STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Human and Social Needs
AGENDA DATE: February 24, 2021
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): N/A
DEPARTMENT: Office of Community Care
EXECUTIVE: Kimberly Bizor Tolbert
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
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Authorize four subrecipient agreements to administer the CARES Emergency Solutions Grant Short Term Rental Assistance Program established under Resolution No. 20-0645 with (1) Abounding Prosperity Incorporated in the amount of $241,000.00; (2) Dallas Leadership Foundation in the amount of $225,000.00; (3) The Harmony Community Development Corporation in the amount of $362,000.00; and (4) First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, Texas dba The Stewpot in the amount of $172,000.00, for the period of March 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022 - Total not to exceed $1,000,000.00 - Financing: 2020 CARES Act Relief ESG #2 Fund
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BACKGROUND
The Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic and its resulting economic impacts have put thousands at risk of evictions and homelessness. Since Spring of 2020, the City has seen tremendous demand for rental assistance services, a demand which has continued, if not grown, as the pandemic continues. Though a combination of local and national moratoriums and other protections have helped some clients avoid eviction, the national level Centers for Disease Control moratorium is set to expire in early 2021.
This item authorizes four subrecipient agreements with providers to administer the CARES Emergency Solutions Grant Short Term Rental Assistance Program funded through Emergency Solutions Grant (“ESG”), Round 2, authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The City issued a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to solicit potential subrecipients to administer this program.
ESG is an entitlement grant program, funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) and administered by the City of Dallas. Subrecipients will be expected to implement programming in accordance with City of Dallas adopted policies and guidelines for the Program.
On April 22, 2020, City Council authorized a program statement for an expanded emergency rental assistance program funded under ESG CARES ACT funds, to support individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19 to provide up to six months of rental assistance payments for individuals with incomes at or below 50 percent of Area Median Income (“AMI”) who are housed and at risk of homelessness. Utility assistance will also be included with this funding, subject to the same program requirements as rental assistance.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On April 22, 2020, City Council authorized an expanded emergency rental assistance program, CARES Emergency Solutions Grant, to support individuals who have been impacted due to COVID-19 to provide up to six months of rental assistance payments for individuals with incomes at or below 50 percent of area median income who are housed and at risk of homelessness by Resolution No. 20-0645.
On June 24, 2020, City Council authorized Substantial Amendment No. 5 to the FY 2019 20 Action Plan for the ESG Program to accept CARES Act Relief Funds No. 2 for the ESG Program from HUD, and expand eligibility for ESG homeless prevention assistance funded by CARES Act ESG funds for households at risk of homelessness who live in housing with characteristics associated with instability and an increased risk of homelessness, to include cost burdened and severely cost burdened households; elderly, frail, or other households living on fixed income; households experiencing unemployment resulting in a loss of income available for housing; and households with lack of assets for emergencies by Resolution No. 20-0994.
On October 28, 2020, City Council authorized preliminary adoption of Substantial Amendment No. 1 to the FY 2020-21 Action Plan to amend and replace Schedule A to Resolution No. 20-0994, previously approved on June 24, 2020, to reallocate funds in eligible categories to support COVID-19 relief efforts; and expand eligibility for ESG homeless prevention assistance by Resolution No. 20-1674.
On November 11, 2020, City Council authorized final adoption of Substantial Amendment No. 1 to the FY 2020-21 Annual Action Plan, to amend and replace Schedule A to Resolution No. 20-0994, previously approved on June 24, 2020, to reallocate funds in eligible categories to support COVID-19 relief efforts; and expand eligibility for ESG homeless prevention by Resolution 20-1845.
The Ad-Hoc Committee on COVID-19 Recovery and Assistance was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on February 11, 2021.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
Future Years |
|
2020 CARES Act Relief ESG #2 Fund |
$411,765.00 |
$588,235.00 |
$0.00 |
SUBRECIPIENT SELECTION PROCESS
A four-member panel reviewed and scored the applications representing the below departments.
- Office of Community Care (3)
- Office of Budget and Management Services (1)
Proposals were evaluated according to the below points allocations. Within the below allocations, specific points in the scoring were allocated to the organization’s demonstrated capacity to expend funding and deliver services in a timely manner and organization’s demonstrated ability to reach and serve identified target populations.
|
Organizational Capacity |
Program and Evaluation |
|
55 pts. |
45 pts. |
As part of the selection process and in an effort to increase the number of applications, the Office of Community Care worked with the Office of Procurement Services to send out 1,239 email invitations to vendors, including nonprofits, registered under respective commodities using the OPS procurement system.
Proposals were accepted for a period of four weeks, between December 31, 2020 and January 28, 2021. A total of 7 submissions were received.
The City received the following proposals from the solicitation:
1. Abounding Prosperity Incorporated
2. Dallas Leadership Foundation
3. First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, Texas dba The Stewpot
4. The Harmony Community Development Corporation
5. Shared Housing Center, Inc.
6. The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center
7. Voice of Hope Ministries
The following organizations were selected to receive funding:
|
Organization |
Rank (Scoring Average) |
Request Amount |
Award Amount |
Percentage of Request |
|
First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, Texas dba The Stewpot |
1 (88.75) |
$357,386.00 |
$172,000.00 |
48% |
|
The Harmony Community Development Corporation |
2 (87.50) |
$750,000.00 |
$362,000.00 |
48% |
|
Abounding Prosperity Incorporated |
3 (81.50) |
$535,100.00 |
$241,000.00 |
45% |
|
Dallas Leadership Foundation |
4 (81.00) |
$500,000.00 |
$225,000.00 |
45% |
OWNERS
Abounding Prosperity Incorporated
Kirk Meyers, Chief Executive Officer
Dallas Leadership Foundation
Wil McCall, President/Chief Executive Officer
First Presbyterian Church of Dallas dba The Stewpot
Brenda Snitzer, Executive Director
The Harmony Community Development Corporation
Mark Porter, Executive Director