Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes amending the contract with Benevate Inc, to allow Urban Triage to administer County Emergency Rental Assistance 2 funds under the City’s contract and incur additional fees of up to $135,000, to be funded by Dane County. The Community Development Division’s 2021 adopted operating budget will be amended to reflect the additional $135,000 of intergovernmental revenue and purchased services.
Title
Authorizing an amendment to the contract between the City of Madison and Benevate Inc., which governs the use of Benevate Inc.’s Neighborly Software system in administering Federal Emergency Rental Assistance funds provided to the City, to also make that system available for use by Urban Triage Inc. to administer Emergency Rental Assistance funds provided to Dane County.
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Background
On January 19, 2021, the Common Council adopted Legistar File #63792, accepting the initial allocation of Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) funding from the United States Treasury Department to the City of Madison under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CARES Act), for use to help prevent evictions and promote housing stability among eligible households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Madison collaborated with Dane County to establish the local Dane CORE (COronavirus REntal) assistance program, and selected the Tenant Resource Center to administer those funds, with the aid of community partner agencies. Parallel program design between the City and County was essential to ensure clarity among program users.
In March of 2021, the federal government passed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) stimulus bill, which provided additional funding to respond to multiple areas of need created by the COVID-19 pandemic. ARP included $21.5 billion in funding for Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA 2); it allocated $12.5 million to Dane County to support local efforts to prevent evictions and provide housing stability. The Da...
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