The State is expected to make the award notices during the month of January.  As part of the application, the Board also approved ATCAA as being the sub-recipient to administer and implement the grant and a draft sub-recipient agreement was developed and approved by the State Department of Housing and Community Development, however it must also be approved by the BOS. The agreement will not take effect until after the State has approved the grant. The scope of work for the grant provides for a homeless census and a report which specifies the characteristics of the County homeless population and the gaps in services as well as includes the development of at least one funding application for either homeless services, operations or facilities.

One of the primary sources of funding for the homeless projects is through the HUD Continuum of Care Program. Once the County is funded by this source, it’s possible to obtain over $60,000 annually. However, the HUD Continuum of Care Program typically accepts applications in June leaving ATCAA very little time to develop the information needed to submit the application. Beetle Barber the housing resources director of ATCCA discussed the Homeless Needs assessment and Continuum Care Program. Barber expressed that homelessness is a local concern and explained that of the 175 children and adults staying at the homeless shelter last year the average length of time an adult had been in the County was 5 1/2 years. 43 of the adults were native to Amador CountyAmador County residents for more than 20 years. 55% of the adults that stayed at the shelter had a physical or psychiatric disability severe enough to prevent them from holding a job. She explained that by gathering this type of information will enable ATCAA to select projects that will benefit Amador Co. She said ATCAA expects begin with a countywide homeless assessment, which they expect to be conducted this March. Ultimately, the BOS approved the sub-recipient agreement with some minor language changes allowing ATCAA to continue in their quest of addressing homelessness in Amador County. while 11 of the adults had been