Subject:
Title
Public Hearing and Approval: RE: HOME American Rescue Plan Act (HOME-ARP) Allocation Plan Substantial Amendment to the 2021 Annual Action Plan ($4,524,586)
End
Fiscal Impact:
Brevard County will receive $4,524,586 in HOME-ARP grant funds. These funds will be deposited in Fund and Cost Center 1479-315139, which has been established specifically for this grant. There will be no impact to the General Fund.
Dept/Office:
Housing and Human Services Department
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners:
1. Conduct a Public Hearing on the HOME American Rescue Plan Act (HOME-ARP) Allocation Plan Substantial Amendment to the 2021 Annual Action Plan,
2. Approve the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan as a Substantial Amendment to the 2021 Annual Action Plan,
3. Authorize the County Manager to sign the required Applications for Federal Assistance (SF-424s) and certifications to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as Brevard County’s Authorized Representative,
4. Authorize the Housing and Human Services Department to submit all required documentation to HUD,
5. Authorize the Housing and Human Services Department to conduct procurements with the approval of the County Attorney, Risk Management, and Purchasing Services in order to accomplish the activities and services outlined in the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan,
6. Authorize the Housing and Human Services Department Director to endorse contracts, agreements, amendments, and modifications related to procured activities and services, and
7. Authorize the County Manager to execute all related budget change requests.
End
Summary Explanation and Background:
Brevard County, Florida receives federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) to support affordable housing and community development initiatives serving low-and moderate-income individuals in the community. Brevard County and four cities in Brevard County (Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Titusville) formed the Brevard County HOME Consortium for the purpose of receiving federal HOME funds to help meet the community’s affordable housing needs. Brevard County is the lead entity for the Brevard County HOME Consortium and administers HOME funds on behalf of its members.
In 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act, which appropriated $5 billion to communities across the country to address the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable populations. This funding is administered through HUD’s HOME program and is referred to as “HOME-ARP.” Existing HOME recipients, or participating jurisdictions (PJs), including the Brevard County HOME Consortium, will receive a one-time allocation of HOME-ARP funds intended to serve vulnerable populations who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, fleeing various forms of violence, or other populations for whom providing supportive services or assistance would prevent homelessness or would serve those at greatest risk of housing instability.
HUD published Notice CPD-21-10, which details the intended beneficiaries and eligible uses of HOME-ARP funds as well as the requirements for PJs to receive their one-time funding allocation. The Notice specifies that PJs must develop a HOME-ARP Allocation Plan, following comprehensive stakeholder engagement and data analysis, and submit this plan to HUD as a substantial amendment to the jurisdiction’s 2021 Annual Action Plan. PJs are not required to outline specific projects for the use of HOME-ARP funds in the Allocation Plan, but instead indicate how they intend to distribute their allocation across the eligible uses for HOME-ARP funds and whether there will be any preferences or limitations regarding HOME-ARP activities.
Following input from community stakeholders, the Consortium proposes to utilize the funding in the following categories: supportive services ($500,000 or 11% of funding), development of affordable rental housing ($3,045,898 or 67%), non-profit operating ($150,000 or 3%), non-profit capacity building ($150,000 or 3%), and administration and planning ($678,688 or 15%) to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability.
Official notice regarding a fifteen-day Public Comment period was provided (per HUD regulations) from March 3, 2023 to March 20, 2023 until 5:00 PM for the draft HOME-ARP Allocation Plan. This notice was provided through a Press Release and published in a newspaper of general circulation. During this period, the draft plan was available for public review on the County Web site: <https://www.brevardfl.gov/HousingAndHumanServices/PlansAndReports> and for review at physical locations throughout the County. Comments were accepted through the website, email, and post. A summary of all relevant comments will be added to the final document for submission to HUD.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Please have the County Manager sign the SF-424s and certifications and immediately return to the Department.