City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: DECEMBER 2, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of an Amendment to the FY 2021 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development to Include Funding for Utility Assistance.
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ISSUE: Consideration of an amendment to the City's FY 2021 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development to include funding for utility assistance to qualified households, and authorization for staff to provide an increased level of rental assistance to prevent eviction.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Hold a public hearing on December 12, 2020 and receive comments on the proposed amendment of the City's FY 2021 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development to include funding for utility assistance to qualified households, and additional funding for rental assistance; and
(2) Following public hearing, approve the Amendment; and
(3) Authorize the Office of Housing (Housing) and the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) to provide amounts above the $5,000 cap authorized by City Council in September, to supplement other City resources to keep families, who are at risk of eviction due to nonpayment, and would likely face homelessness as a consequence, remain housed.
BACKGROUND: In March 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which allocated three rounds of Community Development Block Grant COVID-19 (CDBG-CV) funds to be distributed to states and entitlement communities to help them prevent, prepare for, and respond to impacts of the coronavirus. As an entitlement community, the City of Alexandria received $671,500 from the first round of funding, which is being used to provide rental assistance to low- to moderate-income tenants experiencing income loss relate...
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