Agenda Item Name:
Title
U.S. Dept. of the Treasury Rental Assistance Program
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Presenter:
Claudia Tuck 352-264-6704
Description:
U.S. Dept. of the Treasury Rental Assistance Program
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Accept grant award, approve attached budget amendment and provide staff guidance.
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Prior Board Motions:
None
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
$8,123,938.40 grant award
Fund 154 various accounts
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Background:
The Emergency Rental Assistance program makes available $25 billion to assist eligible households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are provided directly to States, U.S. Territories, local governments with more than 200,000 residents, and Indian tribes. Grantees use the funds to provide assistance to eligible households through existing or newly created rental assistance programs.
Eligible grantees must provide payment information and sign the acceptance of award terms form. Completed payment information and a signed acceptance of award terms form generally must be submitted not later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on January 12, 2021, to ensure payments are made within the 30-day period specified by the statute.
Not less than 90 percent of awarded funds must be used for direct financial assistance, including rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs, utilities and home energy costs arrears, and other expenses related to housing. Remaining funds are available for housing stability services, including case management and other services intended to keep households stably housed, and administrative costs. Funds generally expire on December 31, 2021.
An “eligible household” is defined as a renter household in which at least one or more individuals meets the following criteria:
i. Qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19;
ii. Demonstrates a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
iii. Has a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median.
Rental assistance provided to an eligible household should not be duplicative of any other federally funded rental assistance provided to such household.
Eligible households that include an individual who has been unemployed for the 90 days prior to application for assistance and households with income at or below 50 percent of the area median are to be prioritized for assistance.
An application for rental assistance may be submitted by either an eligible household or by a landlord on behalf of that eligible household. Households and landlords must apply through programs established by grantees. In general, funds will be paid directly to landlords and utility service providers. If a landlord does not wish to participate, funds may be paid directly to the eligible household.
Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance, plus an additional 3 months if the grantee determines the extra months are needed to ensure housing stability and grantee funds are available. The payment of existing housing-related arrears that could result in eviction of an eligible household is prioritized. Assistance must be provided to reduce an eligible household’s rental arrears before the household may receive assistance for future rent payments. Once a household’s rental arrears are reduced, grantees may only commit to providing future assistance for up to three months at a time. Households may reapply for additional assistance at the end of the three-month period if needed and the overall time limit for assistance is not exceeded.