To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: 2021 Low Income Household Water Assistance Program Amendment 2
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT a resolution to approve and authorize the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute Amendment 2 with the California Department of Community Services and Development to extend the term from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024, and to decrease the payment limit by $59,000 to a new payment limit of $317,446 to administer the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$317,446 is 100% Federal Funds through the California Department of Community Services and Development.
State Agreement Number: 21W-9002 (Amendment #2)
No County Match
CFDA# 93.499
County revenue agreement #39-977-2
BACKGROUND:
On November 13, 2023, Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) received an amendment (Amendment 2) from the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) to extend the period for the administration of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) program., with a change in the funding amount. This action is to amend the agreement to extend the administration term date from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024, with a change in administration amount from $376,446 to $317,446.
On May 28, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released funding to implement the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). EHSD received the LIHWAP agreement on April 11, 2022 to administer the water bill assistance payments to eligible county residents who are struggling to make water, wastewater, and/or stormwater payments prior to, and during, the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Supervisors approved the agreement on June 7, 2022 (C.53). This Board approved Amendment 1 of the agreement on November 7, 2023 (C.27), to extend the end date from August 31, 2023 to December 31, 2023.
As referenced in the Standard Agreement with CSD, Water Assistance Allocation will be held by CSD for the purpose of issuing payment of household LIHWAP assistance to water service providers through CSD’s third-party funds disbursement partner. Contra Costa County’s new allocation for water assistance is $1,808,994 and $317,446 for program administration. Since the last extension, Contra Costa County transferred $59,000 from program administration to water assistance and received an additional $136,651 from California Department of Community Services and Development in water assistance.
As of November 13, 2023, a total of 1,713 clients received LIHWAP benefits with an average payment amount of $927. EHSD has fully expended 95% of the benefit funding and the remaining 5% to be spent by the end of the contract period.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The LIHWAP funding supports one of the community outcomes established in the Children's Report Card, #4 "Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing" by the provision of water assistance to keep households with running water.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If not approved, the County may not be able to claim the final administrative funding to operate LIHWAP.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
body
IN THE MATTER OF 2021 Low Income Household Water Assistance Program Amendment 2
WHEREAS, On November 13, 2023, Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) received an amendment from the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) to extend the period for the administration of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) program, with a change in the funding amount, and
WHEREAS, this action is to amend the agreement to extend the administration term date from December 31, 2023, to March 31, 2024, with a change in administration amount from $376,446 to $317,446, and
WHEREAS, on May 28, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released funding to implement the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). EHSD received the LIHWAP agreement on April 11, 2022, to administer the water bill assistance payments to eligible county residents who are struggling to make water, wastewater, and/or stormwater payments prior to, and during, the COVID-19 pandemic, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors approved the agreement on June 7, 2022 (C.53), and
WHEREAS, this Board approved Amendment 1 of the agreement on November 7, 2023, to extend the end date from August 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024 (C.27), and
WHEREAS, as referenced in the Standard Agreement with CSD, Water Assistance Allocation will be held by CSD for the purpose of issuing payment of household LIHWAP assistance to water service providers through CSD’s third-party funds disbursement partner, and
WHEREAS, Contra Costa County’s new allocation for water assistance is $1,808,994 and $317,446 for program administration, and
WHEREAS, since the last extension, Contra Costa County transferred $59,000 from program administration to water assistance and received an additional $136,651 from California Department of Community Services and Development in water assistance, and
WHEREAS, as of November 13, 2023, a total of 1,713 clients received LIHWAP benefits with an average payment amount of $927, and
WHEREAS, EHSD has fully expended 95% of the benefit funding and the remaining 5% to be spent by the end of the contract period.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors ADOPT Resolution for the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute Amendment 2 with the California Department of Community Services and Development to extend the term from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024, and to decrease the payment limit by $59,000 to a new payment limit of $317,446 to administer the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program.
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