Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Executive Director of CelebrateOne, on behalf of the Office of the Mayor, to enter into a contract with The Center for Healthy Families, and authorizes funding in the amount of $1,352,000.00 from the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, which was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 and is administered by the U.S. Treasury.
The ERA program provides direct financial assistance to eligible households for expenses including rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs, utilities and home energy costs arrears, and other expenses related to housing. Additionally, funds are available for housing stability services, including case management and other services intended to keep households stably housed, and other administrative costs.
The Center for Healthy Families serves as a centralized hub for services that meet the unique needs of pregnant and parenting youth, including housing. Funds will be used to help eligible families served by The Center for Healthy Families cover the costs of rent, utilities, and other housing-related expenses approved by the U.S. Treasury, both in arrears and to be incurred. Specifically, $800,000.00 will be used to provide 50-60 pregnant and parenting families with rental and utility assistance. $80,000.00 will be used for staffing and approved administrative costs. The remaining $472,000.00 will be used to cover costs associated with the Strong Start at Home program, which is being implemented in partnership with CelebrateOne and is designed to provide support to families for a period of up to 12 months.
Emergency action is requested to allow program services to be provided for this much needed community assistance at the earliest available time.
Fiscal Impact: $1,352,000.00 funding will be provided from the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund, Fund 2208, which was established by Ordinance 0284-2021 and funded by the U.S. Treasury.
Title
To authori...
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