Agenda Item Name:
Title
Emergency Rental Assistance Program 1 & 2 Update and Policy Direction
End
Presenter:
Claudia Tuck
352-231-0058
Description:
Unanticipated revenue for ERA-1 Reallocated Funds award in the amount of $149,381.45.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Accept ERA-1 Reallocated Funds, approve resolution and attached budget amendment, and provide policy direction.
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Prior Board Motions:
01/26/2021: Accepted U.S. Treasury Award of ERA Funds
02/23/2021: Approved agreement with CRI for Program Administration and provided policy direction
03/9/2021: Approved program policies
06/22/2021: Accepted U.S. Treasury Award of ERA 2 Funds
09/28/2021: Approval of 2 FTE to support ERAP
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
$149,381.45
Revenue-154.00.0060.331.2000 Project #6212901
Expense-154.00.0060.525.49.01 Project #6212901
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Strategic Guide:
All Other Mandatory and Discretionary Services
Background:
The U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance program (ERAP) made available $25 billion to assist eligible households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were provided directly to states, U.S. territories, local governments with more than 200,000 residents, and Indian tribes. Grantees were to use the funds to provide assistance to eligible households through existing or newly created rental assistance programs.
The BoCC accepted an award of $8,123,938.00. The first round of ERA provided eligible households up to 12 months of assistance, plus an additional 3 months if the grantee determines the extra months are needed to ensure housing stability. The payment of existing housing-related arrears that could result in eviction of an eligible household is prioritized. Assistance was provided to reduce an eligible household’s rental arrears before the household may receive assistance for future rent payments.
Alachua County was awarded $9,701,662.10 in the second round of ERA Funds.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury provided guidance that the ERA Grantee may request Reallocated Funds if at least 65% of the total ERA awarded funds had been obligated and the jurisdiction demonstrated a need for the ERA funds requested. On November 2, 2021, a request for Reallocated Funds was made to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Rental Assistance Program for an additional $5,466,170.00 of ERA funds. The U.S. Department of the Treasury approved the request for Reallocated Funds in the amount of $149,381.45
Hear presentation from April Shuping, CRI. Request that BoCC approve and provide policy direction on the following:
• Close program to new applications effective 2/15/2022
– OUR Florida ERAP has funding available
• Continue funding monthly payments until funding is exhausted (expected to occur in April 2022)
• Approve accepting all recapture funding received by Alachua County for ERAP1 and ERAP2
.