ORD-2013-046 Ordinance approving Budget Amendment #3A - Social Services request for Additional Funds

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1 ORD-2013-046 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 2, 2013 Action Agenda Item No. 4-d SUBJECT: Presentation on Economic Pressures on the Department of Social Services, Request for Additional Funds, and-Approval of Budget Amendment#3-A DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Report on the Impact of the Government Nancy Coston, 919-245-2800 Shutdown, Sequester and Other Fiscal Issues on the DSS Budget PURPOSE: To receive an update on current economic pressures and consider a request for additional funds for crisis services to support families served by the Department of Social Services (DSS). -BACKGROUND: Orange County has historically provided assistance to low income families experiencing financial crises within guidelines developed by the Board of Social Services. The funds are used to pay utility bills, rent and deposits, prescription drugs, food and some other items needed to assure the safety of families. Most of the assistance is for utilities and rent. One significant issue impacting crisis funds at DSS is the implementation of NCFAST. Although agency staff has worked very hard to learn the new system, there have been times when the issuance of Food and Nutrition benefits has been delayed for individual families. Many resources, including the food bank, local pantries and food donated to DSS, have helped meet the need, but the agency has also provided food cards to families experiencing more significant delays. These costs have come from the County emergency funds. In addition to the impacts of NCFAST, all recipients of Food and Nutrition Services are also experiencing a federal cut in benefits effective with the November issuance. Although the amount of the cuts varies, it is approximately $36 per month per household or about $235,000 per month in loss food benefits for Orange County families and grocers. Even without these additional strains on the County funds, DSS has been expending funds at a higher rate than last year. Much of this is due to the increased costs for utilities, rent and deposits and the reduction in other funds to pay these costs. The costs to resolve many crises has increased from around $200 to close to $400. In the past, DSS has managed a large grant to prevent homelessness, but those funds are no longer available. Although DSS does receive similar funds through a smaller grant, it is very limited in the number of eligible families who can be served.