Agenda - 09-01-20; 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

14 1 Commissioner Dorosin said the Governor has extended the moratorium on evictions 2 (until June 21 sc or 26t", with the exception of utility cut offs), and asked if there is a timeline to 3 get this program up and running. 4 Annette Moore said it is anticipated that the program will be up and running by the end 5 of the month. 6 Commissioner Dorosin referred to the chart that describes how the assistance was 7 spent, and asked if the specific utilities were known. He said there ought to be more pressure 8 placed on utility companies to provide assistance. 9 Annette Moore agreed with putting pressure on utility companies. 10 Commissioner Dorosin said the BOCC may need to take this on, as there is some 11 political pressure that can be leveraged. 12 Commissioner Dorosin said on that same page, there is a breakdown of expenditures, 13 and the bottom category is "foreclosure prevention — generally", and asked if this category is 14 different than the others. 15 Emila Sutton said staff decided it was important to separate out mortgage arrear 16 payments, and this is a dedicated funding source that will help low income home owners pay off 17 their mortgage arrears. She said this is especially important for those who have private 18 mortgages, and do not fall under the protection of the CARES Act. 19 Commissioner Dorosin clarified that this funding is for homeowners. 20 Emila Sutton said yes. 21 Commissioner Dorosin said he really wanted to highlight the strategy of this program 22 taking into consideration that undocumented immigrants can take part. He said these are 23 residents of the community; are friends and neighbors; and provide vital social and economic 24 services to the community 25 Chair Rich said these residents also pay taxes. 26 Commissioner Price referred to the term non-immigrant, and asked if there is a reason 27 why this term is being used. 28 Annette Moore said a non-immigrant is a person with a visa, who is not seeking 29 citizenship. 30 Commissioner Price referred to the one time assistance per household, at a maximum 31 of$2000, and asked if there is a plan in place to help after households use this initial payout. 32 Emila Sutton said in this history of this program, it is rare that people come back to ask 33 for more assistance. She said it did happen twice in the last two weeks. 34 Emila Sutton said staff is trying to create a rental assistance program, for those who 35 may need more long-term help. 36 Commissioner Price said program names keep changing, and she hopes that a name 37 can be chosen and kept. 38 Commissioner Greene said she wanted to highlight the coordinated re-entry program, 39 and the Partnership to End Homeless has done a great deal of work in this area, which is 40 wonderful. She commended the efforts of everyone involved. 41 Commissioner Price asked if landlords have been receptive. 42 Emila Sutton said many people who call for help have not spoken to their landlords. 43 She said staff encourages people to do so, and some landlords have been cooperative, while 44 others have been more difficult. 45 Emila Sutton said the housing help line re-branding was to make people more familiar 46 with the helpline, especially during the pandemic. 47 Commissioner Marcoplos asked if legal aid can work with undocumented people. 48 Annette Moore said no. 49 Commissioner Marcoplos asked if this can be addressed. 50 Annette Moore said this is the reason staff will be hiring their own legal person.