Agenda

Return

C. 34

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Monica Nino, County Administrator
Date:	May 18, 2021

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

RATIFY SUBMISSION OF GRANT CERTICIATION FOR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN - EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 2 ALLOCATION

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/18/2021

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Timothy Ewell, (925) 655-2043
cc:	Hon. Russell V. Watts, Treasurer-Tax Collector Hon. Robert R. Campbell, Auditor-Controller

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 18, 2021
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

RATIFY execution by the County Administrator of a grant award agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury in the amount of $38,948,950.40 for the American Rescue Plan - Emergency Rental Assistance Program 2 direct allocation to Contra Costa County.

FISCAL IMPACT:

$38,941,950.40; 100% Federal, No County match. Funding will be distributed by the U.S. Treasury Department to the County in May 2021. Funding must be spent by September 30, 2025.

BACKGROUND:

The Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program makes funding available to assist households that are unable to pay rent or utilities. Two separate programs have been established: ERA1 provides up to $25 billion under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which was enacted on December 27, 2020, and ERA2 provides up to $21.55 billion under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was enacted on March 11, 2021. The funds are provided directly to states, U.S. territories, local governments, and (in the case of ERA1) Indian tribes. Grantees use the funds to provide assistance to eligible households through existing or newly created rental assistance programs.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

In Contra Costa County, the combined share of ERA1 and ERA2 allocations is currently estimated to be $114,764,262 ($75,822,312 from ERA1 and $38,941,950 from ERA2). Note that the ERA1 allocation includes a state allocation to the County in addition to the federal direct allocation. It is unknown whether the State of California will again allocate ERA2 funds to counties and cities or whether the State will administer those funds and associated programs directly. ERA2 funding must be spent by September 30, 2025.

Today's action ratifies action by the County Administrator to apply for the ERA2 allocation. The U.S. Treasury notified eligible jurisdictions that the grant awards portal was open on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 with a due date on Monday, May 10, 2021 and concurrently released updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) integrating the unique eligibility requirements contained in ERA2 with those already in place for ERA1 . The County Administrator timely filed the grant application on Friday, May 7, 2021 as requested by the U.S. Treasury to qualify for funding.

Staff is awaiting receipt of the County's ERA2 allocation, reviewing the updated FAQ document and collaborating with the State to determine how the ERA2 program may complement the ERA1 program. Once the grant award is received and the guidelines become more clear, the County Administrator will return to the Board with a presentation and request direction from the Board on how to proceed with the ERA2 grant funds.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The Board of Supervisors will not have ratified action of the County Administrator to execute the funding agreement related to American Rescue Plan - Emergency Rental Assistance Program 2 direct allocation.