Maricopa County Board of Supervisors hosts telephonic public meeting
$2.8 million in CARES Act funding to help homeless people, vulnerable homeowners
County leaders tomorrow will continue their efforts to assist vulnerable homeowners and the homeless in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak as they host their regularly scheduled public meeting.
Included on the docket are measures to accept federal funding and direct funds to local nonprofit groups serving homeless people, while expanding federally funded grant programs to help homeowners at risk of homelessness.
With an agenda comprised of dozens of action items, the regularly scheduled formal meeting will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. in the Supervisors’ Auditorium, 205 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix — though due to concerns over the ongoing public health crisis, the meeting room will be closed to the public.
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County leaders tomorrow will continue their efforts to assist vulnerable homeowners and the homeless in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak as they host their regularly scheduled public meeting.
Included on the docket are measures to accept federal funding and direct funds to local nonprofit groups serving homeless people, while expanding federally funded grant programs to help homeowners at risk of homelessness.
With an agenda comprised of dozens of action items, the regularly scheduled formal meeting will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. in the Supervisors’ Auditorium, 205 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix — though due to concerns over the ongoing public health crisis, the meeting room will be closed to the public.
Telephonic participation in government meetings is one of a variety of tactics officials employ as area residents continue to shelter in place.
District 3 Supervisor Bill Gates said in a statement last month that such efforts are showing results, but residents should continue to observe social distancing and other precautions to combat the pandemic.
“I am happy to report that the curve is beginning to plateau,” Mr. Gates stated. “However, we are not out of the woods yet and must continue to be diligent in our efforts by practicing social distancing, washing your hands and avoiding contact with your face.”
There are several options are available for those who wish to attend the meeting from home, including:
Visit Maricopa.gov or maricopa.gov/324 to access the live feed at the start of the meeting.
Visit GoToWebinar.com and enter webinar ID: 243-392-723.
For residents without a computer, dial 1- 415-655-0060 on your phone, and enter the Audio Access code 836783518#. (Long distance charges may apply and no PIN is needed.)
Online meetings will not be active until just prior to the meeting; future webinar meeting IDs and access codes will change with each subsequent meeting. Additional information or instructions — including up-to-date access codes — will be provided at the Clerk of the Board’s website.
Videos are typically archived at the site up to five days following each meeting.
CARES Act funds
The panel will consider approving receipt of two federal payments due the county following passage of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act – also known as the CARES Act – which was passed by Congress in late March.
Totaling nearly $2.8 million, grant allocations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development come from a pair of grant sources: one to provide assistance and health care to homeless people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak; and another which aims to help those in need avoid homelessness.
The Emergency Solutions Grants Program allocation of $905,900 will “… be utilized to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) among individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance; and to support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19,” according to the agenda narrative.
As Daily Independent reported last week, county officials have teamed up with the Maricopa Association of Governments and local nonprofit agencies to provide temporary sequestered housing, COVID-19 screenings and medical care to homeless people across the Valley.
The second one-time chunk-of-change, totaling $1,886,379, comes from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus program and will be targeted to help vulnerable residents by developing partnerships between government, nonprofit and for-profit groups to provide needed services and assistance to homeowners and communities.
The county’s slice is carved out of $5 billion set aside for HUD’s CDBG Coronavirus program, with $1 billion specially allocated for immediate release to states following the March 27 signing of the CARES Act.
Another $2 billion will bolster the overall CDBG program, with another $2 billion in place for use at the discretion of the HUD secretary, according to an April 2 letter to county board Chairman Clint Hickman from John Gibbs, acting assistant secretary for Community Planning and Development at HUD.
Homeless helpers
Further bolstering efforts to assist homeless people, the board will consider amendments to existing agreements with a pair of nonprofit agencies.
If approved, the first of two agreement amendments will add $79,305 to a previously agreed $295,296, for a total agreement to provide $374,601. This comes from CDBG and Emergency Solutions Grant funds for “… operation of temporary emergency shelter services for homeless individuals experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County in an effort to protect them from exposure to COVID-19,” according to the agenda report.
The money will extend temporary housing services for homeless people staying at a pair of locations in Scottsdale and downtown Phoenix.
Another $100,000 would be allocated to extend an agreement between the county and Human Services Campus, Inc., which provides “weather relief accommodations” to homeless people staying temporarily on county-owned properties.
The monetary infusion extends the existing agreement, which was originally slated to end on June 30, until Oct. 31 of this year.
PPE donations
As has been widely reported, many hospitals and first responder agencies have struggled to acquire personal protective equipment for their personnel. The board members will consider accepting PPEs, which were donated to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for use by first responders.
The two donors — USIDG Trade Consultants and OnQFinancial — each donated 1,000 KN95 masks. With an estimated value of $3.87 for each mask, the value of the 2,000 masts totals $7,740.
USIDG Trade Consultants also donated a further 1,000 surgical masks, which at a cost of $1.14 each, comprises a total donation value of $5,010 from the group.
Matt Roy Opinions Editor | Daily Independent @AzNewsmedia
Matt Roy is an ASU West graduate, who studied English literature and journalism before embarking on a career as a news reporter, editor, photojournalist, advocate and marketing communications professional, including more than six years with Independent Newsmedia. As a 30-year Valley resident, he remains passionate about journalism in service to local communities. Matt is the recipient of various awards, including First Place for Investigative Journalism from the Arizona Newspaper Association in 2019.
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