Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the utilization of up to $140,000 in unobligated federal Emergency Rental Assistance 2 (ERA 2) funds (Munis project 76121) to sustain the efforts of the Eviction Diversion and Defense Partnership program operated through the Tenant Resource Center. The amedned contract will extend through September 30, 2025. The program has been awarded $15.0 million of ERA 2 funds thusfar. No additional appropriation is required.
Title
Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a contract amendment between the City of Madison and the Tenant Resource Center (TRC), utilizing up to $140,000 in remaining federal Emergency Rental Assistance funds, to sustain efforts to promote housing stability for eligible households in Dane County through TRC's Eviction Diversion and Defense Partnership. (Citywide)
Body
BACKGROUND
Near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress enacted two pieces of legislation that created funding for Emergency Rental Assistance: the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 133, Public Law 116-260, a/k/a "COVID Relief Act" or “ERA1”), and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319, Public Law 117-2 a/k/a “ERA2”). These funds were distributed by the U.S. Treasury Department to state and local governments for use in preventing evictions and promoting housing stability among households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through these acts, the City of Madison received approximately $33 million in ERA1 and $45.3 million in ERA2 allocations.
Together, these federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds, both ERA1 and ERA2, have been used by the City in collaboration with similar allocations received by Dane County. The largest portion of these funds went to support a local rental assistance program known as Dane CORE, created to provide direct assistance to eligible applicants, as well as associated housing stability services, through vendor contracts with local community organizations. In 202...
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