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HomeMy WebLinkAboutED RA Ritter Center Housing Support ProgramCITY OF SAN RAFAEL AGENDA ITEM NO.: 4 MEETING DATE: March 16, 2009 San Rafael Redevelopment Agency Agenda Department: Redevelopment Prepared by: _ 1. i� yi..: ! �, l - r. -. j -� .�. Initials: Nancy Mackle, Economic Development Director Ken Nc Director SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR RITTER CENTER HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000 Fiscal Year 2008-09 RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Agency adopt the attached resolution authorizing additional grant funds to the Ritter Center for the housing support program in the amount of $20,000 and authorize the Economic Development Director to effect the Grant. BACKGROUND: Ritter Center, a non-profit organization located at 16 Ritter Street, operates several housing assistance programs providing individuals and families the skills needed to secure and maintain affordable housing. The Agency has supported the Ritter Center housing programs since Fiscal Year 1999-00. The Agency provided $40,000 to Ritter Center for Fiscal Year 2008-09, the same amount the Agency has allocated in previous years. Ritter Center has experienced a 37% increase in service requests in the past two years due to the worsening economy. Ritter Center is requesting an additional $20,000 one time grant from the Agency to assist in meeting this larger client load. Attachment A is a letter from Ritter Center providing a statistical summary of the program. ANALYSIS: The additional Agency grant of $20,000 will continue to support Ritter Center housing programs providing support services necessary to find and maintain affordable housing for low and moderate -income households. FISCAL IMPACT: The Agency has already provided a $40,000 grant to Ritter Center from the housing fund. This additional grant of $20,000 will also be paid from the housing fund. OPTIONS: • Adopt the resolution authorizing the grant and authorize the Economic Development Director to effect the grant. • Direct staff to alter the grant to reflect the desires of the Agency members. • Reject the grant application. ACTION REQUIRED: Adopt the attached resolution. ATTACHMENTS: A: Letter from Ritter Center FOR AGENCY SECRETARY ONLY File No.: Agency Meeting: Disposition: SAN RAFAEL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY RESOLUTION NO. 2009 - MOVED BY: MEMBER SECONDED BY: MEMBER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR RITTER CENTER HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000 Fiscal Year 2008-09 WHEREAS, the San Rafael Redevelopment Agency (the "Agency") has set objectives for affordable housing in accordance with the Amended and Restated Redevelopment Plan (the "Agency Plan") for the Central San Rafael Redevelopment Project Area; and WHEREAS, in order to serve the objectives of the Agency Plan, the Agency desires to assist in providing low and moderate income persons with the skills and support services necessary to secure and maintain affordable housing; and WHEREAS, the Agency has established a Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund (the "Fund") pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 33334.3; and WHEREAS, the Ritter Center, a non-profit organization operates housing support and financial assistance programs which will further the objectives of the Agency; and WHEREAS, the Agency has assisted Ritter Center by providing a grant in the amount of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000) (the "Grant") from the Fund; WHEREAS, the current economic situation has resulted in increased service requests, the Agency desires to further assist Ritter Center by making an additional grant in the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) (the "Grant") from the Fund; NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED as follows: Section 1. The Agency Board hereby approves an additional grant of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) from the Fund to Ritter Center to provide housing support and financial assistance programs. Section 2. The Agency Board hereby approves and authorizes the Economic Development Director to effect the Grant on behalf of the Agency, and take all necessary actions to disburse and administer the Grant pursuant thereto. I, ESTHER C. BEIRNE, Agency Secretary of the San Rafael Redevelopment Agency, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the members of said Agency held on the sixteenth day of March 2009 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: MEMBERS: NOES: MEMBERS: ABSENT: MEMBERS: ESTHER C. BEHZNE, Agency Secretary The Marin Safety Net February 27, 2009 Nancy Mackie, Deputy City Manager City of San Rafael 1313 Fifth Avenue PO Box 151560 San Rafael, CA 94915 Dear Ms. Mackie, On behalf of the Ritter Center Board and staff, I want to thank you for the support and resources the City of San Rafael contributes to our efforts to assist San Rafael residents who are either seeking housing or requesting assistance to prevent themselves from losing their existing housing. Your support has allowed Ritter to both house formerly homeless clients and prevent families living on the margins from becoming homeless. We do this primarily by effective case management intervention that supports successful life decisions and connects residents with every available resource at their disposal. It will not surprise anyone that we are experiencing an increase in the number of people needing assistance. Job loss and medical conditions are driving more people to Ritter Center for food, clothing and shelter. Homeless and marginally housed San Rafael residents are under more financial pressure than ever before. We have seen a 37% increase in the number of households who must make the decision between buying groceries and paying their rent from just two years ago. This pressure point has compelled us to respectfully request a temporary increase of resources from the San Rafael Redevelopment Agency for our housing assistance program. We are developing new resources for housing, identifying new units — some of which are immediate, others will be longer term. We need additional support for creating inventory of housing options (called for in our newly developed Strategic Plan) to house the homeless and assist our case management efforts that provide the lynchpin for clients to remove barriers and increase their chances of finding housing and/or preserving their current housing. The array of other Ritter Center services (i.e. food, clothing, rental assistance, survival supports for homeless and the health clinic services) can be leveraged to place and maintain clients in housing successfully. Last fiscal year, our case management staff assisted 57 households and 107 individuals to maintain their housing during difficult times. Times are even tougher now and we need additional support as a bridge to next fiscal year when we are planning a major fundraising effort that should generate additional resources for our efforts to reduce and prevent homelessness. We are requesting an additional $20,000 from the City of San Rafael Redevelopment Agency to help Ritter Center meet the increased demand for housing assistance and placement. We will report the results made possible by this additional support to the City in our year-end report. Thank you so much for your consideration and support. Sincerely, ATTACHMENT A Diane Linn, Executive Director 16 Ritter Street P.O. Box 3517 San Rafael, CA 94912 p: 415.457.8182 f: 415-457-7471 www.RitterCenter.org