Label
U.S. Department of the Treasury
City Emergency Rental Assistance
Department of Neighborhoods
Rosalyn Clemens (x3647)
Revised
Title
Authorizing the Mayor to accept, deposit, appropriate and expend Emergency Rental Assistance funding (“ERA2”) from the U.S. Department of the Treasury in an amount of $6,442,981.40; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
ERA2 is supplemental funding of $6,442,981.40 from the U.S. Department of Treasury to the City of Toledo for the administration of the ERA Program. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERA Program”) originally authorized by Ordinance 159-21 provided City of Toledo residents with financial assistance toward the payment of rental, utility, and internet expenses.
ERA2 funds will also provide financial assistance and housing stabilization services to eligible households that can then use the funding to pay rent, utility, and internet expenses on a home if the City determines all of the following:
1. One or more individuals within the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship during or due, directly or indirectly to coronavirus pandemic;
2. One or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
3. The household income is a low-income family (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b))).
Additionally, the ERA Program requires prioritization of assistance for households with incomes less than 50% of the area median income or households with one or more individuals that have not been employed for the 90-day period preceding the application.
Summary
NOW, THEREFORE, Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor is authorized to accept $6,442,981.40 from the U.S. Department of Treasury and deposit the amount received into the Operation Grants Fund Account Code 2016-16200-5G00142USERAP for the purpose of funding the ERA Program.
SECTION 2. That the appropriation in the amount of $6,442,981.40 is authorized from the unappropriated grant proceeds in the Operation Grants Fund to Account Code 2016-16200-5G00142USERAP 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 Neighborhoods and the Director of Law.
SECTION 4. That the Finance Director is authorized to issue his warrant or warrants in an amount not to exceed $6,442,981.40 in payment of all obligations authorized above against the above Account Code upon presentation of proper voucher or vouchers.
SECTION 5. That this Ordinance is declared an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that it is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property, and for the further reason that it must be immediately effective in order to permit the City to operate the ERA Program.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 12, nays 0.
Passed: September 15, 2021, as an emergency measure: yeas 12, nays 0.
Attest:
Gerald E. Dendinger Matt Cherry
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: September 15, 2021
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor