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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFY26 LA2A Aging Services ResponsesFY26 Legacy Aid to Agencies HCDC Question and Answer (Q&A) Session Instructions The Q&A session provides an opportunity for commissioners and staff to ask clarifying questions about the applications submitted through United Way. Please provide written responses to the questions below. Written responses must be received by City staff no later than December 6, 2024. This process is intended to gather the information required to accurately score submissions. Written responses can be directed to Brianna Thul at bthul@iowa-city.org or dropped off at City Hall (410 E Washington Street). All information related to this grant will be posted at www.icgov.org/grants. The Housing and Community Development Commission will hold a meeting on January 27th, 2025, at 6:30pm in City Hall to develop funding recommendations for City Council. This meeting is open to the public and applicants are welcome to attend to hear the conversation. The meeting will also be recorded and posted online for those unable to attend. Agency: Aging Services Questions: The narrative says 16.79% of FY24 beneficiaries are Iowa City residents and the geographic section says 133 of 166 (80%) beneficiaries were Iowa City residents. Please clarify. Response: Aging Services provides services to a large regional area that includes Johnson, Washington, Benton, Linn, and Jones counties. Of the total number of individuals served by Aging Services across all counties, 16.79% are Iowa City residents. In FY24, of the total number of unduplicated individuals served specifically in the Johnson and Washington county geographic area, 133 or 81.6%, were Iowa City residents. Does the applicant have a current profit and loss statement specific to Aging Services that could be provided? Response: Aging Services financial statements are broken down by department. Pathways and Community Programs, that includes the Home Accessibility and Repair program, are attached for your review. Applicant is requesting a 78% funding increase from the prior allocation. What is the rationale for the funding increase? Response: Aging Services is requesting the same amount of funding requested in previous fiscal years. The past allocations that we have received has not met the level of need that currently exist in the community. We continue to request funds exceeding what has been allocated due to the rising number of low-income older adults needing access to home accessibility and repair and adult day services in the Johnson and Washington County area. To meet the rising need, additional funding is needed. More specifically, free lawn mowing and snow removal are services provided within the Home Accessibility and Repair program. Both services have a high number of requests and are paramount to the health and well-being of older adults as these tasks can often lead to heat stroke, falls, and heart attack. Due to increased contractor rates and limited funding, Aging Services is unable expand these vital services to reach more individuals in the Iowa City area resulting in barriers to remaining safely in the home and limiting greater access to the community and resources. Pathways Adult Day Center has also had growth in the program over the past several years. With a larger number of individuals becoming aware of the services available at Pathways there are a larger number of individuals in need of adult day services unable to afford services privately and with no other funding source. Pathways also provides assistance to caregivers needing resources and referrals to continue to care for themselves and their loved ones. Increased funding would provide more individuals and caregivers to access needed resources. Are there plans to establish an operational reserve fund in the future with a budget surplus? Response: Aging Services does have an investment account as part of Unity Point’s total investments with a company called “SEI”. The savings for Aging Services is not specific to any one program, for example, for Pathways, but for all Aging Services. The investment account is managed by a Unity Point Investment Committee. Aging Services has input on transfers into and out of the account, however the balance sheet is largely managed by the Unity Point central accounting/finance team.