To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Katherine Smith, Director, Community Resources
Prepared By:
prepared
Elizzebeth Loomis, Division Manager, Community Development, Housing and Homeless Services, Community Resources
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presenter
Presenter: Elizzebeth Loomis, Division Manager, Community Development, Housing & Homeless Services, Community Resources
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Subject:
title
2:00 PM *Emergency Rental Assistance Update
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this drop-in is to review current data with the Board of County Commissioners and request further direction on the program’s next steps.
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Background and Discussion: Arapahoe County received two allocations of Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) named ERA I and ERA II. Arapahoe County is currently in the process of spending our fourth “tranche” of ERA II funding. As of February 9, 2024, Arapahoe County has currently spent $10,747,182.68 of our ERA allocation with a remainer of $ 3,040,271.12. The administrative cap is set at 15 % of overall ERA funds leaving the County with $245,290.14 for the remainer of the grant cycle The administrative funds are projected to last through early November of 2024, this will place a hold on the department’s capacity to process applications.
Arapahoe County’s ERA program has expended 78% of our award funds and has served the following with retrospective rental assistance, prospective rental assistance, and utility assistance for program years 2022 and 2023:
|
Program Year |
First time Applicants to Rental and Utility Assistance |
Returning Applicants for Rental and Utility Assistance |
|
2022 |
1,640 individuals |
3293 individuals |
|
2023 |
537 individuals |
1001 individuals |
*Over 1,800 plus applications were turned down in program year 2023 for not meeting program requirements.
With the September 30, 2025, grant closure date approaching, Community Resources would like to present three additional options from the U.S. Treasury to utilize ERA II funds:
• Affordable Housing:
o Construction, rehabilitation, or preservation of affordable rental housing projects serving very low-income families.
o Operation of affordable rental housing projects serving very low-income families that were constructed, rehabilitated, or preserved.
o Development must aligned with at least one of the following programs and meet program requirements: Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Treasury); HOME Investment Partnerships Program (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); HOME-ARP Program (HUD); Housing Trust Fund Program (HUD); Public Housing Capital Fund (HUD); Indian Housing Block Grant Program (HUD); Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly (HUD); Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities (HUD); Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans and Grants (U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization Program (USDA).
• Eviction Prevention:
o Eviction diversion programs; mediation between landlords and tenants; housing counseling; fair housing counseling; case management related to housing stability; housing-related services for survivors of domestic abuse or human trafficking; legal services or attorney’s fees related to eviction proceedings and maintaining housing stability; and specialized services for individuals with disabilities or seniors that support their ability to access or maintain housing.
o If selected, an RFP would be issued to locate a provider to continue providing these services from May 2024 through September 30, 2025.
• Emergency Rental Assistance Program:
o Open the Rental Assistance program to serve the residents of the City of Aurora. The City of Aurora was granted their own allocation of ERA funds and expended the remainer of these funds in 2023.
Fiscal Impact: There is no immediate fiscal impact, this recommendation will ensure that already allocated funding is spent in full by September 30, 2025. Based on the remaining allocation for administrative cap of fifteen percent, please be aware that ERA II Administrative funds may be exhausted by early November 2024.
Alternatives: The Board of County Commissioners may recommend an alternative distribution of Emergency Rental Assistance II funds.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☒Be fiscally sustainable
☒Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community-focused
Staff Recommendation: Community Resources staff recommends continuing to prioritize rental assistance in the amount of $1,000,000.00 as well as the associated administrative costs in the amount of $245,290.14. In addition, Community Resources staff recommends utilizing the remaining ERA II funds for homeless prevention in the form of legal aid and services in the amount of $1,794,980.98.
Concurrence: Todd Weaver, Finance Director