Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Cole, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: State HCD Template Resolution Authorizing County Participation in State Rental Assistance Program Under SB 91
RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve and adopt template resolution from the State Department of Housing and Community Development, authorizing County's participation in State's Rental Assistance Program.
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BACKGROUND:
A. Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (Public Law 116-260) was signed into law on December 27, 2020. This law allocates federal funds to assist in the recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including $25 billion for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program administered by the U.S. Treasury Department ("Federal ERAP"). The Department of the Treasury has allocated Federal ERAP funds to each state, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories, based on population. Cities and counties with more than 200,000 residents, like San Mateo County, were eligible to receive a direct allocation of Federal ERAP funds. On January 21, 2021, the County received its direct allocation in the amount of $22,791,546.60.
Under the Federal ERAP, ninety percent (90%) of the funds must be used to assist eligible households with (a) rent and rental arrears, (b) utilities and utility arrears, and (c) other expenses related to housing incurred, directly or indirectly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with priority afforded to expenditures to assist with rental arrears. The remaining ten percent (10%) of funds can be used for administrative costs and/or case management or other services related to keeping households stably housed during the pandemic.
Households meeting all of the following criteria are eligible for Federal ERAP assistance:
* One or more individuals within the household qualified for unemployment ben...
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