To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Katherine Smith, Director, Community Resources
Prepared By:
prepared
Katherine Smith, Director, Community Resources
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presenter
Presenter: Katherine Smith, Director, Community Resources
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Subject:
title
2:30 PM *Grant Application Approval - Proposition 123 CERA
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this request is to obtain approval from the Board of County Commissioners to apply for two Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) opportunities through Proposition 123. These are the CERA-Housing Stability Services NOFA and the CERA Case Review and Administration NOFA.
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Background and Discussion: The Community Development, Housing, and Homeless Services (CDHHS) Division in Arapahoe County’s Community Resources Department would like to continue the great work of two of our one-time funded programs, Emergency Rental Assistance and Housing Navigation. Without additional dedicated funding for the rental assistance program, we will run out of funding in early 2025 and the housing navigators will run out of funding in 2026.
In early October 2024, the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), Division of Housing (DOH), released two NOFA’s for proposition 123 funding: CERA Housing Stability Services and CERA Case Review and Administration. The NOFA’s support a primary aim of reducing evictions and preventing homelessness. Through the county’s pre-existing homeless prevention programs, the county will be able to continue current rental assistance and housing navigation services, with some changes that would provide these services statewide.
Through an application for both RFA’s, Arapahoe County Community Resources would be requesting $300,000 for Emergency Rental Assistance administration, specifically for the staffing needs for the program and $3.6 million to administer rental assistance payments directly to landlords. We would also be requesting $350,000 to fully fund the 3 navigator positions. If awarded, this would continue funding two existing programs and staff and would not require the hiring or approval of additional staff or any new equipment.
Fiscal Impact: There would be no fiscal impact to the County as these NOFA’s do not have a required match. There would be no need to hire or approve additional positions or software.
Alternatives: The Board of County Commissioners could opt not to approve these applications and continue current programming with our one-time funding until this is exhausted.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☒Be fiscally sustainable
☐Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: Community Resources staff recommend the approval to apply for these grant opportunities.
Concurrence: Finance Department, IT Department, Human Resources Department.