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Commissioner urges HRC to prioritize immediate emergency aid; DHS says procurement and other funding streams constrain options
Summary
Commissioner Tamika Armstead pressed the commission to rethink a funding approach she said funnels money to large intermediaries instead of immediate, small-dollar aid. Department of Human Services staff said procurement law governs HRC awards, that other DHS funding streams exist, and that staff will provide data and monitoring to hold subrecipients accountable.
At the Jan. 15 meeting, Commissioner Tamika Armstead challenged the commission’s funding practices, saying money routed through large organizations often fails to reach individuals who need immediate aid.
"What we've been funding is like the 211 and other places that already have, you know, seven figure budgets," Armstead said, adding that people in an immediate crisis need hotel stays, bus tickets or small emergency payments rather than referrals to large pass-through groups. She asked the commission to consider alternative mechanisms that get assistance "to people right in the moment where they need it."
Chair Marcus Adams directed Armstead to submit her concerns to the special committee charged with reviewing allocation practices. Staff and Commissioner Kevin McKenna said the commission controls HRC dollars and that procurement rules require competitive solicitations; McKenna also outlined other DHS-administered funding sources (HUD entitlement grants, emergency solutions grants, continuum-of-care funds) that the department uses to support emergency and supportive services.
Staff said the commission can write RFP scope language that prioritizes immediate-assistance services and that the full commission votes on awards. Staff also noted existing immediate services such as hotel-motel placements supported by local providers (for example, Lowe's and Fishes was cited as receiving HRC support to operate emergency shelter and hotel placements).
Commissioners asked staff to provide an orientation packet and a list of supportive-housing services and to supply data on prior subrecipient performance so the commission can decide whether to change its funding priorities.
The special committee will review Armstead’s concerns and report back at the March 19 meeting; staff will circulate materials to assist the commission ahead of that meeting.
