As stated in the Downtown Outlook Plan, the CRA may support and fund outreach programs to assist homeless persons in regaining self-sufficiency and to help minimize the impacts of the homeless on the residents and businesses within the Downtown area. For the last year, under an agreement with the CRA and other entities, the Health Care Center for the Homeless, Inc. (“HCCH”) has been providing outreach services within the Downtown CRA. The CRA desires to partner with this agency again in order to retain the services of the two homeless outreach specialists currently serving the Downtown CRA.

To that end, the CRA will enter into a funding agreement with the HCCH and the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, Inc. (“HSN”) in order to provide funding for two homeless outreach specialists for the term of July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. The total cost is estimated at $105,060, which includes salary and benefits for the two outreach specialists as well as operating expenses. The CRA will contribute $60,000, HSN has agreed to contribute $35,000 and HCCH will cover the remaining expenses. The HCCH will supervise the activities of the homeless outreach specialists and will provide quarterly progress and summary reports to the CRA and HSN.

On May 21, 2014, the CRA Advisory Board recommended the CRA approve the Homeless Outreach Funding Agreement, subject to review and approval by the City Attorney’s Office, and authorization for the Chairman and Executive Director to execute such Agreement. They also recommended authorization of expenditures from the Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Trust Fund in the amount of $60,000 for the Homeless Outreach Funding Agreement.