Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Norman Foster
Department: Office of Management and Budget
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution in the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund in the amount of $15,276,657 to appropriate the direct federal assistance from the U.S. Treasury Department to Broward County for the emergency rental assistance program under the Housing Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and to authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement.
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Why Action is Necessary
Board approval is required for appropriating unanticipated revenue.
What Action Accomplishes
Appropriates the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding allocated to Broward County for an emergency rental assistance program including administrative costs.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Motion A - February 9, 2021 Item 38.
Motion A - June 1, 2021 Item 90.
Summary Explanation/Background
On March 11, 2021, the President signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law, which provides direct federal assistance to local governments with populations over 200,000 for the emergency rental assistance program including administrative costs under the Housing Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Emergency Rental Assistance
In addition to the $58,965,475 approved by the board on February 9, 2021 and the $26,980,368 approved by the board on June 1, 2021, Broward County has received $15,276,657 in funds to assist with the COVID-19 public health emergency. This program will assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to a direct or indirect loss associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible households may receive up to 18 months of assistance (inclusive of funds received from the first round of Emergency Rental Assistance), to ensure housing stability. Funds must be expended by September 30, 2025, provided certain benchmarks are met, and cannot be reallocated for any other purpose. Over 11,500 residents have been assisted since the inception of the county’s emergency rental assistance programs.
An eligible household is defined as:
• One or more individuals within the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship during or due, directly or indirectly, to the coronavirus pandemic;
• One or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
• The household is a low-income family (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)).
There are Federal guidelines related to eligibility. The County is accountable for every dollar of expenses, as ineligible expenses are subject to recoupment.
Source of Additional Information
Norman Foster, Director, Office of Management and Budget, (954) 357-6346
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Provides Broward County $15,276,657 in Emergency Rental Assistance funding to provide emergency rental assistance through September 30, 2025.