To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: CFS - Non-Financial MOU Renewal #20-493-1 with the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa for the Foster Youth to Independence Voucher
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute a non-financial Memorandum of Understanding with the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa to support and administer the Foster Youth to Independence Voucher Program for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a nonfinancial agreement, no fiscal impact.
BACKGROUND:
Through the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) initiative announced in 2019, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allows Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) to partner with Public Child Welfare Agencies (PCWAs) to request targeted Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) to serve eligible youth with a history of child welfare involvement that are homeless or at risk of being homeless. Per HUD Notice PIH 2023-04, issued March 15, 2023, PHAs applying for FYI voucher assistance must have a partnership agreement with the PCWA which may take the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The FYI Program provides eligible emancipated foster youth ages 18 up to 25, an opportunity to apply for and receive a housing voucher to secure stable housing within Contra Costa County for up to 36 months with a possibility of extension to 60 months. To support the FYI Program, HUD requires supportive services be available and offered to applicants receiving an FYI housing voucher. Supportive services include housing navigation, life skills counseling, education, job support, and case management.
Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) Children and Family Services (CFS) herein identified as the PCWA desires to renew its partnership with the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa (HACCC) herein identified as the PHA to continue to support and administer FYI housing vouchers to eligible transitional aged former foster youth in Contra Costa County. EHSD CFS collaborates with the HACCC to administer the FYI Vouchers, in coordination with Contra Costa Health, Housing and Homelessness (H3) as the local Continuum of Care administrator to deliver housing navigation supportive services under this program and help ensure the necessary supportive services are available to be offered as part of the FYI Program.
This renewal MOU contains insurance language and a mutual indemnification provision whereby both parties agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless, the officers, employees and agents of the other from and against any and all liability, loss, expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), or claims for injury or damages arising out of the performance of this MOU but only in proportion to and to the extent such liability, loss, expense, attorneys’ fees, or claims for injury or damages are caused by or result from negligent or intentional acts or omissions.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County will not be able to administer the FYI Voucher Program and provide housing vouchers and supportive services to eligible transition aged former foster youth thus increasing the number of young adults that are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The services provided under this MOU supports four of the five community outcomes established in the Children’s Report Card: (2) “Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood”; (3) “Families that are Economically Self-Sufficient”; (4) "Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing"; and (5)"Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families" by providing housing and supports to assist transitional aged former foster youth to help achieve housing permanency and independence.