Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on a Resolution Approving the Proposed Agencies under the CDBG-CV Emergency Living Assistance Program
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Improving the Quality of Life in McKinney
MEETING DATE: December 15, 2020
DEPARTMENT: Housing & Community Development Department
CONTACT: Shirletta Best, Community Services Administrator
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Approve the Resolution
ITEM SUMMARY:
• The City of McKinney is a recipient of Community Development Block Grant under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Under the CARES Act, HUD allocated additional funding known as CDBG-CV to cities to prepare for, respond to, or prevent the Coronavirus, and to use funding to benefit low-to-moderate income households and persons.
o The City of McKinney will use funding to administer an Emergency Living Assistance Program to assist eligible residents with mortgage, rental or utility assistance, up to 80% of Area Median Income. Eligible residents who apply to the program for assistance must have an impact under COVID-19 that may include, but not limited to a reduction in salary, hours reduction, furlough, layoff, termination, or other reduction due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Eligible assistance may include rent, mortgage, or utility assistance. Water and food assistance are not eligible under this program. The program will begin January 2021.
• Under this CDBG-CV public services program, two agencies are proposed to serve as subrecipients to provide case management and application services. Proposed agencies will be submitted to HUD for final approval.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• The CDBG-CV funded activity is to provide a homeless prevention program; begin City funded agencies in good standing and experienced with their own existing homeless prevention program were considered. Six agencies were considered to apply; Three (3) agencies met criteria and were invited to submit an application.
• The City has flexibility under two grant application processes: Consolidated Grants Open Annual Review and Periodic Consideration (for special grants allocated by HUD.) The last Periodic Consideration process for funding beyond the regular CDBG funding was in 2009 under the Recovery Act. The CDBG-CV funding is special funding allocated by HUD.
• Review Process. The Community Services Administrator previews applications to prepare for the reviewer team. The reviewer team consisted of one member of the Community Grants Advisory Commission and two separate staff members. Reviewers were assigned a non-identifying access number and reviewed all applications individually prior to the deliberations meeting.
• Review criteria included experience, financials, program description and timeline, performance measurement and budget. Scoring available upon request.
• The reviewer team deliberated December 3, 2020. Of the three (3) agencies, two agencies were proposed:
o Assistance Center of Collin County - $ 596,974
o Community Lifeline Center - $ 596,974
• Proposed agencies will be submitted to HUD for final approval.
• Agencies are held under CDBG 570 program regulations, 2 CFR 200 federal requirements and monitored on a monthly and annual basis. Up to 8% of the budget will be used for program delivery to provide case management and application services. At minimum, residents can receive three months of assistance. Applicants will be able to apply online or will have access to a paper application. Program promotion will include outreach and social media. Under the Consolidated Plan, eligible applicants may be citywide, with emphasis to provide additional outreach within census tracts 307, 308 and 309.
• There can be no duplication of benefits in assistance, including overlap of funding resources. The City will monitor the subrecipients for this requirement and the applicant will be required to complete self-certifications to this regard. The recipient will understand should the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the City of McKinney determine that the Recipient has received a duplication of benefits, the Recipient may be required to repay a portion or all of the assistance provided by HUD and/or the City of McKinney.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• No financial impact to the General Fund. CDBG-CV activities will be tracked under fiscal account numbers that begin with the sequence of 017-1704. The grant agreement will begin under the program year October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2021.