recipient jurisdictions such as Lake County to complete a substantial amendment to its 2011 Action Plan in order to access the new ESG funds; and
WHEREAS, the County Board approved the 2011 Action Plan at its March 15, 2011 meeting; and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Commission has recommended approval of the amendment to the 2011 Action Plan for the ESG Program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the recommendation of the Community Development Commission to approve the Emergency Solutions Grant Substantial Amendment to the 2011 Annual Action Plan is hereby approved; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Lake County Board or his designee is hereby authorized to execute the necessary documents required by HUD.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on May 8, 2012.