Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homelessness topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Health department explains reallocation of Emergency Solutions Grant funds; mental‑health hire not filled
Summary
The council approved a resolution reallocating Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds after the city failed to fill a planned mental‑health worker position; staff said the funds will be reallocated to rapid rehousing and street outreach subrecipients and described coordination with federal, county and local partners.
The Trenton Department of Health and Human Services explained a proposed reallocation of Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds and the council approved the related resolution on the consent agenda.
Diego Villacapelle of the Department of Health and Human Services told council that each year the city receives ESG funding and then awards subrecipient grants for rapid rehousing, street outreach and related homelessness services. He explained that the department had set aside about $47,000 to hire a mental‑health worker but did not find a candidate before the grant spending deadline, and because ESG funds must be obligated within program windows the city is reallocating those dollars to other ESG‑eligible activities and subrecipients so the funds are not lost.
Villacapelle said the city also participates in the Continuum of Care system (CoC), a larger federal homelessness funding system, and that the city coordinates with county partners, the police department, the Rescue Mission and nonprofit mobile units on outreach. He said some settlement funds and dedicated cannabis tax distributions that stakeholders expect to support related services are delayed or have not yet been received, and the city will consider those sources when they arrive.
Council members asked for clarification about who responds to encampments and outdoor unsheltered individuals; Villacapelle outlined that Health and Human Services outreach staff, rescue mission mobile units, police and partner nonprofits respond together and that services are offered with respect and consent; staff do not forcibly remove people.
The council approved the reallocation resolution as presented; administration staff said they will continue to coordinate funding and outreach and will rely on the Homeless Management Information System vendor for required client tracking and reporting.
