fy 2017 annual report 1.1.18 - volusia county, florida€¦ · human services: fy 2017 annual...

Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Report

Volusia County Human Services 123 W. Indiana Avenue

Room 101 DeLand, FL 32720

Phone: (386) 736-5956 Fax: (386) 626-6596

Manager: Clayton J. Jackson, MPA

HUMANSERVICES:FY2017ANNUALREPORT 1

Overview of Human Services Volusia County Human Services provides a variety of services to low-income Volusia County residents to alleviate crisis situations as well as to achieve self-sufficiency. A brief overview of the different services which are available are listed below.

Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) The LIHEAP program provides energy assistance to eligible low-income households to alleviate financial burdens associated with their heating and cooling expenses such as electric, coal, propane and gas. Eligible applicants must have a utility account already established to receive services; they must bring a copy of their utility statement to the Human Services office.

• Low-income households may apply for LIHEAP Home assistance, which will provide an energy credit to their account.

• Low-income households may also apply for LIHEAP Crisis assistance if they have a past-due or shut-off notification from their utility company. If the applicant’s balance is more than the maximum amount of assistance that Human Services is able to provide, the applicant must first pay off that difference before assistance may be approved and provided.

Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP) The EHEAP program provides energy assistance to low-income households that have at least one member who is 60 or older to alleviate financial burdens associated with their heating and cooling expenses such as electric, coal, propane and gas. The household member who is 60 or older must be the person who completes the application. To apply for EHEAP assistance, applicants must have a past-due or shut-off notification from their utility company. If the applicant’s balance is more than the maximum amount of assistance Human Services is able to provide, the applicant must first pay off that difference before assistance may be approved and provided.

Prescription Assistance Human Services will provide eligible applicants with assistance for them to obtain life-sensitive prescriptions. Applicants must bring in a verified prescription from a physician. Prescription assistance is available only for applicants who do not have any form of health insurance. Eligible applicants will be informed of the date and time and the pharmacy they may visit to retrieve their prescription once approved by their caseworker.

Dental Assistance Applicants who are experiencing dental pain or discomfort may apply for assistance to have teeth extractions if needed. Dental assistance is available only for applicants who do not have any form of dental insurance. Eligible applicants will be referred to a dentist for an examination to determine if an extraction is needed. If it is determined an extraction is needed, Human Services will approve up to three extractions for an eligible person. Dental extractions are the only type of assistance Human Services will authorize; any other form of dental treatment will not be provided through Human Services.


Transportation Assistance Human Services will provide one-day Votran bus passes to eligible persons who need medical attention. Applicants must provide their appointment information by showing a physician’s or specialist’s appointment card with the applicant’s name, appointment date and appointment time. Human Services will approve a Votran bus pass only if the applicant’s appointment is the same day or next day; if the appointment is on a Monday, the person may apply for the pass on a Friday.

In addition to providing one-day Votran bus passes for applicants who need transportation for medical appointments, Human Services may also provide three-day, seven-day, or 30-day passes for eligible applicants who need ongoing medical attention or transportation to and from school or work. To receive a Votran bus pass for more than one day, the applicant must exhibit a form of a crisis (refer to the “Requirements of Eligibility” form) and have go through a regular interview process.

Emergency Services Human Services has funds to provide emergency services to eligible applicants who have experienced a recent crisis. Refer to the “Requirements for Eligibility” form on the website to learn what qualifies as a recent crisis and what documentation must be provided for each service. The list below explains what types of emergency assistance are available.

• Rental Assistance – applicants must have a current past-due or eviction notice from their landlord with the amount the tenant currently owes.

• Mortgage Assistance – an applicant must have a mortgage statement exhibiting a current past-due amount. Human Services will not assist applicants if their mortgage has reached foreclosure.

• Rental Deposit – there are limited instances in which Human Services may provide an applicant with a rental deposit. Please refer to the “Requirements for Eligibility” form for further explanation.

• Water Assistance – an applicant must have a utility statement exhibiting a current past-due or shut-off notice.

• Water Deposit – an applicant must have an established account number. Human Services will call the utility company to verify the account number, applicant’s name and address.

