To: Harris County Commissioners Court
Through: David Berry, Executive Director, Budget Management Department
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Prepared By: Leah Barton, Senior Director, Budget Management Department
Subject: COVID: Rental Assistance Expansion
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Project ID (If applicable]:
Purpose and Request:
title
Request by Budget Management for approval of contracts with BakerRipley and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston for rental assistance application processing and payment, funded by additional allocations to the US Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
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Background and Discussion:
Since January, the Houston-Harris County Rental Assistance Program, implemented in collaboration with the City of Houston, has assisted over 24,000 households struggling with impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has made additional funding available under similar program guidelines. With the first 40% of these Emergency Rental Assistance Program 2 (ERAP 2) funds, Harris County seeks to continue to support residents experiencing housing insecurity, providing payment for past-due and future rent to help families remain stably housed.
Fiscal Impact: Funds will be provided from the US Treasury ERAP 2 funds.
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Fiscal Summary |
|
Expenditures |
FY 20-21 |
FY 21-22 Projected |
Future Years Projected [3 additional years] |
|
Service Impacted: Rental assistance application processing and payment |
|
|
|
|
BakerRipley |
|
$12,000,000 |
|
|
Catholic Charities |
|
$12,000,000 |
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
$24,000,000 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
US Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program 2 |
|
$24,000,000 |
|
|
Total Sources |
|
$24,000,000 |
|
Alternatives:
Ongoing high levels of eviction place families at increased risk of homelessness, COVID-19, and other adverse impacts.
Alignment with Strategic Objective:
Aligned with Strategic Objectives of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and our County-wide Housing goals.
Attachments: Contracts to follow.