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3 <br />Statement of cooperation <br />The PHA, PCWA, and CoC agree to cooperate with any program evaluation efforts undertaken by HUD, HHS, or a HUD or <br />HHS-approved contractor, including compliance with HUD and HHS-approved evaluation protocols and data sharing <br />requests. <br />Define the population (youth) eligible for FYI assistance <br />· FYI-Eligible Youth is defined as a youth that the PCWA has certified to be at least 18 years old, and not more than <br />24 years of age, and who has left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan <br />described in section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act, and is homeless or is at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or <br />older. <br />Housing Search Assistance <br />Both the Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) and Department of Social Services (DSS) will work together to <br />provide housing search assistance, especially in low-poverty census tract areas. In addition, Orange County Housing <br />Authority, through its Voucher Issuance Orientations, will provide information on how to conduct a successful search, as <br />well as work with the County Housing Access Coordinator and other community partners to provide rental counseling, as <br />needed. DSS, the CoC and other applicable community partners will participate in these, as well. <br />The following is the protocol for providing the required assistance: <br />· Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) will hold a briefing for landlords participating in the Housing <br />Choice Voucher Program, upon receiving the HUD grant award, to familiarize landlords with the new program <br />and seek their continued cooperation and participation. DSS and OCHA will create the briefing agenda together. <br />Invitations will also be sent to landlords who participate in various DSS programs but who may not participate in <br />current Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, as well. <br />· OCHA and the CoC will also hold a briefing for homeless service providers and coordinated entry <br />participants to share information on the FYI program and solicit their cooperation and assistance. As stated <br />above, DSS will also be a part of the agenda during this briefing, too. <br />· OCHA, DSS and the CoC will merge their respective listing of landlords and housing providers to create one <br />comprehensive listing through the Housing Access Coordinator position to share with FYI participants. <br />· DSS is responsible for the housing search component and will begin the process by determining the <br />housing needs for the FYI eligible youth. DSS has dedicated staff to assist with identifying available housing <br />options, and these staff persons will work with the FYI participants utilizing the Housing Access Coordinator <br />resources discussed above. For individuals who may need disability assistance, DSS will utilize its SOAR program <br />to assist them to apply for and/or appeal to receive disability payments from the Social Security Administration. <br />· For all individuals that have not found housing within seventy-five (75) days of receiving a FYI Voucher, OCHA <br />will work with DSS to lend assistance in helping these families and individuals identify housing. Note that <br />normally HUD’s HCV Program requires that 120 days be allotted before a voucher will expire. <br />· DSS and OCHA certify that they will provide financial assistance, as available, for security deposits and utility <br />connections, including utility arrears. The OCHA financial assistance will come from federal funds dedicated to <br />DocuSign Envelope ID: 299E0F76-8269-4846-B50D-AD7354AC49E3