Indigent Cremation or Burial Human Services provides limited cremation and burial services to indigent people who pass away in Volusia County in accordance with Florida Statutory requirements. If you have a loved one who may be expiring soon or has recently passed and is low-income, please contact our DeLand office at 386-736-5956 to determine if your loved one may qualify for assistance. A funeral home or crematory will be assigned for the final services on a rotational basis. Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSSP) The FSSP program is a voluntary program designed to assist low-income families to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Program participants can expect to receive fundamental financial and supportive services that will assist them to overcome barriers to obtain educational and/or employment goals. Participants will also be referred to community partners to receive appropriate training and educational opportunities needed based upon each participant’s unique


situation, need and goals. This is Human Services’ long-term assistance program, which is designed to alleviate poverty and provides greater financial assistance to clients. Summer Food Each summer, Human Services operates a Volusia County Summer Food Program in which approximately 75 sites throughout the county provide nutritionally balanced breakfast and/or lunch to children 18 and younger at no cost. The program typically starts a week after the school year ends and ends a week before the next school year starts. FY 2017 Human Services Advisory Board Human Services is the designated community action agency of Volusia as it receives Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding. A requirement to receive CSBG funding for a local government entity is to have a tripartite advisory board where each third must be composed of:

• Low-income representatives- democratically elected by the communities they serve. Representatives do not have to be low-income themselves.

• Private sector- appointed by the Human Services Manager. Members do not have to represent a “for-profit” entity as they may come from education, non-profit, or another like organization.

• Public/Government sector- Volusia County Council members may decide to serve on the board themselves or they may designate appointees from the public to serve on their behalf.

There is a total of 15 advisory board members with the private and low-income representatives having the option of also appointing an alternate member to serve and vote in their absence. The advisory board’s primary functions are to provide information to Human Services on the needs of the low-income community and identify methods which to utilize CSBG funds to tailor services in order to move Volusia County residents out of poverty. Advisory board members also review budgets, reports, and other pertinent documents.

The following persons served on the FY 2017 Human Services Advisory Board:

Public Private Low-Income AlternatesHeather Post Erin LeDuc Smiley Thurston Alice OrtizMyron Fottler Clay LaRoche Johnnie Ponder Julia MarshallSusan Clark Dave Lynn (Chair) Johnnie Chavis Gloria DaileyMarjorie Johnson Nancy Mills Denise Cato Marjorie RossPeter Migner Coren Meeks Yvonne Jefferson Kathy Spencer


Highlights from FY 2017 New Human Services Leadership

• Patricia James, after serving as the Human Services Manager for nine years, retired October 2016. Clayton Jackson was hired to replace Ms. James as the Human Services Manager September 2016. Mr. Jackson has more than seven years of managing various federal grants of a community action agency in Kentucky and possesses a Masters of Public Administration degree from Eastern Kentucky University.

• Myra Gaziano, after serving as the Human Services Coordinator for nine years, retired February 2017. Kim Williams was promoted as the new Human Services Coordinator. Ms. Williams had been a Case Worker Supervisor overseeing the operations at the Daytona Beach office for more than a decade.

• La’Shondra Robinson was promoted from Case Worker to Case Worker Supervisor to replace Kim Williams’ position. Ms. Robinson served as a Case Worker for nearly five years.

Human Services Software Human Services ended its contract with Client-Track which provided the software needed in order to track client services and expenditures September 2016. Mr. Jackson worked with the County’s Information Technology Department to develop an internal Microsoft Access database to meet the basic tracking features of client services to prevent duplication of services, track program expenditures, and provide grant reports. A request for proposal was released July 2017 for a new software system which three vendors submitted applications. By the end of FY 2017 a team of county staff were reviewing the applications and hopes to make an award late 2017 or early 2018 with the new system being fully operational by April 2018. The new software system will allow for better tracking of client services, decreased paperwork burden on both clients and staff, and will allow staff to serve more clients throughout the day. New Mission Statement On July 18, 2017 the Human Services Advisory Board reviewed and approved the mission statement to better reflect its mission going forward into the upcoming fiscal year. The new mission statement is:

“To enhance and improve the lives of Volusia County’s low-income and vulnerable citizens by providing holistic case management, supportive and emergency services, and work with area social service partners to increase the opportunity of individuals obtaining self-sufficiency.” New Vision Statement On July 18, 2017 the Human Services Advisory Board reviewed and approved the vision statement to better reflect its vision going forward into the upcoming fiscal year. The new vision statement is:


