Label
33rd (2019) Year - ESG COVID-19 #2
Department of Neighborhoods
Bonita Bonds (x1401)
Revised
Title
Authorizing the Mayor to accept, deposit, appropriate, and expend the COVID-19 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG-CV) in the amount of $2,626,090 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; authorizing submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan Substantial Amendment and the 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendment; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
This legislation provides funding to be used to prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus COVID-19. Specifically, this ESG-CV funding will be used for a City of Toledo (COT), Toledo Public Schools (TPS), Lutheran Social Services (LSS) and Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board (TLCHB) partnership to provide housing stabilization assistance to TPS families.
The TPS Office of Intervention Services and Support estimate that, on any given day, over 1,400 TPS students are homeless. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this problem due to income and job loss of many families. The impact of homelessness on children is well documented. Only 51% of homeless children meet standards for reading. Only 48% of homeless children meet standards for math. Most students who are homeless cannot spell or read at their respective grade level. Half of school-age children, who are homeless, experience anxiety, depression and withdrawal. More importantly, children who are homeless are two times as likely to have learning disabilities and three times as likely to have an emotional disturbance when compared to children who are not homeless.
These ESG-CV dollars will be used to provide rent payments for up to three months, security deposits and utility deposits (restricted to gas and electricity) for homeless families and families at risk of becoming homeless. Selected beneficiaries will be families of TPS students with household incomes at or below 50% of the area median income. Households assisted must reside in a unit in the City of Toledo and live in the unit as their primary residence. Rent payments will be paid to the property owner and utility payments will be paid directly to the utility companies. The objective of this partnership is to increase the number of TPS families who can be diverted from shelter stay while providing housing stability, financial coaching and intensive wrap around services.
The COT Department of Neighborhoods will provide the ESG-CV funding and oversight. TPS will identify families and contract with LSS to provide case management and wrap around services. TLCHB will assist in identifying a unit; determine rent reasonableness; process rent and utility payments; and maintain responsibility for the Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS) and the Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (“SPDAT”).
This Ordinance is to authorize the Mayor to submit to HUD the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan Substantial Amendment and the 2019-2020 One Year Action Plan Substantial Amendment, accept the COVID-19 ESG-CV allocation from HUD, deposit the 33rd (2019) COVID-19 ESG-CV funds received from HUD into the appropriate Account Code, and expend the amount received pursuant to the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan Substantial Amendment, and more specifically, the Substantial Amendment to the 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan to be submitted to HUD on or before April 30th, 2021.
The financial impact of this Ordinance is the receipt of the amount of $2,626,090 from HUD to the City of Toledo for the COVID-19 pandemic for individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance; and to support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.
Summary
NOW, THEREFORE, Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor is authorized to submit the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan Substantial Amendment and the 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendment to HUD, as well as to accept and deposit the 33rd (2019) COVID-19 ESG-CV allocation from HUD in the amount of $2,626,090 into the Operation Grants Fund Account Code 2016-16100-407400-5GE3302COVID2.
SECTION 2. That the appropriation of $2,626,090 is authorized from the unappropriated grant proceeds in the Operation Grants Fund into Account Code 2016-16100 and the expenditure of same is authorized pursuant to the attached Schedule A.
SECTION 3. That the Mayor is authorized to enter into any necessary agreements for the purposes listed herein subject to the terms and conditions deemed proper and requisite according to the Director of Law, not to exceed the amount of $2,626,090 for the 33rd (2019) COVID-19 ESG-CV provided by HUD for ESG pandemic activities.
SECTION 4. That the Finance Director is authorized and directed to issue warrant or warrants in an amount not to exceed the amount of $2,626,090 from the Account Code authorized above in in payment of all obligations authorized under the 33rd (2019) COVID-19 ESG program year allocation upon presentation of the proper voucher or vouchers.
SECTION 5. That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency is the fact that this Ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property, and for the further reason that this Ordinance must be immediately effective in order to allow the City of Toledo to implement the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan Substantial Amendment and the 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendment for COVID-19 activities submitted to HUD on or before April 30th, 2021 as it relates to the COVID-19 ESG funds to be received from HUD and pursuant to HUD regulations.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas _____, nays _____.
Passed: ______________, as an emergency measure: yeas _____, nays _____.
Attest: _________________________ __________________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: ______________________ __________________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance passed by Council ______________________.
Attest: _________________________
Clerk of Council