Title
Resolution authorizing an emergency appropriation in the amount of $20,646,762.50 of Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (FERA) Program funds to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staff Summary
• Lake County applied for funding through the FERA Program and on January 21, 2021, received $20,646,762.50.
• Not less than 90 percent of awarded funds must be used for direct financial assistance, including rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs, utilities and home energy costs arrears, and other expenses related to housing. Remaining funds are available for housing stability services, including case management and other services intended to keep households stably housed, and administrative costs. Funds expire on December 31, 2021.
• An emergency appropriation of $20,646,762.50 is recommended of both the grant revenue and the expenses required to execute related programming.
• County purchasing requirements will be followed for program execution.
• Authority to spend appropriated FERA funds across account categories and to execute any and all agreements with partners related to the allocation and distribution of FERA program funds is delegated to the County Administrator or his designee(s).
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Lake County applied for and received $20,646,762.50 in Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (FERA) Program funding; and
WHEREAS, not less than 90 percent of awarded funds must be used for direct financial assistance, including rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs, utilities and home energy cost arrears, and other expenses related to housing; and
WHEREAS, remaining funds are available for housing stability services, including case management and other services intended to keep households stably housed, and administrative costs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency appropriation is necessary to make the funding available for the execution of programming in compliance with the program requirements; and
WHEREAS, Lake County has needs for Coronavirus relief funds in its continued response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that an emergency appropriation in the amount of $20,646,762.50 is approved in both revenue and expense in the newly created FERA Program Fund is hereby authorized as indicated in the attachment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the authority to spend funds in accordance with the FERA Fund budget and execute any and all agreements related to the allocation and distribution of funds within a FERA Program Fund account category is hereby delegated to the County Administrator or his designee(s) because the exact nature of the program expenses is unknown upon appropriation.
DATED, at Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois on February 9, 2021.