2022-35 - Appropriate ERA funds to LCSC

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Lakewood Community Services Center - CARES Act & ARPA Emergency Rent Assistance Expenditures & Be ficiaries 7.1.20-8.31.22 - - Funding Source - Expenditures Households Assisted Individuals Assisted CARES Act (CDBG-CV & ESG-CV) $1,367,800 762 1,430 ARPA State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund $1,361,235 514 1,122 Total $2,729,035 - 1,276 2,552 ERA-1 Emergency Rent Assistance Program ERA-1 funds, which must be fully expended by December 31, 2022, may be utilized to provide emergency rent assistance, emergency utility assistance, and housing stability eviction prevention counseling for households earning less than 80% of the Area Median Income ($68,300 for a family of four) adversely impacted by the pandemic and at imminent risk of eviction and homelessness. Assistance is capped at six (6) total months, (3) months of rent in arrears plus (3) months of rent moving forward. Lakewood Community Services Center will utilize $609,459 in ERA-1 funds to provide emergency rent and utility assistance for approximately 110 low- and extremely low-income Lakewood households (approximately 225 individuals) between October 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. LCSC will leverage the agency's successful administration of CARES Act and ARPA housing stabilization funds, decades of experience assisting underserved communities, and strong relationships with Lakewood landlords to continue implementing a community -based, ERA-1 funded Emergency Rent Assistance Program that reduces housing insecurity and prevents eviction and homelessness among low- and very -low income Lakewood households negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, while most rent assistance clients will be referred to other programs (CHN, HEAP, PIPP) for utility assistance, the proposed budget includes $50,000 for this purpose to assist those unable or ineligible to receive assistance from alternative sources.