06-07
RESOLUTION NO. 06-07
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER,
FLORIDA, CERTIFYING THAT HOMELESS EMERGENCY
PROJECT, INC. IS CONSISTENT WITH LOCAL PLANS
AND REGULATIONS INCLUDING COMPREHENSIVE
PLANS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. proposed project is to increase
corporate cash donations to provide designated funds for specific programs and
undesignated funds for general operating expenses and is applying for Community
Contribution Tax Credit pursuant to Florida Statutes sections 220.03 and 220.183 (2) (c)
and Rule 12C-1.0188 Florida Administrative Code. (See Exhibit A)
WHEREAS, said Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. is designed to provide
housing for low-income persons and are not required to be located within an Enterprise
Zone to be eligible for sponsorship under the Enterprise Zone Community Contribution
Tax Credit Program. .
WHEREAS, Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. has requested the City to certify
that the proposed project is consistent with its local plans and regulations including
comprehensive plans and the City Commission finds it desirable to make this certification;
now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Clearwater hereby certifies that the
Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. proposed project is consistent with the City's local
plans and regulations including comprehensive plans.
Section 2. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of February ,2006.
~'~L~
~nk V. Hibbard
Mayor
Approved as to form:
Attest:
..........~
~,--~",,'"
Leslie K. D gall-Sides
Assistant City Attorney
~ ~
cynt~>G~u' ~
fV City Clerk" --- -
Resolution No. 06-07
Exhibit A
Homeless Emergency Project
Tax Credit Proposal to the
State of Florida Office of Tourism, Trade,
and Economic Development
II. Project Narrative
a. Describe the eligible project
In 2003, the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
estimated the state homeless population of68,785 to 76,675. The same year the State
Department of Children and Families Report on Homeless Conditions in Florida posted
that there are only 27,388 emergency beds for homeless people in the state, enough for
just 36 percent. In Pinellas County, there are over 4,500 homeless adults and children on
any given night, yet there are less than 600 emergency shelter beds available in Pine lias
County (2004 Continuum of Care Gaps Analysis Chart).
Chronic homeless individuals and families spend the majority of their lives between the
streets and emergency shelters. Many of them face serious and persistent mental illness
and sever substance addiction. They face shorter life expectancies, high chronic illness
and often use the hospital emergency room for primary health care. Homeless pregnant
women experience higher rates of infant mortality, low-birth rates, and substance abuse.
Homeless children have high malnutrition rates, are less likely to attend school, have
greater behavioral problems, and are more likely to abuse substances in their teen and
adult years.
Low-income, working poor individuals and families living pay-check to pay-check or
coming off public-assistance often bounce in and out of homelessness. An unexpected
hospital visit or prescription medication without health insurance, an injury preventing
employment, a(mounting emotional health issue, or a second late rent payment are often
enough to create an episode of homelessness.
Homeless individuals and families subsisting in Pinellas County face enormous safety,
crime, health, and social issues daily. Many are caught in the cycle of multi-generational
poverty and face insurmountable barriers due to mental illness, chronic illnesses,
substance abuse, predigest, unemployment, under-education and low self-worth.
The Homeless Emergency Project (HEP) provides 700 chronic and episodic homeless
men, women, and families per year with a full continuum of housing and support services
necessary to achieve self-sufficiency and end the cycle ofhomelessness. For over 40
years HEP clients have successfully accessed safe housing and services, which affords
life stability.
Clients ofHEP are referred to the program from many sources, including other social
service providers, the Pinellas County Department of Corrections, area hospitals and
treatment centers. Once the client arrives, trained intake staff engage the client, perform
a comprehensive assessment, and discuss their current situation and how the program can
transform their life and the life of their family. The intake coordinator identifies clients
with emergency and urgent needs and immediate medical intervention takes place. The
Behavioral Health Outreach Team then evaluates the client and conducts a behavioral
health screening. The treatment team consists of a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN),
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), and a Bachelors level Social Worker.
Services provided by the team include: Psychiatric evaluations, Neuropsychiatric testing;
medication management; crisis intervention; therapy; primary health care access, and
documentation for disability claims/court requests.
Clients them meet with their assigned case manager and create an Individual Service
Plan. Through intensive case management, clients work their plan and address various
health, legal, family, and employment issues. Clients who can make a long-term
commitment to continue to work on personal goals then enter transitional housing.
In transitional housing, clients progress through their Individual Service Plan and meet
established objectives. If disable, they receive benefits. They continue job/carrier
enhancement, complete GED, continue education, continue addressing necessary health
issues, address legal and family issues, and if in recovery, attend AA/NA meetings.
At this point in their homeless episode clients who can work are employed, they are
continuing education, are in full recovery, have a relationship with their family and are
self-sustaining. They then enter into permanent housing. This housing consists of a
serious of apartments and single-family homes partially subsidized with the remainder of
the rent the responsibility of the client. Clients continue to receive less and less intensive
case management services.
Outcomes - yearly
90% of employable clients secure employment
98% of clients access primary health care
98% of clients in need of mental health services access psychiatric health care
b. List the types of donations sought
As a result of our reputation and client outcomes, HEP is successful in securing outright
gifts of cash form a variety of donors in the Tampa Bay area. Cash gifts of both
designated funds for specific programs and undesignated funds for general operating
expenses are given. With the support of The Community Contribution Tax Credit
Program, HEP is confident that we will increase our corporate donations by 1,000% in
the first year. The Community Contribution Tax Credit Program will allow corporations
to designate, what normally would be paid in state taxes, cash donations to the
organization of their choice. The tax credit program presents a great opportunity for HEP
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to not only secure contributions but get the business community more involved in our
work and address the issue ofhomelessness more systemically.
c. Identify the use for donations
HEP offers a variety of options for our corporate funders. Some corporations like to give
undesignated donations so HEP can use the funds as we see fit. Other corporations prefer
to give to a specific program or area of interest. Some companies like to contribute to
youth and after school programs, others prefer employment readiness programs, while
still others like to contribute to building construction. All of these HEP programs and
projects require ongoing fundraising. If a corporation is considering an outright cash give
to the HEP endowment fund, we can accommodate this desire.
d. Total Project Costs
The annual HEP operating budget is $2.5 million. These expenses consist of all the costs
associated with staff, housing, maintenance, food, utilities, insurance, program and client
supplies, the dental clinic, and administration ofHEP's 240 bed facility.
Annually HEP raises $20,000 in corporate donations, $1,052,000 in government
contracts/grants, $26,000 in foundation grants, $275,000 from individual donors and
fundraising events, $78,700 from investments, $61,000 from program fees, $1,024,900 in
in-kind donations, and $75,000 from the HEP Thrift Store.
e. Estimate the number of jobs.
HEP staff consists of 22 fulltime paid employees and over 150 volunteers annually. Last
year over 90% (60) of clients eligible to work, secured employment as a result of our
program. HEP is not an organization that produces jobs for the community for a specific
period of time and, once a project is complete, eliminates that position. HEP continues to
add programs and services in response to the needs of the community and as funds are
available.
f. Estimate the completion date of the project.
HEP will continue to provide needed services to the homeless and economically poor in
the community for as long as the need is present and funds are available.
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