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Legislature committee approves social services budget and contracts including HEAP, case management software and rapid rehousing
Summary
The committee approved several Social Services resolutions: a $300,000 budget amendment for flexible family funds, a HEAP contract with Community Action Program, filling a supervising investigator position, renewal of Northwoods case-management software and a rapid rehousing contract with CAP. Officials provided program metrics for HEAP and rapid
The Cayuga County Health & Human Services Committee voted to approve a package of Social Services budget and contract resolutions covering flexible family funds, heating assistance outreach, personnel fills and case-management technology.
Bianca, the county—s commissioner of social services, introduced the items. HH2 amends the department budget to accept $300,000 for flexible family services (Triple FS) to support employment and related services to TANF-eligible families. "It's $300,000, and the funding, generally supports employment services for the TANF population," Bianca said.
HH3 authorizes a contract with the Community Action Program (CAP) to serve as an alternate certifier for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) for the period Sept. 1 through April 30. Bianca said the CAP contract was reduced from $146,648 last year to $132,728 this year as the agency reduced staff for the six-month HEAP outreach period; the contract is 100% federally funded. "They help folks that want to apply for heat benefits. They can help them fill out applications," Bianca said.
HH4 authorizes filling a supervising social services investigator position vacant since April; Bianca said the position supports case-integrity investigations (SNAP and Medicaid fraud and other compliance checks) and is partially reimbursed federally.
HH5 authorizes a sole-source contract renewal with Northwoods for a case-management software product used by child-welfare and adult-protective staff. The contract is for five years with a 2% annual escalation; staff described the system as a centralized, searchable repository for case notes, scanned documents and release-of-information forms that enables field staff to work remotely and capture signatures electronically. "It really is like this, this place where everything sort of lives that is related to a case," Bianca said.
HH6 authorizes a contract with CAP for rapid rehousing case management, funded with Triple FS or similar funds, at about $74,000. Bianca provided performance figures: through August 2024 CAP worked with 46 unduplicated families; 37 of those had either obtained permanent housing or been placed in transitional housing, and 13 obtained permanent housing. Bianca said some families exited due to noncompliance or lost contact and CAP made 83 referrals to additional programs.
Each item was moved, seconded and approved by the committee. The transcript shows results recorded as "passes," but it does not include a detailed roll-call for each motion.
Key follow-ups: the social services department will monitor outcomes for rapid rehousing and supply additional details to the committee if requested, and personnel fills will follow civil-service and personnel-committee approvals.
Speakers quoted are identified from the committee record and the social services presentation.
Votes at a glance: HH2 (flexible funds) — approved; HH3 (HEAP CAP contract) — approved; HH4 (investigator fill) — approved; HH5 (Northwoods software) — approved; HH6 (rapid rehousing CAP) — approved. Vote tallies were not specified in the committee transcript.