“Volusia County Human Services will be recognized as the leading entity within the county providing both self-sufficiency and emergency services to its citizens allowing low-income and vulnerable populations to live independent and dignified lives. Through a variety of social services available, Volusia County Human Services will continuously examine the needs of the community to allocate funds where they are most needed in an ever changing economy. Volusia County Human Services acknowledges it cannot serve every distressed person nor has the funding or resources to alleviate all forms of poverty as to why it’s important to solidify and develop partnerships with other social service agencies.” Assessing the Needs of the Community Human Services continuously assesses the needs of the low-income population in Volusia County to ensure its services are aligned with their needs. Human Services offers a “Community Needs Survey” in its lobbies where people applying for services or waiting for their interview may complete and submit a survey to clerical staff at the window. The Human Services Coordinator on a quarterly basis contacts “key informants” within the community conducting a telephone interview asking them what they believe causes poverty and what services are needed. Finally, the Human Services Manager and Coordinator conducted both client and “key informant” focus groups to gain intricate knowledge on their view of poverty, what services are needed, and what Human Services can do going forward to better serve the community. The top three needed services identified in FY 2017 were in order of most importance: 1) housing, 2) employment, and 3) education. Re-Designing the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSSP) The Case Worker who used to manage the FSSP left her job in March. Another Case Worker stepped in but the program wasn’t producing the results Mr. Jackson believed to be sufficient. Based upon the needs assessment and other topics of the county, housing and homeless services are the number one “service needed” in the county. The FSSP starting November 2017 will start targeting low-risk homeless households to rapidly re-house them and provide supportive case management to promote self-sufficiency. Referrals will only come from a limited number of community partners. Services in addition to housing search and case management will include the household having to complete financial literacy classes/coaching, nutrition education, and job-readiness through various community partners. The program is hopeful to enroll four to six households per month. Daytona Beach Office The Daytona Beach Human Services office was destroyed due to damaged sustained from Hurricane Irma. County management is working diligently to develop a solution to get Human Services another office in Daytona Beach. Until another office is opened in Daytona Beach, all calls going into that number have been routed to the DeLand office. Staff are informing callers that the office is closed and they may apply for services at one of the other three offices. Starting late November 2017, people who live in Daytona Beach and surrounding cities will have the opportunity to apply for LIHEAP and EHEAP assistance through the Daytona Beach Health Department which is allowing one Human Services’ Case Worker to use an office at their location.


FY 2017 Assistance Provided Summary Overview of all Services Provided Human Services provided a total of $1,722,487.07 of direct client assistance in FY 2017. All forms of financial assistance was provided directly to a vendor such as a landlord, utility company, etc. There were a total of 4,549 households who received assistance and 12,603 persons. The chart also exhibits an average per household and average per person for each type of financial assistance provided. Those programs which have “N/A” for “Average per Household” did not actually contribute to all household members, only individuals.

Program Total Expended Households People Average per Household Average per PersonBefore/After School Program $125.00 N/A 1 $125.00CSBG Bus Pass $40.00 N/A 1 $40.00CSBG Auto Repair $385.12 N/A 1 $385.12CSBG Electric $4,635.04 25 84 $185.40 $55.18CSBG (FSS) Rent $9,949.34 14 53 $710.67 $187.72CSBG Fuel/Propane $2,069.95 15 38 $138.00 $54.47CSBG Gas Voucher $30.00 2 3 $15.00 $10.00CSBG Mortgage $8,927.98 20 37 $446.40 $241.30CSBG Employment-Readiness $500.00 N/A 1 $500.00CSBG Rent $133,047.25 292 807 $455.64 $164.87CSBG Water $21,051.89 118 391 $178.41 $53.84EHEAP Summer Crisis $16,224.69 70 119 $231.78 $136.34EHEAP Winter Crisis $34,726.02 138 243 $251.64 $142.91GF Dental $41,890.80 N/A 162 $258.59GF Electric $23,897.47 103 288 $232.01 $82.98GF Fuel/Propane $3,908.94 26 75 $150.34 $52.12GF Indigent Cremation/Burial $254,589.99 N/A 402 $633.31GF Mortgage $11,675.13 26 74 $449.04 $157.77GF Prescription Assistance $5,905.11 N/A 21 $281.20GF Rent $139,854.31 315 838 $443.98 $166.89GF Water $26,850.22 145 442 $185.17 $60.75LIHEAP Cooling Crisis $230,231.80 807 2,278 $285.29 $101.07LIHEAP Heating Crisis $186,608.02 670 1,861 $278.52 $100.27LIHEAP HOME/Energy $565,363.00 1,763 4,383 $320.68 $128.99Total Service Counts $1,722,487.07 4,549 12,603

Human Services' Direct Client Assistance Report: October 1, 2016 - September 30, 2017


Services by Category The visuals below exhibit the amount expended and number of people assisted by major types of assistance programs. Not all programs were included exhibited in the exhaustive chart above as they were not classified as one of the three “primary services”. 65% of direct client assistance was allocated to assist clients with their utilities.

