Item Coversheet

Board Action Request
22-0150

Item Description:
Allocate $899,379 Emergency Rental Assistance funds (new allocation NTE $57,649,115); transfer $176,570 of ERA1 and $3,447,591 of ERA2 from HED to HHS; supp app of $4,523,540 to 2022 HSPH budget
Resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED, that a budget authority transfer from the 2022 Housing and Economic Development department operating budget in the amount of $3,624,161 ($176,570 of ERA1 (CP 1008501) and $3,447,591 of ERA2 (CP 1008785)) to the 2022 Humans Services and Public Health department operating budget, be approved; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a supplemental appropriation to the 2022 Human Services and Public Health departmental operating budget in the amount of $4,523,540, be approved.

Background:

Since January 2021, Hennepin County has been awarded $56,749,736 from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 crisis (Resolution 21-0051 adopted February 16, 2021, and Resolution 21-0188 adopted June 1, 2021).

 

ERA funding has been collaboratively administered by the Housing and Economic Development department (approximately $31.9 million) and the Humans Services and Public Health department ($24.8 million). The county has consistently placed in the top 20 percent of local jurisdictions nation-wide in distribution of assistance to low-income renters and was recently awarded an additional $899,379 from Treasury via a competitive application process.

 

As we approach the final phase of ERA deployment, staff recommends the following:

  • Accept new award of $899,379 from Treasury and allocate to the Humans Services and Public Health department
  • Transfer unspent ERA from the Housing and Economic Development department (approximately $3,624,000) to the Humans Services and Public Health department
  • Supplemental appropriation to the 2022 Human Services and Public Health departmental operating budget in the amount of $4,523,540

 

Human Services and Public Health department will continue processing tenant-initiated applications from Hennepin County received in RentHelpMN (statewide platform) before its closure, provide navigation and support to households in danger of immediate eviction, and transition the homeless and eviction prevention efforts back to existing systems, while using the experiences of the ERA program to improve these existing systems.

 

Current Request: Allocate $899,379.33 in ERA1 re-allocated from other jurisdictions to HSPHD; transfer $176,570 of ERA1 (unspent from contracted providers), transfer $3,447,591 of ERA2 ($264,281 unspent admin costs, $3,183,310 unspent from contracted providers) from HED to HSPHD; HSHPD will use these funds to continue to provide emergency rental assistance programming.

 

Impact/Outcomes: Approval of this request will continue the needed assistance for low-income Hennepin County residents to maintain stable housing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval