Title
A Resolution dividing the Extended Social Resource (ESR) Program into two distinct and operationally independent components: the Community Based Initiatives Program, administered by the Dept. of Social Services, and the Overnight Emergency Shelter Program, administered by the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention; setting a minimum Budgetary funding goal of one percent (1%) of the General Fund Revenue collected from the last full fiscal year; and establishing funding percentages for each component of the ESR Program within the ESR Program Budget. [Council Office, Maynard]
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WHEREAS, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government has established the Extended Social Resource Program to provide funds to various non-profits that provide important social services to the community; and
WHEREAS, this Program, which prioritizes partnerships with community organizations in delivering social services to supplement and support the work of the Urban County Government, fulfills an important and vital public purpose and is within the powers of the Urban County Government as provided in its Charter and state law; and
WHEREAS, the Urban County Council wants to prioritize the funding of this Program by establishing a minimum goal amount to be Budgeted each fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, the Urban County Council wants to establish permanent funding percentages for each component of the ESR Program within the total adopted ESR Program Budget; and
WHEREAS, the Urban County Council wishes to separate the emergency shelter priority area from the ESR Program to create two distinct components: a Community Based Initiatives Program, administered by the Department of Social Services; and an Overnight Emergency Shelter Program, administered by the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention; and
WHEREAS, the administration and management of the Overnight Emergency Shelter Program would be more efficiently performed by the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention, which was created for the purpose of coordinating Lexington’s efforts to end homelessness; and
WHEREAS, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government has a lease Agreement with the Hope Center Emergency Shelter, providing the organization with a facility in which to provide services to those experiencing homelessness; and
WHEREAS, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board identifies non-profits in the community that provide overnight emergency shelter for those experiencing homelessness and qualify for funding in accordance with the Lexington-Fayette County Continuum of Care.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT:
Section 1 - That the above recitals are incorporated herein as if fully stated.
Section 2 - That the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government desires to ensure funding is made available each fiscal year for its human service priority needs.
Section 3 - That the Extended Social Resource (ESR) Program shall contain two distinct and operationally independent components: (a) the Community Based Initiatives Program, which shall consist of the following priority areas: Community Wellness and Safety, Childhood and Youth Development, and Food Insecurity and Nutritional Access, and which shall provide funding though Grants; and (b) the Overnight Emergency Shelter Program for the basic human right of overnight emergency shelter services for those experiencing homelessness, which shall include the Hope Center and all emergency shelters in Fayette County, even those previously funded outside the ESR Program, and which shall provide funding through Grants or other Agreements.
Section 4 - That in order to fund the ESR Program inclusive of the two established components, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government hereby establishes a funding goal, for each fiscal year, of at least one percent (1%) of the General Fund revenue collected from the last full fiscal year.
Section 5 - That sixty percent (60%) of the total amount provided for the ESR Program shall be allocated each fiscal year for the Community Based Initiatives Program.
Section 6 - That forty percent (40%) of the total amount provided for the ESR Program shall be allocated each fiscal year for the Overnight Emergency Shelter Program. This percentage will include Agreements with any overnight emergency shelters that have historically been provided funding assistance by the Government, through the ESR Program or otherwise.
Section 7 - That the Community Based Initiatives Program shall be administered and managed by the Department of Social Services. The Program shall provide funding to local non-profit applicants through Grants for programs and services for the following priority areas: Community Wellness and Safety, Childhood and Youth Development, and Food Insecurity and Nutritional Access.
Section 8 - That the Overnight Emergency Shelter Program shall be administered and managed by the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention. The Program shall provide funding to local non-profit applicants through Grants or other Agreements to provide the basic human right of overnight shelter services for those experiencing homelessness. This Program shall include any emergency shelter, including those previously funded by the Government through the ESR Program or otherwise.
Section 9 - That it is the intent of the Urban County Council that the funding goals and set percentages provided herein become part of each fiscal year Budget of the Urban County Government unless otherwise provided in the final adopted Budget for that fiscal year.
Section 10 - That such funding goals shall commence beginning with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2022, with the amount to be based upon the General Fund revenue collected from Fiscal Year 2020.
Section 11 - That this Resolution shall become effective on the date of its passage.
PASSED URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL:
___________
MAYOR
ATTEST:
___________ _____
CLERK OF URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL
0258-21:EPT:X:\CASES\SOCIAL\21-LE0001\LEG\00722059.DOC