Homestead City Council voted to approve subcontract agreements tied to a Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County grant after local nonprofits outlined services they provide to families affected by violence.

The council approved the resolution that will fund five subrecipients, which staff said primarily implement trauma-informed advocacy, therapy and care coordination services for residents. Staff told the council the only change in this year's subrecipient agreements was new invoice-review criteria intended to speed payments to partners.

Representatives of Start Off Smart (SOS), Mujer, Christie House, Enfamilia and Legal Aid each described programs funded under the grant: legal advocacy, emergency housing and hotel stays, trauma therapy, food and basic-needs distribution, and school- and youth-focused supports. ‘‘This is what public safety looks like,'' Sandy Nani, identified as CEO of Start Off Smart, said in her presentation, summarizing the organization's advocacy and prevention work.

Council members asked staff about oversight and auditing. The finance director said the city is the contracting entity with the Children's Trust and that subrecipients must report directly to the trust; reimbursement from the trust requires the trust's validation of invoices before the city processes payments.

The discussion included concerns about duplicative services and the need for robust documentation. Councilman Fletcher asked who ultimately ensures subrecipients spend grant dollars in accordance with program rules; staff replied that the city maintains oversight through its grants-administration division and that auditors review the program as part of the city's annual financial statements.

The public offered support for the agencies during comment. One resident, Brandy Ramirez, told the council she and others in the community ‘‘stand here to say that I've been in this community all my life. Every single leader that spoke tonight . . . do deserve to be funded.''

A motion to approve the subcontract awards passed on a roll-call vote. Mayor Lawson recorded a no vote; other councilmembers voted in favor.

The resolution takes effect immediately and will be implemented under the terms of the city's agreement with the Children's Trust. Staff said they will provide copies of the most recent TCT audit reports to council members on request.

What happens next: staff will finalize the subrecipient agreements with the listed nonprofits and proceed with the invoice-review process that city leaders said aims to accelerate payments to partners.