HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-053 Hotel ProgramDate: August 6, 2021 Report No. 2021-053
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Emergency Hotel Program and Hotel Voucher Program Update.
DISCUSSION:
Emergency Hotel Program
In March 2020, City Council approved funding to temporarily house individuals and families
experiencing homelessness in local hotels as an emergency protective response to help people
experiencing homelessness in the City of Denton access short-term or emergency non-congregate
shelter (NCS). At the same time as Denton’s disaster declaration (March 13) and subsequent
directives from Governor Abbott for non-essential workers to stay at home (March 31), there was
emerging information about how to remain safe from contracting and spreading the COVID-19
virus, especially in high-risk congregate settings like nursing homes and shelters.
The temporary hotel program funded by Denton County’s CARES Act COVID-19 Relief Fund
(CRF) opened on March 25, 2020. The program included rooms in two local hotels for high-risk
individuals primarily relocated from Monsignor King Outreach Center, The Salvation Army, and
Grace Like Rain shelters. The program also accepted referrals from other groups such as local
veterans and street outreach programs when rooms came available. The program was extended to
maintain safer protocols and the number of shelter beds available in the community due to ongoing
COVID outbreak concerns.
The CARES Act CRF funding ended on December 31, 2020. City Council approved the proposed
Substantial Amendment for a portion of Community Development Block Grant CARES Act
(CDBG-CV) funds to further extend the hotel program on a voucher basis on December 17, 2020.
There was no disruption of service from the Emergency Hotel program to the Hotel Voucher
Program.
Hotel Voucher Program
With funding secured through CDBG-CV, the City began the procurement process to secure a
hotel for the Hotel Voucher Program. In February 2021, City Council approved a contract (ID 21-
175) with a local hotel to provide temporary alternative shelter in the ongoing response to COVID-
19 and provide a means of quarantine in non-congregate settings. The City contracts with a single
hotel and with a security firm for the current program.
The program gives any eligible nonprofit the option to refer clients to the hotel program. Our Daily
Bread voluntarily serves as program lead onsite at the selected hotel and coordinates all referrals,
Date: August 6, 2021 Report No. 2021-053
final room placement, and ongoing case management and client support. There is no funding
provided for this program service provided by Our Daily Bread.
Hotel Voucher Program Guests are prioritized for admittance to the Hotel Voucher Program based
on the following criteria:
1. LITERAL HOMELESS: Guest must meet the HUD definition for literal homelessness;
and
2. COVID-19: Individual requiring medical quarantine due to COVID-19 diagnosis; or
3. CHRONIC HOMELESS: Disabling Conditions (physical or mental); or
4. ELDERLY: Individuals 65 or older in fragile or vulnerable medical conditions; or
5. DISCHARGE: Individuals being discharged from medical hospitals or inpatient facilities
(due to limits on staff/volunteer capacity, must be able to perform Activities of Daily Life
(ADL); or
6. VETERANS: Individuals with Veteran Status; or
7. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Survivors fleeing domestic
violence or trafficking; or
8. STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM: Individuals living unsheltered referred by the City’s
Homeless Outreach Team who also meet one or more of the 1-7 priority criteria.
The original budget allocated funds for the program through September 2021. However, at the
current expenditure rate, there will be remaining funds at the end of September. Staff is working
with the hotel and Our Daily Bread to identify options to extend the current program term to fund
the program through December 2021 and/or increase the number of rooms to accommodate more
guests.
American Rescue Plan
With direction from City Council on July 27, 2021, a portion of the American Rescue Plan funding
has been allocated to temporary shelter to continue to fund an extension of the Hotel Voucher
Program. The allocation continues funding until the Loop 288 facility renovation is complete. It is
expected to open in December 2022. The ARP funding will pick up when CDBG-CV funding is
expended and will extend the City’s ongoing efforts to assist people experiencing homelessness
continue to have a safe place to sleep and a means of quarantine in the event of a COVID-19
diagnosis. Staff is working on projections for the $500,000 in ARP funding, including the number
of rooms and security costs that could be covered by the ARP funding, to maintain the hotel
voucher program by opening the Loop 288 facility.
Hotel Program Impact
Our Daily Bread has provided staff with a program update on July 27, 2021.
Hotel Program’s Lifetime from March 25, 2020 through July 2021
o Total number of unduplicated guests assisted in the program: 316
Date: August 6, 2021 Report No. 2021-053
o Total number of guests exiting the hotel: 265
o Total number of guests exiting hotel into permanent housing: 136 (51%)
Hotel Voucher Program (beginning February 2021 – July 2021) – Agencies providing case
management and services to clients onsite: Giving Hope Inc., The Salvation Army,
Veterans Affairs, Denton County MHMR, United Way of Denton County, Our Daily Bread
o Current guests: 49
o Total number of unduplicated guests assisted in the program: 142
o Total number of guests exiting the hotel: 92
o 49 (53%) Total number of guests exiting hotel voucher program into permanent
housing: 49 (53%)
There has been a high level of collaboration across multiple agencies to place guests and
provide assistance and services to guests.
o Housing Partners: UWDC Housing Navigator, Landlords/Property Managers,
Giving Hope Inc., United Way of Denton County, Grace Like Rain, Denton County
MHMR, Salvation Army, Denton County Friends of the Family, Dallas Furniture
Bank, Robson Ranch Women’s Club
o Supportive Service Partners: Denton County MHMR, Legal Aid, Prevent
Blindness, TAFB, SSDI Benefits, United Way of Denton County, Concorde
Nursing
o Additional Resources for Clients: Alcoholics Anonymous, client-initiated bible
study, women’s support group, Able Disabled Group, monthly art social, weekly
haircuts
o Income/Employment obtained since entering hotel: October 2020 to June 2021
o Total number of guests earning income from employment – 32
o Total number of guests receiving income from non-cash benefits – 64 (SSDI, Food
stamps, Retirement)
o Our Daily Bread Employees Staffing and Coordinating the Hotel Program: three (3) full-
time employees onsite, six (6) support staff onsite various times throughout the week
o Current Needs Reported by ODB: funding to support current activities and additional case
management and support staff; addition of 5-10 rooms to allow for emergency beds to
remain available at MKOC shelter.
CONCLUSION:
Staff will continue to administer and coordinate the grant-funded Hotel Voucher Program as an
emergency protective response to prevent and respond to the risk that COVID-19 poses to this
population and work with local service providers.
STAFF CONTACT:
Dani Shaw, Community Services
Date: August 6, 2021 Report No. 2021-053
REQUESTOR: (List Council Member Name/Board, Commission or Committee/Staff Initiated)
Staff Initiated
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS:
N/A
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: (Estimated amount of cumulative staff time to
complete the report and associated analysis)
Report: 1.5 hours