Assistance Type Amount Expended PeopleHousing $303,454.01 1,809Utilities $1,115,567.04 10,202Indigent Services $302,385.90 585Total $1,721,406.95 12,596

Human Services' Expenditures by Category

18%

65%

17%

FY2017PercentofTotalExpendituresbyCategory

Housing Utilities IndigentServices


Assistance by Grant/Fund The visuals below exhibit the amount of financial assistance and people assisted by the four funding sources which Human Services utilizes. More than half of the financial assistance provided was through LIHEAP (includes both HOME and CRISIS). Nearly a third of the assistance was provided using the county’s general fund.

Grant/Fund Expended PeopleCSBG $180,636.57 1,416EHEAP $50,950.71 362LIHEAP $982,202.82 8,522General Fund $508,571.97 2,303Total $1,722,362.07 12,603

Assistance by Grant/Fund

10%3%

57%

30%

FY2017AssistancebyGrant/Fund

CSBG

EHEAP

LIHEAP

GeneralFund


Housing Assistance Provided by Program The visuals below exhibit the amount of financial assistance and people assisted through Human Services’ various housing programs. 46% of the financial housing assistance provided was through the General Fund Rental and 44% was through the CSBG Rental.

Housing Program Expended PeopleCSBG Rent (FSS) $9,949.34 53CSBG Mortgage $8,927.98 37CSBG Rent $133,047.25 807GF Mortgage $11,675.13 74GF Rent $139,854.31 838Total $303,454.01 1809

Human Services' Housing Assistance Programs

3% 3%

44%

4%

46%

FY2017PercentofTotalHousingExpendituresbyProgram

CSBGRent(FSS)

CSBGMortgage

CSBGRent

GFMortgage

GFRent


Utility Assistance Provided by Program A little more than half of the financial assistance provided to assist clients with utilities was provided through the LIHEAP HOME program. More than a remaining third was provided through the LIHEAP CRISIS (includes both Heating and Cooling) program.

Utility Program Expended PeopleLIHEAP HOME $565,363.00 4,383LIHEAP CRISIS $416,839.82 4,139CSBG $27,756.88 513General FUND $54,656.63 805EHEAP $50,950.71 362Total $1,115,567.04 10,202

Human Services' Utility Assistance Programs

51%

37%

2%5% 5%

FY2017PercentofUtilityExpendituresbyProgram

LIHEAPHOME

LIHEAPCRISIS

CSBG

GeneralFUND

EHEAP


Summer Food Program Human Services provided operations and oversight to a total of 84 unique sites throughout Volusia County which served a total of 205,198 meals. A total of 79,773 breakfasts and 125,425 lunches were provided.

Month Breakfasts LunchJune 41,082 65,799July/August 31,539 48,797Total 79,773 125,425

Summer Food Meals Served

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

Breakfasts Lunch

FY2017SUMMERFOODNUMBEROFMEALSSERVEDBYMONTHANDTYPE

June

July/August

39%

61%

FY2017PercentofMealsServedbyMealType

Breakfasts

Lunch


CLIENTDEMOGRAPHICS(asrequiredbyCSBG)

• Note-theclientdemographicsisforunduplicatedindividualsservedwhereasan

individualmayhavereceivedmultipleservicesinthefiscalyear.


0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

Male FemaleSeries1 3,914 5,833

Number

GenderofClients

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

0 - 5 6 -11

12 -17

18 -23

24 -44

45 -54

55 -69

Series1 1,201 1,584 1,246 731 2,402 886 1,260

Number

AgeRangeofClients


0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

5,000

White Black AmericanIndian

Asian Hawaiian

Islander

Other/Mutli

Series1 4,194 4,872 21 31 8 621

Num

ber

RaceofClients

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

0 - 8 9/12Non-Grad

HighSchool/G

ED

Some12+ CollegeGrad

Series1 0 1,030 2,537 745 515

Number

EducationofClients (24Years+)


01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,000

No YesSeries1 8,109 1,638

Number

ClientHasaDisability

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,000

No YesSeries1 2,082 7,665

Number

ClientHasHealthInsurance


HOUSEHOLDINFORMATION(asrequiredbyCSBG)


0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

SingleParent-Female

SingleParent-Male

Two-Parent

SinglePerson

TwoAdults/No

Youth

Other

Series1 1,230 82 567 1,550 371 223

Num

ber

TypeofHousehold/Composition

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight+Series1 1,550 867 652 497 280 121 55 1

Number

NumberofPeopleinaHousehold


0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

0 -50%

51 -75%

76 -100%

101-125%

126 -150%

151 -175%

176-200%

201%+

Series1 1,313 754 749 560 343 135 76 93

Number

PercentofFederalPovertyofHouseholds

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

Own Rent Homeless OtherSeries1 728 3,121 63 111

Number

TypeofHousingoftheHouseholds

fy 2017 annual report 1.1.18 - volusia county, florida€¦ · human services: fy 2017 annual...

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