HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11051991 - 2.8 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA- COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on November 5, 1991, by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Fanden, Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson, Powers
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT: Amendments to Standards for )
Administration of the General ) Resolution No. 91/717
Assistance Program )
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors RESOLVES that:
Resolution 91/606 , adopting standards of aid and care for the indigent and
dependent poor of the County (General Assistance) , effective November 1,
1991, as amended is hereby further amended as follows :
1 . Part 1, section 102, is amended to read as follows:
102 . Based on the reports and studies of the Social Service
Department, the Board of Supervisors finds :
(a) More than 95% of General Assistance recipients are single
individuals and that more than 75% of these individuals live
in shared housing with other persons .
(b) The 1991 federal poverty guidelines provide for
application of the poverty guidelines on a household basis .
(c ) The primary federal study of the poverty guidelines states :
"Yet, although the bond may be weaker, households made up of
unrelated individuals enjoy most benefits of the economies
of scale that characterize the economic situation of
families . These benefits include the utilization of a
single shelter and the purchase and preparation of food in
quantities . "
(The Measure of Poverty. Technical Paper x Effects of Using
a Poverty Definition Based on Household Income, Bureau of
the Census, Washington, D.C. , 16 Nov. 76 , pg. 1 )
(d) The legislative history of Welfare and Institutions Code
section 17000 . 5 shows that the Legislature understood and
contemplated adjustments based upon the economies of scale
resulting from shared housing:
"Using 1991 poverty levels, the 62% cap would equal $342 for
one person, $459 for two, and $576 for three, for example.
The GA maximum grant would be fixed at these dollar figures
unless increased, at county option, by the COLA given to
AFDC grants . "
(Senate Health Human Services Committee analyses of AB 948 )
(e ) General Assistance recipients residing in a single housing
unit are able to benefit from the economies of scale that
characterize the economic situation of families .
(f ) The use of household units as a basis for General Assistance
benefits should exclude minors who do not contribute to the
household income and should include provisions permitting
General Assistance eligibles to show that they lawfully
reside in a household which does not benefit from the
economies of scale.
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RESOLUTION NO. 91/717
g) Subject to adjustment for minors and for households which do
not benefit from economies of scale, the appropriate budget
units for General Assistance eligibles under Welfare and .
Institutions Code section 17000 .5 are household units equal
in size to the family units used in the 1991 federal poverty
guidelines .
2 . Part 1 , section 102 . 5 is added as follows :
102 . 5 (a) The general assistance standards of aid are
established by household budget units equal in size to the
family units used in the federal official poverty
guidelines .
(b) A budget unit is defined as persons eligible for general
, assistance residing in a single housing unit alone, or with
other persons eligible for general assistance, family
members, or other persons with whom the eligible person(s )
share living expenses .
(c ) Subject to the provisions of section 109, the standard of
general assistance aid for each person in a budget unit
exceeding one shall be an amount equal to the multiple
person budget unit standard divided by the number of persons
in the budget unit excluding minors who are not a source of
income.
3 . Part 1 , section 104 . 5 is added as follows :
104 . 5 Based on the reports and studies of the Social
Service Department, the Board of Supervisors finds that the
actual cost of food and housing at a county shelter is $22
per day, and that $10 per day should be treated as income to
homeless General Assistance eligibles who are sheltered or
who refused or are disqualified for shelter calculated at $3
per day for food based on the General Assistance food
allowance under Resolution 89/598 and this Board' s January
22, 1991 order increasing that allowance, and $7 per day for
housing based on the unshared housing allowance under
Resolution 89/598 . The Board of Supervisors further finds
that $10 per day is less than a pro-rata allocation of the
monthly General Assistance allowance for a 1 person budget
unit .
4 . Part 1 , section 109 ) is added as follows :
109 . General Assistance recipients may show that they lawfully
reside in a household in which they do not share living
expenses or benefit from the economies of scale. Such
showing must include the following:
(a) Evidence that the recipient lawfully resides in a housing
unit for which the recipient is required to pay rent to the
owner of the unit or with the owner' s consent, to a lessee
of the unit, at a rate equal to 2/3rds or more of their
multiple budget unit standard of aid, which must include:
( 1 ) A written statement under penalty of perjury from the
owner of the housing unit showing, without names, the number
of persons occupying the unit; a summary of the terms of the
occupancy; the monthly amount of rent paid by each occupant;
and that the rental use is permitted under the applicable
land use or zoning requirements of the jurisdiction.
( 2 ) Evidence of a business license permitting the rental,
if required by the jurisdiction.
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RESOLUTION NO. 91/717
(b) Such other evidence as the Social Service Department may
require .
Upon such showing, the eligible shall be provided an
increased standard of aid equal to 150% of the rental
payment, but not to exceed $342 per month.
1 hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of
an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervises on the date dWW1L
ATTESTED: '� /�15�/
PHIL BATCHELOR.CNN%of the Bostd
of Superviaora and Courtly Adrakddrdw
By a-J .OaAuty
Orig. Dept: County Counsel
cc: oci 1 Service
FB-5 a:\aww�resol\Gen-Asst.amd
County Administrator
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RESOLUTION NO. 91/717