To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Contract #39-977-3 Low Income Household Water Assistance Program Amendment.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution No. to approve and authorize the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with the California Department of Community Services and Development to increase the payment limit by $100,000 for a new amount not exceed $1,908,994 to administer the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program with no change to the period April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$100,000: 100% Federal
There is no county match required.
BACKGROUND:
The Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) administers water bill assistance payments to eligible county residents who are struggling to make water, wastewater, and/or stormwater payments. This amendment is to apply for and accept water assistance funds in the amount of $100,000 with no changes to program administration funds and term period April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2024.
On June 7, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved item (C.53) authorizing agreement 21W-9002. On November 7, 2023, the Board approved item (C.27) authorizing a contract amendment to agreement 21W-9002 to extend the end date from August 31, 2023, to December 31, 2023. On February 27, 2024, this Board approved item (C.60) to execute a second contract amendment to agreement 21W-9002 to decrease payment limit by $59,000 and extend the end date from December 31, 2023, to March 31, 2024.
As of January 3, 2024, a total of 1,805 clients received LIHWAP benefits with an average payment amount of $927. EHSD has fully expended 100% of the benefit funding and the requested amount is 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:
Should the proposed action not be approved by the Board of Supervisors, additional eligible county residents will not be benefit from the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
bodIN THE MATTER OF: Contract #39-977-3 Low Income Household Water Assistance Program Amendment.
WHEREAS, the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) administers water bill assistance payments to eligible county residents who are struggling to make water, wastewater, and/or stormwater payments, and
WHEREAS, this amendment is to apply for and accept water assistance funds in the amount of $100,000 with no changes to program administration funds and term period April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2024, and
WHEREAS, on June 7, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved item (C.53) authorizing agreement 21W-9002, and
WHEREAS, on November 7, 2023, the Board approved item (C.27) authorizing a contract amendment to agreement 21W-9002 to extend the end date from August 31, 2023, to December 31, 2023, and
WHEREAS, on February 27, 2024, this Board approved item (C.60) to execute a second contract amendment to agreement 21W-9002 to decrease payment limit by $59,000 and extend the end date from December 31, 2023, to March 31, 2024, and
WHEREAS, as of January 3, 2024, a total of 1,805 clients received LIHWAP benefits with an average payment amount of $927, and
WHEREAS, EHSD has fully expended 100% of the benefit funding and the requested amount is to be spent by the end of the contract period.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors ADOPT Resolution No. 2024- to approve and authorize the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to apply for and accept funds from the California Department of Community Services and Development in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for a new funding total not exceed $1,908,994 to administer the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program with no change to the period April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2024.