Special Notice / Hearing: None
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Use of District-Discretionary Measure K Funds - Supervisorial District 2
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $35,000, to City of Foster City for the Foster City Emergency Rental Assistance Pilot Program, and authorizing the County Executive, or designee, to execute the grant agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
Measure K is the half-cent general sales tax initially approved by San Mateo County voters in November 2012 and extended in November 2016 for a total of thirty years.
The Board of Supervisors (Board) held study sessions on Measure K expenditures and approved funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 budget cycle, divided evenly among the five supervisorial districts, for one-time district-discretionary needs and projects. District 2 has submitted a request to use their district-discretionary Measure K funds as shown below and described in the Project Summary section of this memorandum:
|
District/Project |
Amount |
|
District 2 (Supervisor Noelia Corzo) - City of Foster City: Foster City Emergency Rental Assistance Pilot Program |
$35,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018. District 2 indicates that this organization is either a public agency operating within the County or a nonprofit organization registered and in good standing with the California Attorney General. District 2 indicates that the sponsoring Board member, member’s family, and member’s supervisorial staff do not serve as an officer, director, or play a policy role for the grantee organization.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to City of Foster City, and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $35,000 to provide for emergency rental assistance to Foster City residents under the Foster City Emergency Rental Assistance Pilot Program. The County Executive’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
District-discretionary Measure K funding for this organization has previously been provided as listed below:
• On July 21, 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved district-discretionary Measure K funding, in the amount of $45,250, for a Certified K-9 Unit for the Foster City Police Department
The City of Foster City frequently receives inquiries from residents who need financial assistance to pay rent and are often on the verge of losing their housing. Currently, these residents are referred to Samaritan House for services. However, due to a high need for emergency rental assistance across the County, many residents are unable to access emergency rental assistance in time.
Recognizing this need, the City of Foster City seeks to establish an Emergency Rental Assistance Pilot Program to provide financial support to low-income residents living in below market rate (BMR) housing who are facing displacement. The program will offer one-time grants of up to $3,000 directly to landlords of eligible residents in lieu of residents’ rent payments. Program eligibility will be limited to seniors aged 62 or over, individuals living with disabilities, veterans, and families with children.
To qualify, applicants must demonstrate that their income is less than 50% of area median income (AMI), that they live in BMR housing, and that they are at risk of losing housing in the next three months due to hardship as defined below. The applicant must submit an application for the program and required documentation, including paystubs, bank statements, and a copy of the tenant’s current lease as well as evidence of hardship such as job loss. In addition, the property manager will submit a copy of the most recent tenant income certification if the tenant does not have a copy. This income certification will confirm the tenant’s income eligibility as less than 50% of AMI.
To demonstrate risk of losing housing in the next three months, applicants will provide evidence of hardship causing loss or reduction of income combined with financial assets (e.g. savings, checking account balance) insufficient to cover rent payments for the next three months. If the applicant has experienced hardship, they will need to explain the hardship in the application and provide documentation as evidence. Hardship is defined as a recent medical condition, illness, or medical emergency of a household member resulting in temporary or permanent loss of or reduction in income; recent loss of job or income resulting in the ability to pay rent on time; an emergency that precludes the tenant from paying rent on time. City of Foster City staff will evaluate the application, income, and assets to determine the tenant’s ability to pay their rent to determine eligibility.
The program will be designed to address the growing need for rental assistance and reduce the risk of homelessness for vulnerable populations facing eviction. The City of Foster City plans to partner with Samaritan House to both ensure that funding is not duplicative and ensure that applicants have access to additional resources and support services from Samaritan House.
District 2 has informed the grantee organization that this is a one-time only, and that the grantee organization will need to find other sources of funding going forward. The grantee organization will us the Measure K grant funds as follows:
Budget:
• $30,000: Grants to landlords on behalf of eligible applicants.
• $5,000: Process applications and administer program. The City will contract with Samaritan House to help administer the program.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $35,000
The release of funds will be contingent on the execution of an agreement providing for the County’s confirmation of the expenditure of funds for the purposes stated herein. The County will disburse the funds to the following organization for the purposes described above:
City of Foster City
610 Foster City Boulevard
Foster City, CA 94404
Stefan Chatwin
schatwin@fostercity.org
650-286-3220
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Notify 100% of Foster City below market rate (BMR) property managers in properties regulated under the City of Foster City Below Market Rate Housing Program and instruct property managers to post or email flyers about the program to all BMR tenants. |
100% Complete |
|
Inform Foster City residents through the provision of posted notices and available flyers at three (3) public places: the Foster City senior center, Foster City Library, and Foster City Recreation Center at all times, provided funds are available. In addition, provide notices to 100% of licensed childcare providers, and public pre-K-12 schools in Foster City. |
100% Complete |
|
Promote the program through four (4) media platforms, including the Islander newsletter, social media, the electronic billboard, the City’s website. |
100% Complete |
|
Announce the program at least one (1) City Council meeting, including a meeting held during affordable housing month, provided that program funds are available at that time. |
100% Complete |
|
Provide grants to at least ten (10) qualified Foster City households. |
100% Complete |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
EQUITY IMPACT:
Marginalized communities are often those most deeply affected by rising housing costs. As rents rise dramatically throughout the county and residents are faced with the threat of eviction, those displaced from their communities are disproportionately residents of color. Emergency rental assistance provides a lifeline to prevent families and individuals from being displaced and keeps them rooted in their communities. Additionally, this program is specifically targeted to help the senior community, veterans, those with disabilities, and families.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2024-25 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget.