Title
a. Adopt a resolution to Authorize the County of Monterey to participate in the State Rental Assistance Program; and
b. Authorize the Director of Social Services to act on behalf of the County in connection with the State Rental Assistance Program block grant award and to enter into, execute, and deliver any and all documents required or deemed necessary or appropriate to be awarded for the State Rental Assistance, and all amendments.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Adopt a resolution to Authorize the County of Monterey to participate in the State Rental Assistance Program; and
b. Authorize the Director of Social Services to act on behalf of the County in connection with the State Rental Assistance Program block grant award and to enter into, execute, and deliver any and all documents required or deemed necessary or appropriate to be awarded for the State Rental Assistance, and all amendments.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was signed into law establishing the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”) and authorized the direct allocation of emergency rental assistance funds to states, units of local government, tribal communities, and territories. The County of Monterey was eligible for a direct allocation and received $12,905,387.40 in Emergency Rental Assistance Funds allocated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on January 26, 2021. The ERAP funds are intended to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Newsom then signed SB 91, the COVID 19 Tenant Relief Act, on January 29, 2021. SB 91 extends the state’s eviction moratorium and established the State of California’s program for administering its share of ERAP funds (the “State Rental Assistance Program,” or “SRAP”) resources to assist struggling tenants and landlords impacted by the economic damage of COVID-19.
Through the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) State Rental Assistance Funds will be administered in accordance with state and federal law. Monterey County is eligible to receive $15,625,836.30 of SRAP funds and submitted an Expression of Interest to the HCD specifying the decision to accept the local share of state funds as a block grant.
The following resolution authorizes and directs Monterey County to accept a state block grant award not to exceed $20 million. The current allocation is $15,625,836.30 but State requested that flexibility be built into the resolution’s amount the County is willing to accept allowing the State to issue a quick redistribution of additional funds to Monterey County, if needed. Monterey County will receive a combined amount between both Federal and State allocations of over $28.5 million dollars to support rental assistance programs for low-income residents throughout Monterey County adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis who are at risk of becoming homeless.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
FINANCING:
The State will be issuing Monterey County $15,625,836.30 of federal funds in the form of a “Block Grant” within a few weeks after receiving Monterey County’s approved board resolution. Appropriations will be requested in a separate board report under Budget 001-5010-SOC004 in the FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget and has been built into the FY 2021-22 Requested Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This action correlates to the Administration and Health & Human Services Strategic Initiatives adopted by the Board of Supervisors by allowing the Department to continue to receive State and federal funding to provide programs and services to the residents of the County.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
X Economic Development
X Administration
X Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by Lauren Suwansupa, Community Affiliation Manager x8492
pproved by: Lori A. Medina, Director, x4430
Attachments:
State Resolution