Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes an amendment to the 2021-2022 Dane CORE 2.0 Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program Contract with Meadowood Neighborhood Association/ Meadowood Health Partnership. The original contract funded 6 months of outreach and assistance services at $29,610. The organization has successfully utilized the funds it received and is requesting additional funds to continue providing services to help renter households access ERA Program funds. The resolution would increase the contract amount by $48,456, bringing the total contract amount to $78,066.
The City received $35m in ERA funding from the U.S. Treasury, made available under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (HR 133) (Legistar 68341). As of the 2022 first quarter expenditure report submitted to the U.S. Treasury, the City has obligated or expended $33.9m of ERA1 funds as of March 31, 2022. $1.1m remains unobligated. The unobligated funds are sufficient to fund the increase in the Meadowood contract. No additional appropriation is required.
Title
Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to amend the 2021-2022 Dane CORE 2.0 Emergency Rental Assistance Program contract with Meadowood Neighborhood Association/Meadowood Health Partnership to add up to $48,456 of Program administrative funds to support continuation of Program outreach and application assistance until December 31, 2022.
Body
In July 2021 the City of Madison’s Community Development Division (CDD) released a request for proposals (RFP) (RFP #10054-2021 <https://www.cityofmadison.com/dpced/communitydevelopment/funding/documents/EmergencyRentalAssistance_DaneCORE2_0Application2021.pdf>) seeking community agencies interested in partnering with the City to administer federal rental assistance funds and provide related services under the Dane CORE 2.0 Program. The RFP sought non-profits that had experience partnering with CDD and administering rental assistance funds. Agencies were given the opportunity to provide one or more of the following services;
A. Assisting eligible households through the Program’s application process, and providing outreach and education (community partners)
B. Evaluating and processing completed applications (program providers)
C. Providing legal support and mediation services for persons involved in eviction proceedings (legal defense)
At the conclusion of this application process, on August 31, 2021, the Common Council approved staff recommendations to allocate funds to the four organizations identified below to provide services assisting eligible households through the Program’s application process and providing outreach and education, and authorized contracts with those agencies under funding and administrative guidelines set forth in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 133) and accompanying guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury Department:
• African Center for Community Development, Inc
• Meadowood Neighborhood Association/Meadowood Health Partnership
• Nehemiah Community Development Corporation
• Tenant Resource Center
The funding awarded to Meadowood Neighborhood Association/Meadowood Health Partnership was sufficient to fund outreach and assistance services for only a period of 6 months, while other community partner agencies requested and received 12-months of funding. The Meadowood Health Partnership has successfully used the funds it received and is interested in continuing to help renter households access Program funds. Authorizing additional funds to the agency will ensure an equitable provision of resources to provide effective outreach and assistance by all community partners, and will allow all agencies previously approved by the Common Council to offer outreach and application assistance in the community through December 31, 2022.
WHEREAS, the Common Council authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into contracts with agencies to provide outreach and application assistance services in the community as a component of the federally funded Dane CORE 2.0 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (RES-21-00612/Legistar File ID 66702), which included $29,610 for Meadowood Neighborhood Association/Meadowood Health Partnership, sufficient to support a six-month contract with that agency; and,
WHEREAS, Meadowood Neighborhood Association/Meadowood Health Partnership has successfully implemented that contract to assist over 260 unduplicated households seeking rental assistance in the Dane CORE 2.0 Program, since September 2021, and has indicated its desire to continue this work.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Common Council authorizes the Mayor and City Clerk to amend the 2021-2022 Dane CORE 2.0 contract with Meadowood Neighborhood Association, Inc., as fiscal agent for Meadowood Health Partnership, by increasing the contract amount by $48,456, bringing the total contract amount to $78,066, thereby ensuring that the agency can continue to provide services through December 31, 2022.