Executive Summary

Stakeholder’s Input To FY2003 Allocation

Recommendations and Application Process:

  Report To the Board of Trustees

January 30, 2003

 

The Community Shelter Board (CSB) projects insufficient revenue for Fiscal Year 2003 to adequately fund current shelter and housing services. In the past, CSB Trustees had established priorities about use of resources that called for diminishing allocations to emergency shelters and increasing allocations to supportive housing.  However the Board stated that these priorities might not be workable in the current environment and sought key stakeholders’ input into allocation decisions. Additionally, because CSB is switching to a single grant cycle to coincide with its revised fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) and has developed new criteria for project evaluation and ranking, the Board also instructed staff to obtain input from the stakeholders on the proposed application process.

 

The allocation process started with discussions at the December 2002 Board meeting about various funding scenarios, and culminated in an allocation survey and an application process survey of partner agency directors.  Most of the other stakeholder groups provided feedback in a focus group format.  The stakeholder groups that provided input and feedback included: Continuum of Care Steering Committee, Directors of CSB Partner Agencies, Family Housing Collaborative, Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, Rebuilding Lives Funder Collaborative, and CSB Advisory Council. 

 

The results of the input:

1.       Allocation recommendations generally endorsed

a)       prioritized services for at-risk and special needs homeless individuals when feasible;

b)       priority funding for services for families with children;

c)       funding emphasis on shelters and supportive housing; and

d)       adjust/reduce funding as necessary in supportive services in shelters and outreach, homeless prevention, and direct client assistance.

2.       Feedback on the application process

a)       generally supported the priorities cited in the process:

·         families, chronically homeless adults, and adults with special needs;

·         collaboration with other parts of the continuum of care system;

·         reasonable costs to the community for the number of persons served and the type of housing and services being provided;

·         geographic dispersion of facilities and services throughout Franklin County;

·         including homeless persons in the design, implementation and evaluation of programs and services;

·         including neighbors in the design, implementation and evaluation of programs and services; and

·         developing new or innovative aspects to service delivery.

b)       called for utilization of a competitive process, and

c)       called for emphasis on substance versus “grantsmanship”.

3.       Systemically, the feedback encouraged

a)       streamlining and combining services,

b)       increased collaboration and cooperation, and

c)       multi-year funding.

 

On January 27, the Board voted to allocate $5,471,573 for program application process, with 57% for emergency shelters, 27% for supportive housing, 7% for prevention, and 8% for housing services.  The Board also approved the issuance of requests for proposals consistent with their application/funding criteria.