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Consider a Minor Modification to the 2019-2020 Community Development Block Grant Program Plan.
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Staff:
Department:
Loryn B. Clark, Executive Director
Housing and Community
Sarah Osmer Vi?as, Assistant Director
Nate Broman-Fulks, Affordable Housing Manager
Overview: The purpose of this memorandum is to propose a minor modification to the 2019-2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program approved by the Council April 24, 2019. The Council amended the program on April 29, 2020 to allocate $169,728 of funds for temporary housing assistance to support decongregation of the Interfaith Council (IFC) shelters. Funds are no longer needed for the shelter decongregation. We propose using the funds for temporary housing assistance to support the County-wide Emergency Housing Assistance Program. This action is considered a minor modification to the FY 20 program and does not require a public forum.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council adopt a resolution approving use of $169,728 of 2019-2020 CDBG funds for temporary housing assistance to support the Emergency Housing Assistance Program.
Summary of Proposed Minor Amendment
* On April 29, 2020, the Council reallocated $169,728 of CDBG funds to pay for expenses to decongregate the IFC shelters. Residents were relocated to a local hotel to practice safer physical distancing.
o Orange County manages the decongregation procedures by executing contracts with the hotel and vendors providing food and laundry services at the hotel.
o Since the Council's action in April, the State of North Carolina is now the fiscal agent for managing decongregation expenditures. Funding is therefore no longer needed from local and county governments.
* We continue to have a significant need for funding for the Emergency Housing Assistance Program. This program prevents evictions or utility disconnection for lower income households in the County.
o Orange County administers this program on behalf of the Towns.
o To date,...
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