HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgreements/Contracts - BOCC (004)GRANT COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
11' I l �_I_I_.•J
To: Board of County Commissioners
From: Janice Flynn, Administrative Services Coordinator
Da#o: May 25, 2023
MAY 3 0 2023
Re: Authorization for Portability of Assistance Funds into Kittitas County, E -RAP
2.0 Grant #21-4619C-108, HopeSource
received the following request from HopeSource:
"At the rate we are going in spending Grant County ERAP, we will not be able to spend
the funding before the grant expires. We are requesting to utilize some of the Grant
County ERAP funds in Kittitas County for the same population of people 'youth ages
18-24,x. We are currently out of funds in Kittitas County, and this would benefit the
community greatly. Of course, we will prioritize spending the funds for clients in Grant
County. "
Under section 3.1.2 Portability of the Guidelines (attached) we can decide if we
want to serve households outside of our county. Per HopeSource, they have
approximately $393,692 ERAP 2.0 dollars left as of the writing of this memo. They
anticipate spending $140,000 in Grant County and, if allowed, $253,000 in Kittitas
County by the end of this grant on June 30, 2023.
Considering how close we are to the end of the grant and if HopeSource can't find
sufficient eligible recipients in Grant County, I see no problem in letting at least
some of the balance of HopeSource's unused funds be distributed in Kittitas
County. As stated above, HopeSource will prioritize Grant County clients. I have
reached out to OIC also to ask them to refer youth clients to HopeSource. The
eligibility and reporting requirements are the same and any Kittitas direct recipients
will just be included in the HopeSource monthly reporting.
If this request is approved, I will reiterate with HopeSource they must prioritize
Grant County clients. If the funds are not spent, they will just stay with Commerce.
Thank you.
Guidelines
Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) 2.0
May 2022,, Version 2
Rental situations may include leased rental units, renting from friend/family, hotel/motel
arrangements, mooring/slip fees, and RV/mobile home lot rent. There is no minimum term of
tenancy.
See the Rent Payment Agreement Form for deta i Is on how to document.
Utilities
Utilities are separately -stated charges related to the occupancy of rental property. They can
include electricity, gas, waterand sewer, trash removal, and energy costs such as fuel, oil, or
wood for heating. Internet is considered a utility for the purposes of this program.
Grantees can determine the monthly amount of a future utility payment to provide by utilizing
a couple methods:
✓ Take the average payment amount over the last three months and apply it to the future
months provided.
✓ Take the average payment amount from the same time period for the previous yea r and
apply it to the future months provided. This maybe the best option for households
needing utility assistance forfuture months where they anticipate higher costs, such as
during Winter.
A utility bill that covers a 30 day period is considered one month.
If i nternet expenses are included in a bundle or an invoice that is not itemized (for example,
internet services bundled together with telephone and cable television services) and obtaining
an itemized invoice would be unduly burdensome, grantees may establish and apply reasonable
procedures for determining the portion of the expense that is appropriate to be covered.
Utilities that are included as part of the monthly rent payment amount will be treated as rent
and recorded on the Rent Payment Agreement Form. Utilities that are not included as part of
the monthly rent payment amount,. or paid to a third party other than the landlord must be
recorded on the Utility Payment Agreement Form.
3.1.1 Calculating Maximum Rent Payment
Maximum rent payment amount is up to 150% Fair Market Rent (FMR) and must not be more
than the total rent due amount. Utilities included in the monthly rent payment amount will be
considered in the FMR determination.
Fair Market Rents for each county can be found at
https:llwww.huduser.govZportalZdatasetsZfmr.html.
Maximum rent payment calculations must be shown on the Rent Payment Agreement Form.
34.2 Portability
Grantees can determine to serve households located outside their county or not. If households
ERAP 2.0 Program Guidance V.1
Page 16
outside the county are not served, connect them to a service provider in their area to ensure
households stay housed.
Izi
`r J
._3 , .,B :.and.For. u r
2 _
. _ S b .C. ant
,
a
Grantees must actively work to partner with By and For' organizations in their communities
that assist and serve marginalized populations.
At least 5% of the initial grant total must be sub granted to By and For organization/s, to pay
the costs associated with program outreach and assistance to marginalized communities. This
can include acting as a referral source, outreach to marginalized communities, providing rental
assistance to households directly, or other Operations activities related to ERAP 2.0.
If a grantee receives additional grant funds, they are not required to amend their sub grants
with By and For organizations but are strongly encouraged to do so.
Marginalized communities may include ethnic and racial minorities; immigrants and refugees;
individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender; individuals with disabilities orwho
are deaf; and Native Americans.
Commerce will provide a list of statewide organizations that we know of and it is incumbent on
the grantee to identify By and For service providers that can best support their community
members in accessing assistance.
Grantees must make a reasonable effort to sub grant with By and For organizations. If a grantee
is not able to execute a sub agreement, they may ask Commerce for an exemption from this
requirement.
..,«: .t ... ... � _, ,,.. � .r, .... y ,. ,.. rl, .. .::.., , > at 1. , t t'd .. .,�.x �y y ..i-.0 .t$•.. ,..'g''
,'. .. al.. ,. .. ... .. C Fr ,. � rc >•..> , . .H ... .....r. r:. ... ., ., .r ., 3 S--.. ,. �... ,e ... �.,r ,. .;::; M2
St- :�,,i 'A, i t _ til . ,.. .. �. ..,�.: • < .,,. , .,.. _k ., .,, ,: -:. ,. �`, :.a x � „
. _. ..,. .Er,.- ....., ......, ;.:.. �s � � �.,.,. c ,. , .. t. .._. .,.; :. ✓ i/' ..,.. a �..r7
... '-, ,. ..... ,..,., ._� ✓ .. ,.5. s .., .N� ,.c .,. r. , �n.+Y %; .. :.. u.. ,, .... .., :. ,. v 1r HC J, .: .:t `S. 'i?.
i, :'..,.. ...... ..... ... .. .... •..s... ,,.., ..'_ r„ .-.-.:. ,.,.r, .. >. ,:.y'._„ �..�.. ,,..r.,:,,�: 1.t;....,. .; 1�,'./,r�.. � :4 _:.J,:. / r, .J/, F
Operations expenses directly attributable this program.
✓ Salaries and benefits for staff costs, including but not limited to program staff, human
resources staff, bookkeeping staff, and accounting staff.
• Intake and assessment, including time spent assessing a household, whether or not
the household is determined eligible.
• Outreach services..
• Data collection and entry for Commerce required ERAP Report Form.
✓ Office space, utilities, supplies, phone, internet, and training related to grant
management and/or service delivery.
✓ General liability insurance and automobile insurance.
✓ Language interpretation services.
✓ Translation services for program or marketing materials.
✓ Other costs as approved by Commerce.
'Byand For Orga nizations a re operated by and for the community they serve. Their primary mission and history isservinga specific community
and they are culturallybased,directed, andsubstantiallycontrolledbyindividualsfromthepopulationtheyserve. At the core of their
progra ms, the organizations embody the community's central cultural va lues. These communities may include ethnic and racial m i norities;
immigra nts a nd refugees; individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, individuals with disabilities orwho are deaf; and Native Americans.
ERAP 2.0 Program Guidance V.1
Page 1 7