Corrective Action Plan: The Office of Community Development (OCD) is in the process of implementing a new timeline for ESGP funding to be compliant with federal regulations. The following steps of the corrective action have already been completed. 1. Since the OHTF account balance is now in the p...
Corrective Action Plan: The Office of Community Development (OCD) is in the process of implementing a new timeline for ESGP funding to be compliant with federal regulations. The following steps of the corrective action have already been completed. 1. Since the OHTF account balance is now in the position to allow OCD to commit funds earlier within the program year, the HCRP timelines can be adjusted to meet HUD?s 60-day requirement. 2. OCD must handle this change cautiously as HCRP serves Ohio?s most vulnerable population, the homeless, and our most vulnerable grantees, non-profit organizations. Interruptions in services and operating support would be detrimental to both. Both are dependent upon the continuity of OCD?s programs? timing. Therefore, a series of meetings have been scheduled with grantees to strategize about the most seamless way to implement this change with the least disruption in services and support. The first meeting was held on February 24, 2023. The second one is scheduled for March 31, 2023. 3. OCD will discuss this topic with the Supportive Housing Advisory Group in the fall of 2023. This meeting is part of Ohio?s Consolidated Planning Process to gather stakeholders input to create Ohio?s Annual Action Plan to submit to HUD for approval. A public comment period is built into the process as well, so additional feedback may be gathered to consider. Finally, the new timeline will be approved by HUD within the Annual Action Plan. 4. While OCD is having meetings and gathering feedback, staff will be working on the internal impact this change may create. System requirement changes and delays they may cause; report deadline shifts and alignment with other homeless reporting systems; and staff workload balance in coordination with other programs are a few we are aware of at this point. Also, the program planning begins far in advance to the grantee application submission. Therefore, timelines get set and approved early on. There are times when our allocation amounts are released from HUD late which delays our application process. There are times when HUD issues our grant agreement late which will require OCD to hold all grantees? agreements until ours is executed. Either one will cause a disruption in services after the program period is changed to an earlier start date. All these factors must be carefully considered prior to making this transition, so that surprises and delays are kept to a minimum. In some cases, a back-up plan will be required. Anticipated Completion Date for Corrective Action: September 2024 Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Talia D. Givens-Gore, Program Operations Manager, Ohio Department of Development 77 South High Street, 26th floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215 Phone Number: 614-728-8140, E-Mail Address: Talia.Givens-Gore@development.ohio.gov