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Presentation, discussion, and possible action on State Fiscal Year 2025 Youth and Young Adult Homeless Program Award, including a request to waive 10 TAC §7.6(a)
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
recommendation
WHEREAS, the Youth and Young Adult Homeless Program (YYAHP) was created by the 88th Texas Legislature to be administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (the Department) to fund homeless services for youth and young adults;
WHEREAS, the Texas Legislature has, through the enactment of Senate Bill 30 (88th Legislature), provided General Revenue funds of $1,000,000 for the biennium for YYAHP;
WHEREAS, the Board authorized the release of a Notice of Funding (NOFA) for the YYAHP totaling $1,000,000 on April 11, 2024;
WHEREAS, the Board approved $800,000 in awards to two Applicants on February 6, 2025, resulting in an available NOFA balance of $200,000;
WHEREAS, the Department has received and evaluated Crossroads Community Action’s Application in response to the NOFA;
WHEREAS, the Previous Participation Review and Approval Process (PPRAP) included a review of the award and compliance history and recommends the 2025 YYAHP award to Crossroads Community Action with no conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Board authorizes waivers and alternative requirements of certain provisions of 10 TAC Chapter 7 as described herein;
NOW, therefore, it is hereby
RESOLVED, that the Executive Director and his designees, be and each of them hereby are authorized, empowered, and directed, for and on behalf of the Department, to take any and all such actions as they or any of them may deem necessary or advisable to effectuate the award of not less than $200,000 in SFY2025 YYAHP funds for Crossroads Community Action, as recommended by PPRAP; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board authorizes the waiver for all YYAHP awardees of 10 TAC §7.6(a) which requires that data on all persons served is entered into HMIS or an HMIS comparable database.
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BACKGROUND
During the Regular Session of the 88th Texas Legislature, SB 30 (the Supplemental Appropriations Bill) was passed. Article VII, Section 7.05 of SB 30 outlines the supplemental appropriation to Department Programs, as well as specific instructions for legislature for various high-priority items. SB 30 appropriates $1,000,000 from general revenue to the Department to fund the provision of youth and young adult homeless housing and services in Fort Bend County.
Allowable activities include, but are not limited to, providing homeless youth and young adult housing and other services designed to prevent homelessness. Specific uses of funds will be proposed by the organization, allowing flexibility to provide innovative services and means of support for the target demographic.
On April 11, 2024, the Board authorized the release of the Youth and Young Adult Homeless Program (YYAHP) NOFA; in response to the NOFA the Department received Applications from Building Up the Community, Inc., Resources Inspiring Success, and Empowerment (RISE), and Crossroads Community Action. The Department evaluated the proposals and funding requested against the requirements set forth in the NOFA, some of which include experience in serving homeless youth, providing emergency shelter services, transitional housing, counseling services, and/or educational and vocational services. On February 6, 2025, the Board approved $800,000 in awards to Building Up the Community, Inc. and Resources Inspiring Success and Empowerment (RISE). The third Applicant, Crossroads Community Action, was under review at that time.
Crossroads Community Action has requested $200,000 in funding to support emergency shelter, intensive case management, rental assistance, and essential services aimed at helping participants secure and maintain stable housing. Staff recommends fully funding this project with $200,000.
The Previous Participation Rule at 10 TAC §1.302 includes a review of entities prior to Board award recommendation. The review is completed for Crossroads Community Action and is recommended for approval with no conditions. The initial effective Contract Term will be for twelve-months. The effective Contract Term will be April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, unless a different term is requested by the Subrecipient and agreed to by the Department, but in no case will the initial Contract Term start after May 1, 2025.
Requirements for this program will be subject to the Department’s rules governing Homeless Programs under Title 10, Part 1, Chapter 1, Administration; Chapter 2, Enforcement; and Chapter 7, Homeless Programs, Subchapter A, General Policies and Procedures. Awardees must also administer the funds in accordance with the Texas Grant Management Standards (TxGMS).
Staff requests authorization for use of the waiver of 10 TAC Chapter 7, Subchapter A, General Policies and Procedures for Homelessness Programs, 10 TAC §7.6(a) for all awards under the YYAHP, including this award and any possible future awards. The Board authorized this waiver at its February 6, 2025 meeting for awards made at that meeting for the YYAHP. The waiver of 10 TAC §7.6(a) waives the requirement that data on all persons served is entered into HMIS or an HMIS comparable database.