Minutes 01/22/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 22, 2019  The Portsmouth Department of Social Services (PDSS) has been selected as a Local Recipient Organization to participate in Phase 35 of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Discussion:  The total grant amount allocated to PDSS for Phase 35 is $11,783.00. PDSS received the first half of the award on July 23, 2018.  The second half of the grant award is $5,891.50 and funds are to assist Portsmouth citizens who have emergency shelter or utility needs. Funds must be expended prior to May 31, 2019.  Individuals must meet established program criteria and have income that does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Financial Impact:  There is no financial impact to the city because the program is funded 100% by the grant. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  Finance will complete the necessary budget adjustment. Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Ms. Lucas-Burke, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE ACCEPTING AN EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER NATIONAL BOARD PROGRAM GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,891.50 FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND APPROPRIATING SAID SUM IN THE FY 2019 GRANTS FUND FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO ASSIST PORTSMOUTH CITIZENS WHO HAVE EMERGENCY SHELTER OR UTILITY NEEDS.” Ayes: Battle, Clark, Glover, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Rowe Nays: None 19 - 28 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting funds in the amount of $19,799 from the Virginia Department of Social Services and appropriating said sum in the FY 2019 Social Services Fund for use by the Portsmouth Department of Social Services for staff and operations. Background:  Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will receive their February food benefits early due to the federal government shutdown. This change will affect all SNAP recipients in Virginia scheduled to receive benefits during the first week of February.  Citizens have been asked to submit all SNAP-related benefit information by February 15, 2019, in order to receive the early issuance of benefits on January 17, 2019.  All applications received after February 15, 2019, will be paid out of SNAP reserve funds. Discussion:  On January 11, 2018, emergency funds were provided to the Portsmouth DSS for overtime funding. This funding is primarily to support the necessary overtime needed to process SNAP benefits for February.  There are no program restrictions on the use of these funds. When the locality is caught up on the processing of SNAP benefits, funds may be used for other eligible staff and operation activities.  Funding is only available to the end of the local fiscal year 2019.