Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Cole, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Funding for Additional Community-Based Outreach and Application Assistance for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the allocation of $631,000 to Samaritan House, operating as the fiscal agent for the Core Service Agencies, to provide community outreach and applicant assistance for the State Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
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BACKGROUND:
The economic impacts of the pandemic have caused financial hardships for many San Mateo County residents, and those most affected have often not been able to pay their rent. Over the past year, the eight Core Service Agencies have distributed over $11,000,000 in rental and utility assistance to 4,743 households through the County Emergency Financial Assistance Program. While this funding has helped many households, significant need for rental and utility assistance remains.
Two recently adopted pieces of legislation, the Federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and State Senate Bill (SB) 91, have appropriated significant funding for rental assistance, utility assistance and assistance with other expenses related to housing incurred, directly or indirectly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (Federal ERAP) established under the Federal Consolidate Appropriations Act of 2021, San Mateo County received a direct allocation of $22,791,546. The County's share of State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (State ERAP) funding (authorized under SB 91) is $24,529,226.48.
Pursuant to SB 91, on February 9, 2021, the Board of Supervisors authorized the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to administer, on behalf of the County, the County's share of State ERAP funding as well as the direct allocation the County r...
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